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Speculation surrounding Deion Sanders’s interest in the Las Vegas Raiders has erupted following the firing of head coach Antonio Pierce. With his son set to enter the NFL Draft, and the Raiders currently in need of both a coach and QB, many believe the marriage makes too much sense.
A recent report claimed that the current Colorado Buffs leader was interested in making the jump to Sin City. Even if that’s true, he may not be a legitimate candidate.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote on Saturday that Sanders has expressed “strong interest in the job.” That suggestion reportedly came via a person close to the head coach’s camp.
Coach Prime has remained insistent on his happiness in Boulder. He’s previously dismissed NFL rumors at each pass, though noise surrounding a potential departure has done anything but fade.
“I love it where I am,” he said in November while speaking with former teammate Michael Irvin about the possibility of leading the Dallas Cowboys. He reaffirmed that stance in an appearance on Good Morning America last week.
“The only way I would consider is to coach my sons. Not son, but SONS. I love Colorado. I love my Buffaloes. I love everything that we’re building. I love everything that we’re doing, and I love Boulder, CO. I do.”
-Deion Sanders on GMA
Sanders says the only way he’d consider leaving for the NFL was to coach both Shedeur and Shilo Sanders at the next level on the same team. Not just one, but both.
Still, with the Raiders in the market for a quarterback, and Shedeur sitting atop NFL Draft boards, some say the possibility of leaving Colorado remains on the table. With that being said, he may not get the chance.
The Raiders aren’t interested in Deion Sanders.
Mike Florio of NBC Sports explained that further with a recent post.
Deion Sanders may have interest in the Raiders’ head coaching job, but the Raiders have “zero interest” in the Colorado head coach. That’s the word from TheAthletic.com, with Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed speculating that Sanders is merely using the Raiders for leverage…
The Raiders have six known head coaching candidates in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Johnson, Glenn and Spagnuolo had virtual interviews with the Raiders on Friday, while Carroll is scheduled for an in-person interview Monday.
Las Vegas has already begun the interview process. Deion Sanders has not been included in their search to this point. Even if he was interested in the job, as the LV Journal-Review suggests, the feeling may not be mutual.
For now, it seems likely that Coach Prime will be back in Colorado as he’s told us all along.