JANUARY 12: The Raiders reportedly have “zero interest” in Sanders, who is only using the club for leverage, a source tells Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic (subscription required).
JANUARY 11: While Deion Sanders has continually committed to sticking with the Colorado Buffaloes, it sounds like the fast-rising head coach and NFL Hall of Fame cornerback has indeed been sniffing around at some NFL gigs. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sanders “has his eye” on the Raiders head coaching job.
[RELATED: Deion Sanders Not Talking NFL Future]
One source described Sanders as having “very strong interest” in the opening. In fact, the coach’s “NFL-connected associates” actually reached out to the Raiders to relay the message. Bonsignore cautions that it’s uncertain if the interest has been reciprocated.
Following his success at Jackson State and his 2024 run at Colorado, Sanders has been mentioned as a potential option for HC-needy teams, although the iconic player has yet to garner any official interviews. It was previously reported that Sanders’ name hadn’t been making itself around NFL circles, and vacancies in Chicago, New Orleans, or New York were described as unnatural fits.
However, a logical landing spot could be Las Vegas. Tom Brady is helping to spearhead the team’s search for a new head coach, and Bonsignore notes that the iconic QB-turned-part owner and the Sanders family “have a long relationship.” Brady has mentored Shedeur Sanders over the past few years, and TB12 eventually signed the prospect to an NIL deal. Armed with the sixth-overall pick, the Raiders might fall just outside of the range for the Colorado QB, although the team could be positioned to move up if they identify Sanders as their guy.
Deion Sanders recently said he’d only consider a move to the NFL if he could coach his son (via Bonsignore), and Las Vegas would represent one of the lone spots for that to happen. Of course, it’s a two-way street, and after dealing with a carousel of head coaches in recent years, the Raiders may not be looking to take as much of a risk with their next move.
As our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the following candidates have been connected to the Raiders:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Contacted about job
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): To interview 1/13
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Mentioned as candidate
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/10
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/10
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): To interview 1/16
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Rumored candidate
A perfect fit.
Only if Brady can’t persuade his old buddy Gronk to take the job…lol.
For comedy sake.
Just no. We need stability and I’d hate to for us to sell future assets to move up to secure Shedeur. Let him go to NY, we can go with best available at 6 and secure a project that Tom likes. If that doesn’t work out we should be in line to pick from a much more stable QB class in 2026.
capt I completely agree with you however, at this point I think the only thing that will completely stomp out Tom Brady and all of the medaling rumors would be an epic failure of historic proportions. To sell the future for an overpriced and overrated QB and bring in his egotistical father to run the team could be the answer. Talking two 1st and two 2nds with Maxx to move up 5 spots to draft a QB who probably would be lucky as a 2nd round pick in any other year. Bring in Deon to provide special attention to skill players and ignore the rest of the team. I could see a two plus winless season streak, talking 30 plus games without a victory and 12 shut outs. You know screw things up so bad that Josh McDaniel’s was a bright spot.
“egotistical?????” Gruden in the room asking to hold my beer
If you don’t think Coach Dimebag is egotistical you are either a family member living off his money, too young to have watched and listened to him when he played or like loud mouth DBs that would step out of bounds to avoid being hit. It seems that WRs and RBs got paid if they hit him. The guy was fast and had instincts to cover but was afraid to take any player on. I have said since last year that Dimebag (if you don’t understand that then you don’t know about him) will wiggle his way into whatever team drafts him. It will be a disaster. These pros aren’t going to bow to him and kiss the ring.
If you wait till 4 you can get either Ward or Sanders
Tennessee most likely goes and gets Darnold. Can’t imagine they go and get another rookie QB after watching Levis flounder and Carthon get canned after 2 seasons. New GM will definitely seek a veteran QB cause the owner is obviously impatient after the fact she spent all that money on offense and defense last year and they have the first overall pick. New GM is gonna be expected to come in immediately and compete.
