The wait is finally over.
Deion Sanders has inked a contract extension to remain head coach of the Colorado football team for the foreseeable future. With the Buffs off for spring break, Coach Prime signed a five-year, $54 million contract extension averaging $10.8 million per year.
It’s a significant pay raise from the $5.7 million in base salary he was paid by the school in 2024 ($5.5 million in 2023). Sanders is now the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 and the fourth-highest paid head coach in college football.
Sanders’ extension comes just a week after he downplayed the importance of getting one done.
“I’m not worried about me,” Deion Sanders said last week when asked about a contract extension. “Let’s get everybody else straight first then I’m good.”
The “everybody else” Sanders could’ve been referring to was his one-of-a-kind coaching staff. The latest addition was 10-year NFL veteran Byron Leftwich, who helped Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV as offensive coordinator.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk joined the staff this offseason as Colorado’s running backs coach along with former pros Domata Peko (defensive line coach) and Andre Gurode (co-offensive line coach).
Deion Sanders also made sure his up-and-coming defensive coordinator Robert Livingston was rewarded this offseason with a contract extension making him the highest-paid assistant in school history.
All of this comes after a wildly successful season in which the Buffs went 9-4 just one year removed from a 4-8 campaign.
Coach Prime takes care of his people, and now he has been properly taken care of by the University of Colorado.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” Deion Sanders said in a statement. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base.
“Lastly, anybody got at least a five bedroom home with acreage for sale?”
Highest-paid Big 12 football coaches
According to data collected by USA TODAY
- Deion Sanders, Colorado – $10.8 million
- Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – $7.75 million
- Lance Leipold, Kansas – $7.5 million
- Kyle Whittingham, Utah – $6.52 million
- Chris Klieman, Kansas State – $5.25 million
- Sonny Dykes, TCU – $5 million
- Dave Aranda, Baylor – $4.54 million
- Willie Fritz, Houston – $4.5 million
- Joey McGuire, Texas Tech – $4.25 million
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State – $4 million
- Gus Malzahn, UCF – $4 million
- Neal Brown, West Virginia – $4 million
- Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State – $3.95 million
- Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati – $3.6 million
- Brent Brennan, Arizona – $3.1 million
- Kalani Sitake, BYU – Not available to USA TODAY
Top 10 highest-paid coaches in college football
- Kirby Smart, Georgia – $13.2 million
- Ryan Day, Ohio State – $12.5 million
- Dabo Swinney, Clemson – $11.1 million
- Deion Sanders, Colorado – $10.8 million
- Steve Sarkisian, Texas – $10.6 million
- Lincoln Riley, USC – $10.04 million
- Kalen DeBoer, Alabama – $10 million
- Mike Norvell, Florida State – $10 million
- Brian Kelly, LSU – $9.9 million
- Mark Stoops, Kentucky – $9.01 million
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.