via Getty
Former player Deion Sanders before the start of the Buffalo Bills NFL game against the New York Jets at New Era Field on September 15, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
via Getty
Former player Deion Sanders before the start of the Buffalo Bills NFL game against the New York Jets at New Era Field on September 15, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
It is important to keep track of one’s family health history. Ignorance about it can sometimes lead to bad outcomes. Coach Prime Deion Sanders learnt that the hard way. The former NFL star and the new University of Colorado head coach opened up about his unknown family health history that almost got him killed.
Sanders underwent more than half-a-dozen surgeries for a problem in his leg. As it turned out, the issue that caused it ailed many of his family members too.
Deion Sanders opens up about his health problems
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Deion Sanders was diagnosed with blood clots in the arteries that supply blood to one of his legs. Although the ailment cost him two of his toes in the end, at one point he could have died due to it. Talking about it, with another legend of the NFL Shannon Sharpe, on the latest episode of ‘Club Shay Shay’, Sanders said he is thankful that it got to two toes.
“First it was the leg. Then life. Then it was two toes. And I thank God it got to two toes. I said,’ hey, take them’,” Sanders said.
.@DeionSanders reveals his amputated toes for the first time ever on camera:
“First it was the leg, then life and the 2 toes…I thank God it got to 2 toes. Take them, I’m good!” pic.twitter.com/wgkBxnk4fE
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) December 20, 2022
He then opened up about his family health history which he got to know from his mother only after his diagnosis. Many of his family members, including his mother, also suffered due to blood clots in their bodies.
“It was ‘we gotta have surgery right now. You got anybody in your family to have blood clots? I said I don’t know,” Sanders said about his conversation with his doctors. “Then we called my mama. My mama said ‘yeah baby, by the way your uncle died of blood clots a few years back. And your other uncle almost died last year from blood clots, and I just got diagnosed with blood clots,'” Coach Prime revealed.
Sanders was with the Jackson State Tigers when these health problems arose. He recovered from it to quickly stand on his feet to guide the Tigers to another SWAC championship title and a place in the 2022 Celebration Bowl.
A perfect season to end the fairy tale
When Deion Sanders joined the Jackson State football program as a head coach in 2020, the Tigers hadn’t won a single divisional title in six years. The college last won the divisional title in 2013 and the SWAC conference title back in 2007. Within one year, Sanders created a team that became a powerhouse in their conference.
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Read More: “You’re Sorry for What?”: Deion Sanders’ Reaction to Jackson State Player Crying Goes Viral
Sanders led Jackson State to back-to-back divisional as well as conference titles in 2021 and 2022. And his last season there, this year, was a near-perfect one.
The Tigers finished the season with a 12-1 overall record. Their only loss of the season came in the Celebration Bowl 2022 against North Carolina Central University. A perfect end to his fairy-tale tenure at Jackson State.
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Hopefully, Sanders can continue to groom talented football players for a long time into the future.
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