Colorado football coach Deion Sanders introduced Byron Leftwich to his team this week, telling his players that the former NFL quarterback would be part of the team’s coaching staff and work with the Buffaloes’ quarterbacks.
“This guy knows what he’s doing,” Sanders told his team, as documented in a YouTube video posted July 29 by Deion Sanders Jr. “And he’s gonna be an intricate part of our success. I already know that. … So, let’s welcome Coach Leftwich.”
The team clapped. However, the university confirmed Friday, Aug. 1 that, “as of right now, Mr. Byron Leftwich is still considered a volunteer with the University,’ as he was in the spring.
This could change in days or weeks if Leftwich officially joins the staff as a paid assistant. The university didn’t respond to requests for further comment.
In the meantime, it’s the second or third time since March that Sanders Sr. has suggested Leftwich has been hired or is on the verge of being hired at Colorado, raising questions about whether Sanders is getting what he wants from the university in terms of staffing. He’s at least been having to wait for it.
Deion Sanders brought it up at Big 12 media days
Sanders previously brought up the subject at a Big 12 Conference media days event July 9, when he indicated he wanted to add Leftwich and former NFL head coach Mike Zimmer to his staff in Boulder but that something was in the way of making it official.
After noting his staff already had more than 150 years of combined NFL experience, Sanders said, “This is without Byron Leftwich, which I’m praying that he does the right thing, and Mike Zimmer.’
Sanders didn’t say who he wanted to do “the right thing.” It sounded then like he might have been hoping that Leftwich accepted the job. But considering that Leftwich has returned to Boulder and is not yet getting paid by the university, it’s also possible Sanders could have been applying public pressure on a decision-maker at CU to do “the right thing,” meaning fund and approve the hiring of Leftwich.
Colorado is getting a great deal with Leftwich working for free. He previously helped lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory in February 2021 as the team’s offensive coordinator. The New England Patriots also interviewed him for their head coach vacancy in January. Leftwich, 45, declined comment when contacted by USA TODAY Sports July 11.
The university confirmed in July that Zimmer isn’t on the Colorado staff.
Other previous comments by Deion Sanders
In March, Sanders said more notable staff hirings were on the way.
“We have a couple more huge moves we’ll probably make this week, maybe one next week that you’re gonna really appreciate the understanding of how wonderful this staff is,” Sanders said March 17.
Two days later, on March 19, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that “Leftwich is back in coaching as he is joining Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado.”
At the time, Schultz was a client of the same talent agency that works with Sanders, SMAC Entertainment.
But no big staff moves were announced after that. Leftwich wasn’t officially hired. He was spotted at Colorado wearing school gear in March. In response to questions about it, the school said then that Leftwich was a volunteer.
Also in March, Sanders made a cryptic remark about money on a show called ‘The Morning Run.’
“These people better go and get my money and stop playing,’ he said. He then quickly said “bye, bye” before exiting the show.
It’s not clear what he was talking about then, but it could have been about pay for his staff. Sanders also got a new five-year contract after that worth more than $10 million annually, nearly double his previous annual pay.
Bigger staff and new costs
Despite any holdup with Leftwich, Colorado still has expanded its football staff under Sanders, including the addition of two former Dallas Cowboys players to coach its offensive line – Andre Gurode and George Hegamin. Meanwhile, Colorado’s athletic department is facing the same financial challenges as other major colleges after a judge recently approved a legal settlement that allows schools to pay players up to $20.5 million for their names, images and likenesses (NIL). That’s a whole new cost to add to the budget, starting July 1.
The Buffaloes began preseason practice this week and will open the season at home against Georgia Tech Aug. 29.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com