They have Ridley
They have Pollard
They have investments on the oline
Hunter makes the most sense as WR opposite Ridley
Cleveland taking a rookie qb with so many other issues and their star pass rusher saying on record hes not sticking around unless Cleveland rights the ship next season makes it hard to draft qb at 2. They may bring back Joe Flacco who wasn’t bad in that offense and take a development guy in round 2. Milroe.,
Giants at 3 may take Ward or Sanders
But pats at 4 aren’t. Neither are jaguars at 5.
Giants may
I believe the Giants are absolutely drafting a QB, but I otherwise agree with how you see the board. Tennessee could be a contender in the South with a veteran QB and Hunter in the fold. I suspect Cleveland will scout the QBs heavily so other teams think they’re drafting one, but they’d probably happily trade back to pick up extra selections.
As a Giants fan, hope they pass on Sanders. Ward I like a little better, more physical tools. But rather take Sanders teammate or trade back.
I think, if youre not taking a QB at 1 or 2, don’t you have to shop the pick?
I’d assume Darnold gets franchise tagged
Clevelands biggest issue by far was QB, pretty decent roster overall. Think they’ll take Ward if he’s there
I don’t think Raiders would have to trade up for Shedeur.. i doubt anyone wants him
“Tennessee most likely goes and gets Darnold.”
I would take that bet, Fleet. I think Minnesota franchises him.
They could franchise him. And work out a trade of some sorts. Thats a possibility.
They could. Or they could just keep him. There’s really no need to rush McCarthy at this point. Darnold seems to fit the system and I doubt anyone trades a 1st for him.
Tag and trade is my guess for Darnold. Won’t get 1oa but a couple picks as the Vikings have none in 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Eh idk.
If I were the Vikings I’d ask for
Conditional 2026 3rd. If Titans make playoffs it becomes a 2nd. If they make afc champ game 1st
Conditional 2027 4th. If titans make playoffs it becomes a 3rd. If they make afc champ game 2nd. If titans make superbowl it becomes a 1st.
At worst you get an extra 3rd and 4th but in a weak division it could be more and who knows long shot but couple extra 2nds or couple extra 1sts wouldn’t be too bad.
Sanders might do well for awhile. But I feel like he would cut and run as soon as he had a bad season there. He’s always looking for the next better opportunity. So if they want a quick fix he might be worth talking to, but if they want a long term answer I’m not so sure that he is.
Sums up his NFL career. Atlanta to SF to Dallas. Running for $$$
And honestly there’s nothing wrong with that at all. It’s just “buyer beware”.
No complaints, but don’t believe a thing he says.
Orgs bail on bad ppl (GMs coaches players) all the time. They even bail on good ones when looking for better ones (Brian Flores for Mike McDaniels) or bail on good ones when things go south (Tom Telesco was hardly the issue in LV).
Players bail on bad orgs all the time. Remember how many jaguars bailed under the coughlin regime?
I have no issue if coaches bail on bad orgs too or look for greener pastures. Orgs do it all the time and so do players.
What has he done to warrant an nfl job?
I get he made Colorado decent again but he didn’t beat anyone with a pulse despite having the heisman winner and his kid at qb. He’s good at getting decent talent to play for him. That’s not how the nfl works. Nothing he did screamed “this is a marquee coach”.
I think he is better suited for college than the NFL. I have no doubt he can keep getting the higher ranked recruits to come play for him and eventually he will make the playoffs at Colorado.
There’s like no chance of him staying at Colorado
He’s an awesome coach and a disciplinarian
It’d be impartial to say they were only good because of a few recruits. That roster was Swiss cheese and he had them within a game of the B12 championship
One bad season and one good at a mid-level school isn’t enough for me to think that he could be an NFL coach-at least guaranteed to be a successful one.
I’d also, if I were an NFL team, want to see Deion stay in one place for a sustained period of time with sustained success. Some coaches jump from team to team, and it’s impossible to tell how long they’ll stay.
