Ain’t no denying it—Deion Sanders is built different. On the field, off the field, as a coach, as a father, as a man. But life throws curveballs at everybody, even the legends. And if you thought Deion Sanders only had to juke past defensive backs, you ain’t heard the half of it, even the strongest ones carry scars. And for Coach Prime, one of those scars comes from something most young boys should never have to see—his own father at rock bottom.
On his hit docuseries, ‘Coach Prime,’ Season 3, Deion Sanders dropped a heavy emotional bomb about his biological father, Mims Sanders, and the stuff no kid should have to see. “Everything in life causes a reaction in a thought. When I think about needs, I think about a biological problem,” Deion started, his voice carrying more weight than a linebacker. He recalled working at Bojangles back in high school with his boys, hustling to scrape together leftover chicken and sides to bring to their dads. “I remember taking some chicken and some sides and all that into the room and house where daddy—where her father used to stay in—and they was shooting up. I saw that. That’s what I think about. Was something a young man shouldn’t have seen. But I didn’t judge him, just prayed for him.”
Deion’s complicated relationship with his biological father had layers—most of them painful. Mims Sanders struggled with addiction, and that struggle put a distance between them over the years. But Deion never let the darkness swallow him. Instead, he used it as fuel to become the man he is today. “Take your trials and your tribulations and progress from them. Don’t let them deter you from being who God called you to be.” Those words weren’t just motivational; they were Deion Sanders survival instructions.
Deion Sanders ain’t just a coach—he’s a father figure, a mentor, and sometimes, the only real family these young men got. That was on full display during Colorado’s Senior Day when wide-out Jimmy Horn Jr. needed someone to walk him onto the field. With his father incarcerated, Jimmy turned to the man who’s been more than just a coach to him. And Prime? He didn’t even hesitate. “You don’t have to ask me twice. I got you. I got you,” Sanders told him. That right there? That’s love and family.
Even though Mims passed away from a brain tumor in 1993. The impact he had on Deion stuck around like an unshakable shadow. Despite the distance, Deion kept that connection alive. In 2023, He even shared IG online with the caption, “This song reminds me of my father Mims Daddy Buck Sanders,” proving that the love was real, no matter how complicated things got. And let’s be real, not everyone’s got the strength to forgive and honor a father who was rarely there in the way they needed.
Deion Sanders’ ‘two fathers’
Now, here’s where it gets real interesting. Back in March 2024, during his book promo run with Reach The People Media. Deion opened up even more, revealing that Mims wasn’t the only father figure in his life. “I had two fathers, two wonderful fathers; one was a drug addict, one was somewhat of an alcoholic.” And as crazy as that sounds, Deion found a way to make peace with both men’s flaws. Respect where it’s due, right?
Deion broke it down even further: “My stepfather Willie J Knight. My biological father, Daddy Sanders—he’s the prime side of me and stepfathers to Deion side of me. You gotta be careful what you show your kids at home because they emulate and imitate all those things.” His upbringing was a mash-up of lessons from both men. Willie Knight, the stepfather who raised him, provided the stability his biological dad couldn’t. Willie Knight is not just a step-father, he’s a father who stepped up. Make no mistake, that didn’t mean Mims didn’t leave his mark. In fact, his absence became part of the blueprint that made Deion Sanders a living legend.
Even with his own kids, Deion Sanders always lookout for them. He’s known for being brutally honest with his kids, never sugarcoating things. When Shilo had a bad game, Sanders didn’t hold back, calling his performance “horrible,” but that’s just his way of keeping them accountable. You can dig all you want, but you ain’t never gonna find a speck of dirt on Deion Sanders as a father. Man might’ve been flashy, might’ve talked his talk, but when it comes to his kids? Solid as a rock. He don’t just show up—he shows out for them. Whether it’s coaching Shedeur and Shilo, guiding Deiondra and Deion Jr., or making sure Shelomi’s good, he’s been 10 toes down since day one. Ain’t no scandal, no slip-up, no moment where he ain’t been there for his kids. That’s Prime Time—on the field, in life, and most importantly, at home.
It’s no wonder Deion’s a father-first kind of man, the type to school his kids on life before he ever talks football. And as he preps his sons Shilo and Shedeur for their NFL journeys. It’s clear the lessons he learned from both fathers are living on through them. Deion Sanders ain’t just Coach Prime. He’s living proof that the worst parts of your story can become the best parts of your character.
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