Sanders Denies Viral Photo With Bo Jackson

Colorado coach Deion Sanders disputed a social media image of himself and Bo Jackson with two bucks while his job status is in question.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football

Sanders Denies Viral Photo With Bo Jackson

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Should Colorado keep Deion Sanders as head coach despite its losing record?

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders commented 'This never happened' on an Instagram post showing him and Bo Jackson with two whitetail bucks in a truck bed. The post comes as Sanders faces possible firing and a buyout of up to $25.5 million.

Why it matters

The denial adds a personal controversy to a program that is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12, at a moment when its leadership is under review. Colorado's decision on Sanders carries significant financial stakes, given a contract extension worth $54 million over five years.

Sanders' contract extension is worth $54 million over five years through 2029, with Colorado owing 75 percent of remaining base salary if fired without cause. Colorado is not believed to be able to cover a buyout above $25 million, according to a CBS report.

The players

Deion Sanders

Colorado's head football coach, a former NFL cornerback and Pro Football Hall of Famer who has led the Buffaloes since 2023.

Bo Jackson

Former two-sport star who played in both the NFL and MLB and appears in the photo circulated on social media.

The details

A photo shared on Instagram by the account Duckit Wash shows Sanders and Bo Jackson with two whitetail bucks in a truck bed, captioned with a country boy lifestyle theme. Sanders replied to the post with 'This never happened,' and separately said on October 23, 2025 that he cannot shoot a deer, noting two deer families live on his Canton, Texas property.

October 23, 2025: Sanders said on the Colorado Football Coaches Show that he cannot shoot a deer.
Halloween: Colorado beat Kansas State 27-24 in overtime.
August 2, 2026: Preseason camp began.

Season Trajectory

Colorado's 2023 decision to hire Deion Sanders was built on a rebuild that has not yet produced consistent wins, with a 19-26 record across four seasons. The current 3-5 start puts the program's commitment to its coach under direct financial and competitive pressure.

Colorado's buyout math sets a clear cost difference: acting now would total about $25.5 million, while waiting a year would cost nearly $3 million more. Fans tracking the program should watch whether the Buffaloes make a coaching decision before the season's remaining games.

The takeaway

Coaching contracts with large buyouts can make timing as important as performance, since waiting a year can cost millions more. Readers following Colorado should track the program's next decision on Sanders' status.

What happens next

Colorado's decision on Sanders' future will determine whether the buyout is paid this year or deferred to 2027, when estimates put it at $17.25 million.