He’ll stay as long as Shedeur is the QB just like at Colorado
But also NFL HCs only last like 2-3 years in a lot of cases anyways, and it’s not like he’ll be looking to go back to CFB.. I don’t see why whoever hires him wouldn’t be his final destination
Neon Deion only has eyes for the Blue Star
He couldn’t be worse than McGenius & the entertainment value alone makes me want to see it happen
U knew his proclamation bout being at Colorado for the long haul was window service. He was coaching his kids. There journey took them from small Jackson State to Pac-12 but once the boys were gone he was too. He didn’t really beat anybody. It was fair job of leading team but there are alot of other college cchs w/stronger resumes who would be a stronger more exciting hire. Afraid him trying to coach Shaddeur at highest level is recipe for drama filled losing.
Agree with most of what you said except the part about other college coaches who can attract talent as quickly as Neon did….the transfer portal has changed the face of college football as athletes today are either going for NIL money or the somewhat surety of the NFL calling….that’s what Neon did at Colorado…he attracted kids with NFL dreams based on his recruiting statement “I played in the NFL, and maybe I can coach you into it too….come play for me”…..the greater majority of college coaches can’t say the same to recruits……
Actually a lot of college level coaches can say they played in the NFL these days. What most can’t say is they are HOFers. But there’s been plenty of former NFL players who were drafted or undrafted, lasted a few years, and now found work at the collegiate level at their old school or somewhere else as a positional coach. Very common occurrence these days.
Source: trust me bro
Yes!
This would be the most Raider thing the Raiders could do.
Give up draft capital to move up for what promises to be a bust and then hire Deion to coach the team.
This would be a very entertaining train wreck for several years.
I really hope they do this – obviously I’m not a Raiders fan.
Lunkhead wouldn’t even run out pop flies or ground balls in MLB. Hardly what I’d call a potential coach.
Kind of funny…obviously sanders has a storied career and his kids are talented but It’s just like club and high school …dads transition to the preferred high school to coach in advance of their 12 yo so they can play varsity as freshmen when they arrive and then hit the road as soon as they graduate…should be fun to see how it plays out
If he makes it through the FBI operation called prime but I don’t think he will so I don’t think he’ll be coaching anywhere. You don’t help your son who owes millions of dollars in a lawsuit hide assets sorry kids.
For the 4th time now. One coach is a hall of famer with multiple super bowl wins, another is also a super bowl winner, and the other went to the super bowl and also won a national championship.
So the Raiders…
Oh Nevermind
Nepotism at its finest but the problem is that Deion Sanders is nothing more than a name as a coach and Shadeur is NOT a Jayden Daniels or CJ Stroud and in any other year he would be either a flier pick late first round or a day 2 pick. A competent organization would pass on both of them but we are talking about the Raiders so it would just be another two year set back until the next hot shoe / shiny penny media driven diva comes along.
Will it be like Lebone James?, where they will have to draft Sanders’ son?
I’d like to see Raiders hire him just for the entertainment value, it’s Vegas afterall. What a mess of an organization.
Give me a break, how long does he plan to leach off his son? Let your kid spread his wings and fly in his own, don’t just keep riding his coattails.
Deion is perfect for college football because the hype helps recruit better players. That flash and sizzle just isn’t as important in the NFL.
LOL ! “But I’m prime time …” ZERO interest is pretty strong statement
Hahaha! Prime this.
Does Deion even coach? He strikes me as the kind of college HC who recruits, gives speeches, and let his assistants do the actual coaching. Like Bobby Bowden.
Fast rising according to who? Deion’s promotional team?
Why would any NFL team have interest in Deion? He’s nothing more than a pitch man for these college kids. His skill set won’t do anything for an NFL team. Bogus rumor to say the least
The ultimate “Helicopter” parent…so he has his eye on the Raiders job only if they draft his kid…he gets the job as HC and when the Raiders release the kid and he gets signed to someone’s practice squad…does he have an “eye” on that job too…Raiders need to say “Not only no but hell no”