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Deion Sanders has turned his medical emergency into a lucrative sponsorship deal. On Monday, Sanders and his medical team revealed that the coach had his bladder removed following emergency surgery.
“We removed the tumor. It was very high-grade and invading through the bladder wall. Not into the muscle layer, something we call very high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” said Dr. Janet Kukreja with CU Cancer Center at the University of Colorado Hospital.
During the press conference, Sanders joked about needing to use Depend underwear now that he can’t control his bladder.
“I depend on Depend, if you know what I mean,” he said. “I truly depend on Depend. I cannot control my bladder.”
Deion Sanders jokes he “depends on Depends” and “if you see a Port-a-Potty on the sideline, it’s real.”
He also encourages everyone who is dealing with urinary struggles, and “let’s stop being ashamed of it” pic.twitter.com/t9t2h86z6p
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 28, 2025
On Tuesday, Depend confirmed they had a deal with Sanders to promote their undergarments, which they market as an alternative to adult diapers.
Via USA Today
“Depend is proud to help millions of people live more confidently every day with comfort and protection they can trust – this includes Coach,” the company said in a statement. “Wearing Depend isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a badge of resilience. It takes real courage to face health challenges head-on. We champion and celebrate Coach’s strength to share his experience with the world which makes us proud to partner with, and support, him on this journey. Together, we know his voice will empower others to stand tall and help break the stigma that can come with wearing products like Depend.”