"Was already with NIL": Deion Sanders reveals hilarious details of Keyshawn Johnson's draft day party

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders appeared on FS1's ‘Speak’ on Tuesday and spoke about the legendary NFL Draft Day party hosted by Keyshawn Johnson. He was the first pick by the New York Jets in 1996.

The event was packed with celebrities such as Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Reggie Bush, MC Hammer and Ice Cube. However, the guest who had the most lasting impact on Keyshawn was none other than Coach Prime.

While Deion Sanders has always been a star, the account from Keyshawn Johnson further validates the fact. The late-90s saw Coach Prime enjoy legendary status during the time when Keyshawn was drafted by the Jets.

Keyshawn was already a star, given the USC’s 41-32 win against Northwestern in the 1996 Rose Bowl. He was named Player of the Game after he registered 12 passes for 216 yards, which included a 56-yard touchdown sprint. When Johnson invited 2000 guests to his party, he did not know that the one with the biggest impact on him would be Coach Prime.

When asked about Keyshawn’s draft party on ‘Speak’, Deion Sanders said:

“Hey man, let me tell you something. First, let me digress a bit, and let me take you back to Keyshawn. Keyshawn heard that college thing... Keyshawn was already with the NIL! Look at this thing! Keyshawn was already in NIL.

"He thought the NIL was doing it; okay, the playmaker was already NIL-ing before this. When I met him, he had on four big chains. Keyshawn was the LA playmaker there on the other coast. These dudes live the life! How do you blame me for being who I am when I had these types of guys?”

Keyshawn Johnson details impact Deion Sanders' words had on him

On Feb. 8, Keyshawn Johnson appeared on the “All the Smoke” podcast and got nostalgic about the wild party he threw in 1996.

In his first-hand account of his interaction with Coach Prime, the former WR for the Jets said that Sanders wanted to talk to him and educate him on the pitfalls, the NFL, and what to look out for. Johnson stressed that he did not even invite Deion Sanders but he appreciated the fact that Sanders took the time out of his busy schedule to take Keyshawn under his wing.

On Fox Sports’ ‘Speak’ with co-host Paul Pierce and Sanders in attendance, Keyshawn said:

‘I’m like, 'Damn! He came to my draft party!' You know how I felt and what that meant to me? That’s like Michael Jordan coming to your draft party out of nowhere just to give you some knowledge about the next level that you're going to appreciate. To this day I tell that story ‘cause it I still got pictures at my house.”

Keyshawn has also been vocal about Coach Prime's future. On that fateful day in 1996, the Jets bypassed several future Hall of Famers, like Jonathan Ogden, Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens and Zach Thomas, to pick Keyshawn as the first in the overall draft.

While some are quick to express their gratitude toward Deion Sanders for his sage wisdom, others are quick to criticize him.

Do you think coach Sanders deserves the criticism?