Deion Sanders denies restricting Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter to six NFL teams

University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has been outspoken about the NFL futures of quarterback Shedeur Sanders (his son) and cornerback Travis Hunter.

However, Sanders denied a report from last March claiming that he would only allow the duo to play for one of six NFL teams – a group that was said to include the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.

“The thing about a lie is a lie is so fast; it can outrun the truth any day,” Sanders said, via Romi Bean of CBS News Colorado. “That’s a bold-faced lie. That’s a stupid lie. … I played 14 [years in the NFL] and I worked another 17 I believe at the NFL and NFL Network and CBS; I know a lot of people. Come on, I would never do that. If I was that stupid, I would disclose the teams I wouldn’t disclose the teams I want them to play for, I would disclose the several that I wouldn’t.”

Many began to speculate Sanders only wanted his star quarterback and cornerback to play for those six teams after comments he made on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast, in which the second-year Buffaloes coach hinted if either player got drafted by a team he didn’t like they would try to force their way out.

“Now, all of this is subjective because I know where I kind of want them to go,” Sanders said. “… There are certain cities that ain’t going to happen … it’s going to be an Eli [Manning situation]. We ain’t doing it.”

Sanders had already made it known in early March that he didn’t want Shedeur playing in a cold-weather city while discussing how playing in a city like Chicago would affect projected 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

Both Shedeur and Hunter are projected to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.