Sean Payton sends heartfelt message to Coach Prime: ‘Football is better with him’

The Denver sports scene and football world as a whole was given good news on Monday when Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders announced that he had officially beaten bladder cancer, a health issue that has kept him away from the Colorado Buffaloes since the spring game back in April.

The 57-year-old head coach of the Buffs had a tumor on his bladder that required the entire bladder to be surgically removed and replaced with a fake one constructed from pieces of his small intestine. After Coach Prime spoke on Monday, it seems that his darkest days are behind him and he’s ready to lead the Buffs for the 2025 season.

After Broncos practice on Tuesday, head coach Sean Payton said that he sent a message Sanders’ way congratulating him on winning one of the toughest battles of his life and shined some light on their relationship.

“I texted him. I’m proud of him, excited for him, happy for him,” Payton said. “I consider him a close friend all the way back to when I first entered this league. Unfortunately, I started with Philly. He was in Dallas, then I went to the Giants. We saw him all the way up until he retired. And then in Dallas when I was there, I had a chance to see his high school team play. Years later, they stopped in New Orleans and had a practice. Right after we practiced, they were on their way to Florida to open the season on an ESPN2 game, and really got to know him.”

Despite the barriers of their NFC East relationship at the beginning of their respective careers, the Broncos head coach showed that they’ve been able to keep a strong bond throughout the century, and the two landing in Colorado only could’ve helped the relationship.

Sanders won the battle against Payton in his playing days, as he went 4-3 against teams with the Payton on the coaching staff as either the quarterbacks coach or the offensive coordinator from 1997-2000, and posted three interceptions. In 2004, Payton’s Cowboys matched up against Sanders’ Ravens, but the aging corner was inactive for that showdown, which ended up being the last time they crossed paths on the gridiron.

Payton went beyond their relationship and emphasized Sanders’ importance to the game of football.

“Our thoughts are with him, because football is better with him. Colorado’s better with him and and it’s impressive to watch him coach and teach. You know, it’s, it’s he was calling offensive plays at one point when I met him, and I kind of looked at him with a funny eye, but he enjoyed that his son was like a sophomore at the time, but it was great news to hear yesterday, and I know we’re excited for him,” Payton said.

Sean Payton’s heartfelt message to his friend Deion Sanders following the news he beat bladder cancer:

“Football is better with him.” pic.twitter.com/hk3T2J5CNh

— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) July 29, 2025

It’s no secret how much Sanders’ sons, Shedeur and Shilo, have influenced his coaching trajectory throughout the years all the way to Colorado. He’s constantly said how much the players and the kids and the team means to him, something that Payton has clearly taken note of in recent years.

Payton is under contract with the Broncos through the 2027 season while Prime is under contract with the Buffs through 2029, giving them at least another three years in the Centennial State together to keep up the relationship.

The message Payton sent was true for the whole football world, no matter what team a fan roots for. Prime has done so much for the game as a player, a media member and a coach, and has totally changed the course of the CU program.

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