Michael Jordan Once Gave NFL Legend Deion Sanders Life-Changing Advice: “If Playing Is Still in Your Heart, Go Do It”

Former NFL cornerback Prime Time Deion Sanders is known to be one of the most electrifying cornerbacks in NFL history. His resume speaks for itself, and his list of accomplishments is commendable. Sanders had an NFL career in two stretches. And it was widely believed that he has retired for good following his stint with the then Washington Redskins. 

Prime Time was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons as a fifth pick overall during the 1989 NFL Draft. His priority pick came after he recorded an impressive 4.29 s 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine. He was considered being a dominating player since the start, and he always lived up to the expectations.

Deion Sanders and his remarkable career

His breakthrough happened during his one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, during which he claimed his first Super Bowl title of his career. However, following his SB XXIX win, he got transferred to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 1995 season. But he won the Super Bowl again in his debut season with the Cowboys, showing the league that he was the prime reason for both the titles. 

Prime Time decided to lay off his football journey after a relatively unproductive season with Washington in 2000. And with that, his dream run the NFL came to an abrupt end after showing the world his miraculous caliber. 

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Four years later, rumors arose of Deion Sanders making a return to the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Deion was reported to be training hard at home on his football field (built for his son). “He’s running 100s and 40s, a lot of them, and he is sore,” the sources said. “But he’s still determined to do this.”

It was popularly believed that his friend Joe Zorovich, along with a couple of Baltimore players had convinced him to make a return. But it was little known that he even took counsel from the all-time great in the NBA. Yes, Michael Jordan too, gave him a piece of advice that got Sanders running those 100s and 40s. 

Michael Jordan got Prime Time back from retirement?

“Michael Jordan made it simple for Deion: ‘If [playing] is still in your heart, go do it,’ “ a source told ESPN. However, it was not just a piece of advice. MJ himself implemented the same philosophy in his life. Jordan returned to his basketball career in 1994 after trying his luck at professional baseball. He also came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards for two more seasons before finally retiring. 

However, the same happened with Sanders. Coming out of retirement after three years at 37, the cornerback played with the Baltimore Ravens before finally calling it quits. Although those final two seasons were not as productive as per the standards of Prime Time, but he at least gave it a shot. 

Playing as a nickelback which is arguably one of the hardest positions to play, and that too at the age of 37 and 38 was in itself an achievement. Prime Time is now a proud head coach of Jackson State University. And his legacy in the NFL will always remain as glorifying as ever before. 

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