Coach Prime reportedly expresses “very strong interest” in coaching AFC powerhouse amid rampant NFL rumors

Rumors have been rampant about where Coach Prime, aka Deion Sanders, will coach for the upcoming 2025 season since he took over the Colorado Buffaloes in 2023. With his sons Shilo and Shedeur Sanders leaving for the NFL this year, many have speculated that he would prefer to return to the professional level this time as a coach.

During mid-season, links to the Dallas Cowboys were strong. This is partly due to Dallas's struggling season, Dak Prescott's struggling performances and Coach Prime's connection to the franchise as a former player. However, now it seems his interests in the NFL would rest in a different team.

A Saturday report by Las Vegas Raiders insider Vincent Bonsignore reveals that the Buffs coach would be interested in coaching the struggling NFL franchise:

“The person indicated that NFL-connected associates of Sanders reached out to the Raiders to express Sanders’ interest in the opening,” Bonsignore said.

The Raiders are currently looking for a new head coach after firing Antonio Pierce on Tuesday. Pierce led Las Vegas to a 4-13 season in 2024. Initial reports had Raiders part-time owner Tom Brady reaching out to Bill Belichick as a potential replacement.

Belichick quickly dispelled any such notion and clarified he was focused on his new job as the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, his first-ever college football job.

Coach Prime signals what could bring him into the NFL

In an interview on Wednesday with "GMA3: What You Need To Know," Coach Prime spoke about possibly returning to the NFL, this time as a coach. According to him, there's only one thing that could potentially make that worthwhile for him:

“You know what?” Sanders said. "The only way I would consider is to coach my sons.”

That brings a new dimension to his interest in the Las Vegas Raiders gig. A month ago, the Raiders were in prime position to select Shedeur Sanders. Several public statements by the quarterback made it seem like his preferred destination. However, since those statements, the Raiders improved and they now hold the No. 6 overall pick of the draft. It seems highly unlikely that Shedeur Sanders would drop that far.

Could the Raiders be about to promise Coach Prime to draft Shilo Sanders?