A recent Memorial Day Cookout turned into a heartwarming reunion for Buffaloes fans. Deion Sanders and wrestling legend Bill Goldberg, former teammates on the Atlanta Falcons, rekindled their friendship with laughter and old stories. Goldberg’s brief NFL stint in Atlanta is said to have sparked their connection in the first place.

Their bond took a playful turn when Deion took credit for nudging Goldberg toward his legendary wrestling career.  “I used to always say who vs Goldberg,” Deion added, “Everybody put their head down… and then he becomes a wrestler!” Goldberg responded with gratitude, not only for his “Hall of Fame” worthy wrestling career but also for the future of his son, Gage Goldberg. The talented linebacker Gage recently committed to playing under Deion Sanders’ mentorship.  This decision will likely strengthen the connection between the two legends for years.

Amidst the mix of fun and gratitude, Deion shared a hilarious anecdote from their playing days where Goldberg tackled the Buffaloes head coach out of a fight. Goldberg then “ran from one end of the SAT line to the other end and slammed” someone. Goldberg laughed along and admitted it was true. He even added a detail about how expensive that outburst ended up being.

“And got fined $10,000 which was basically three of my checks at the time. When he [Deion] was making that every 15 seconds,” Goldberg said. So, while remembering Goldberg’s expensive blunder, the story also pointed out Deion Sanders’ impressive earnings during his Prime Time career.

Deion Sanders’ rise to riches in the ’90s

Deion Sanders truly lived up to his nickname, “Prime Time,” when it came to making money.  Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989, he defied expectations by simultaneously playing professional baseball. He suited up for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL while also playing for the Atlanta Braves in MLB. Back in the ’90s, Deion even made headlines for something crazy. After playing a football game with the Falcons, he jumped on a plane and flew to Pittsburgh to play baseball with the Braves – all on the same day. The Pro Football Hall of Famer later spent nine years in MLB, and his football contract was even adjusted to accommodate his unique dual-career status.

Baseball was a goldmine in the ’90s; thus, Deion’s value eventually skyrocketed.  His fame across both sports made him an undeniable marketing machine.  By the mid-90s, he earned a massive $10 million, paving the way for his current net worth of around $45 million.  Deion’s financial savvy isn’t a recent development – he’s been a master of monetizing his talents for decades.