Deion Sanders added another big name to his Colorado coaching staff. It was announced earlier this week that Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp is already involved with the team in a smaller capacity.
Although the program has yet to make an announcement, Coach Prime said that the 50-year-old former defensive lineman will join the staff in an official role in 2024.
I’m excited about Coach Sapp. He’s a dear friend that I love to life, and he’s going to be invaluable to what he brings to the table. The [players[ are going to love him.
As far as the recruits, they’re going to love him as well.
— Deion Sanders on the Colorado Coaches Show
There have been a lot of big-name personalities and NFL legends around the Buffaloes this season. Sapp is one of them. He is not yet allowed to coach because he has yet to complete his college degree, which is a requirement for assistant coaches. It is a work in progress.
Deion Sanders’ team already loves Warren Sapp!
In the meantime, Warren Sapp has been hanging out in Boulder and became infatuated with the players and the program throughout the fall.
For the first time in my life, I was loved on by some defensive linemen. They wanted to know the keys to the vault. I’ve never had somebody shake my pockets like that and ask for the keys to the vault.
They were willing to work and they infected me. They really infected me. And I told Prime before I left, “I’m coming back.” He said, “I’ve got a spot for you.”
— Warren Sapp on the Rich Eisen Show back in September
Sure enough, Sapp stayed true to his promise to Deion Sanders. He came back. Multiple times.
His unofficial involvement with the Colorado defensive line made for a hilarious mental image. One of the greatest defensive players in football history was straight chilling in the hot tub with a group of 300-pound+ college kids who were eager to hear everything he could teach them.
After practice, he was in the hot tub with the whole darn defensive line, and he was just going over stuff and it was unbelievable […]
There’s probably 4,000 pounds in the hot tub!
— Deion Sanders
There is no official word as to what Sapp might do for the Buffaloes next season. He could be listed as a defensive analyst. He could be named the defensive line coach. We don’t know.
Regardless of what ends up playing out, Sapp is going to be another valuable teacher for the team. He was named as the best defensive player in college football at Miami in 1994, earned unanimous All-American honors, and was drafted No. 12 overall.
From there, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound tackle played 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Buccaneers, and won a Super Bowl. He also reached seven Pro Bowls and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.
Colorado players will be lucky to learn from Sapp!