They say, ‘Like father, like son,’ right? Well, in the case of Gage Goldberg, it’s ‘Like father, like son,’ but also, ‘Like father’s friend, like son.’ And that father’s friend just so happens to be Coach Prime. Not many know that a long story prevails behind linebacker Gage Goldberg’s commitment to Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes. Yes, Goldberg’s father had a role to play, but so did Nick Saban.

The son of football player turned legendary wrestler Bill Goldberg, Gage has taken the same first step into the sporting industry as his father. But did you know the Colorado commit also plays baseball? Remind you of someone else? Maybe Deion Sanders? As it turns out, right before appearing on the Life and Football show, the linebacker was at baseball practice! But once he joined the show, the focus shifted on his future with the Buffaloes football team.

The story started in January 2024, featuring the plot twist in Goldberg’s timeline. The 6-foot, 205-pound middle linebacker from Boerne Champion, Texas, joined Coach Prime in Boulder. However, out of the 33 players in the recruiting class, Goldberg’s move was the least expected. That’s because until he got the “worst news” ever, Gage was confident that the Alabama Crimson Tide would be his future home. A couple of hours later, he was officially a Buff.

The linebacker revealed the backstory behind his decision to switch. “I never verbally committed to Alabama, but it was my No.1, and I was about to. I think Saban retired on a Wednesday. I was going to commit that Thursday.” For him, former HC Nick Saban was the primary reason for finalizing on Alabama instead of his father’s alma mater, Georgia. Explaining the circumstances in which he found out, Goldberg added, “We were in a baseball scrimmage, and I look at my phone: ‘Nick Saban retired.’ It had to be the worst news I’d ever gotten in my life at that point.” That’s when Sanders became his knight in shining armor.

Goldberg revealed, “I was so disappointed, but I had to see if [other] coaches would re-offer me a spot.” Goldberg explained he didn’t know what coach was going to replace Saban. As a result, he reached out to other programs who’d given him an offer previously – including UCF, UTSA, and Duke – checking to see if his “offer is still there.” But that’s when Colorado came along after Goldberg’s father reached out to Coach Prime.

He revealed, “My dad talked to Coach Prime after. He said I was gonna commit to Alabama, and he was like, ‘Okay, well, if you want him, now is the time.’ And [Coach Prime] offered me [a spot] an hour or two later.” But considering he was in talks with other schools, and this was the first time Colorado became an option, what made him choose the Boulder program over the others?

In an interview with BuffsBeat, Gage Goldberg explained, “The main draw was that Colorado has an amazing coaching staff and obviously a great head coach that will help me excel in every way to become a better football player and eventually to get me to the next level.” The linebacker had a tremendous senior year in Texas, with 154 tackles, 8 quarterback hurries, 4 forced fumbles, a sack, a blocked field goal, and a forced safety.

There’s no doubt he’ll be looking to keep this form up with the Buffaloes. In this change of destiny, the Bill-Deion friendship was the main character. Acknowledging that, Gage reiterated his trust in his father, saying, “If he is a best friend of my dad’s, then I trust him to be a great coach.” 

Bill Goldberg and Deion Sanders’ friendship goes back more than 30 years

Even before he got a breakthrough as a wrestler, the WWE Hall of Famer had outshined himself as a football player. As a defensive captain of his time, he amassed 348 total tackles with 121 in his final year with the Georgia Bulldogs. During his short stint with the Atlanta Falcons from 1990 to 1995, he and Sanders were teammates. Did you know Sanders used to count on Goldberg during knockouts? This reliance instantly gave birth to a friendship between the two, a friendship Bill still counts on to this day. 

Right before Gage stepped foot in Colorado, the father-son duo sat for an interview with Brian Howell. It was then Bill added, “This is one of the best situations for my son not only for opportunities both on and off the field in addition to football but moreover, I have a good friend of mine [who] can oversee him as a dad.”

Goldberg and Sanders have kept in contact throughout their legendary careers. Now, all eyes will be fixed on whether Gage’s entry into Colorado adds another sweet chapter to Bill and Deion’s friendship. Along with this, it will also test Coach Prime’s coaching abilities to replace Nick Saban in the linebacker’s heart.