Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men. As the college football season ramps up, there’s one coach and bladder cancer survivor who is especially grateful to be on the sidelines: Deion Sanders.

In late July of 2025, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach revealed that he had quietly faced a battle with bladder cancer during the spring of that year. And typical of Sanders, he’s quick to share about his source of hope throughout the ordeal.

“You have no idea how good God has been to me to be here,” Sanders said in a press conference while wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses. “God planted me in Boulder… I’m here and I’m thankful. I’m so happy about everything and especially this opportunity that I have to coach these young men.”

Sanders once said this about his faith: “When I found God, I found hope.”

Keep reading to learn more about Sander’s cancer, hope and faith.

Sander’s health update

Last May, a checkup for a vascular issue in Sander’s foot led to a surprise discovery of a tumor in his bladder. Amazingly, he didn’t have any of the typical signs, like blood in urine. After his medical team discussed treatment options with him, Sanders decided to have his entire bladder removed through laparoscopic surgery.

“We performed a full robotic-assisted laparoscopic bladder removal and creation of a new bladder,” said Dr. Janet Kukreja, Sander’s oncological surgeon. “And I am pleased to report the results from the surgery are that he is cured from the cancer.”

The other option would have been ongoing treatment, but it has a 50% recurrence rate. Sanders opted for surgery, so he could be there for his family—and to keep coaching.

“It was never in my spirit and in my heart that God wouldn’t allow me to coach again,” he said. “I didn’t want to be running down to the hospital once a week when I got all this on my plate.”

Early detection

Sanders is quick to thank and his medical team and underscore the importance of early detection.

“Men, everybody get checked out,” he said. “Because if it wasn’t for me getting tested for something else, they wouldn’t have stumbled upon this. It could have been a whole nother gathering if I hadn’t (been checked).”

Prime Time

Deion Sanders’ words about finding hope against cancer carry a lot of weight. He is one of the most popular and recognizable sports figures of the last 40 years, including his “Prime Time” years in the 1990s, when he played as both an NFL star in two Superbowl’s, and in a world series as an MLB player with the Atlanta Falcons.

His popularity skyrocketed again recently as Coach Prime of the Colorado Buffaloes, where he became head coach in 2023. In just a few years, he improved the program from a 1-11 record (2022), to a 9-4 record (2024). Last year’s team included his son, Shedeur Sanders, as quarterback, and also Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars (see below).

Controversy and outspoken faith

While many people love Coach Prime, he has also attracted critics. Some chafe at his is flashy style and bold confidence. He has a big following on social media, and his sons are also in the public eye, including Shedeur (see below), who now plays as a backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, and Shilo Sanders who played briefly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite what critics might say, Sanders’ coaching in Colorado has been inspirational, as is his faith in God. He often credits his relationship with God as his source of hope through life’s greatest struggles, now with cancer, and also when his fame began soaring in the 1990s.

How Sanders found God, found hope

Sanders describes the highs and lows of fame like this:

“After scoring touchdowns and dancing in the end zone, after a stadium full of cheering fans had finally gone home, I was still empty inside,” Sanders wrote in his book, “Power, Money and Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.”

At the height of success and fame in 1997, Sanders says he was miserable. Being a standout athlete in two professional sports, baseball and football, getting paid millions of dollars and having relationships with multiple women could not fill the void. So one night he tried to commit suicide by driving off a 40-foot cliff. He miraculously survived but said the experience became a turning point and he later dedicated his life to Jesus.

“I had everything the world says you need for success, but it left me with nothing,” he wrote. “When I found God, I found hope.”

Trusting God through cancer

Even with his latest challenge of facing bladder cancer, Sanders says his faith in God has remained steadfast.

“Never once on this whole journey did I say, ‘God, why me?’” he said at the press conference. “Because I would’ve had to say, God, why didn’t you sit me up here in front of these wonderful people? Why did you give me the position of head football coach of the prestigious university? Why you allow me to have five wonderful kids? Why are you giving me these relationships with these wonderful people?”

Instead, Sanders asked God to give him hope through the difficulties. “I said, ‘Lord, whatever it is you are doing, let me know what it is so I could expedite the process because I know you got me.’”

God’s got his back

“I’ve seen you (God) have my back,” Sanders said. “I’ve seen you there in the midst of the storms when nobody knew I was going through hell.”

Already, Sanders is seeing the upside of what he has been facing, including the opportunity to encourage others about early detection and especially about faith.

“I don’t mind going through these afflictions I go through because I know the result and we helping some folks today. There’s some folks right now calling the doctors, scheduling checkups.

“Everything I deal with is like a tool to reach more, to affect more, to challenge more, to love more, to give more,” he says. “That’s what it’s about.”

Dealing with cancer through humor

Sanders has been candid about the challenges of adjusting to life after bladder cancer. “It’s a whole life change and I’m going to be transparent,” he says. “I can’t pee like I used to pee. It’s totally different. Now I depend on depends, if you know what I mean.”

Throughout his ordeal, Sanders has said he’s remained hopeful.

“I never thought about no death,” he said, though he did make a will after his diagnosis. “I want to be a good steward for my kids and for my family. But no, I got too much life to be thinking about death.”

Sander’s message for others going through cancer

“There’s some other people out there right now dealing with the same issue or affected by the C-word,” he said. “It’s normally a (death) sentenced attached to it. But not this time because God got me. And I don’t want to take it for granted.

And for others who have had good results, “I don’t want you to take it for granted,” he says.

Sanders is quick to share about his cancer journey and his faith in God, even on the biggest stages.

“I stared death in my face,” he says. “You think I’m playing when I tell you I’m God’s guy. I really am. I’m allowed to go through these trials of tribulations so that I could touch and reach and bless people with my words, with the energy, with that thing that God gave me.”

Sanders is thankful for his renewed health and especially to be coaching Colorado again this year.

“God is so good,” he says.

Finding spiritual hope

As Sanders said about his faith, “When I found God, I found hope.”

In his book, he shares about how a friend challenged him to find hope through a relationship with God. He says these verses in Romans were especially helpful in understanding how to begin the relationship:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 1:9).”

As you hear about Sander’s story, how might a relationship with God help you in your current struggle?

You can find spiritual hope right now. If you have never begun a relationship with God, you can say the following prayer:

“God, I’m opening the door. I need your help with what I am facing. I confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord.” I want you to be my God and to know you. Come into my life right now as you promised you would. Thank you for giving me this relationship with you. Help me grow to know you more.” 

Next steps

If you asked Jesus into your life, know that good things are coming.

Just like any other relationship, yours with God will grow as you get to know him better. To do that, I’d encourage you to click on the link below, “I just asked Jesus into my life (some helpful information follows)…”