Deion Sanders, better known as Coach Prime, is Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.
SI’s choice for 2023 makes Sanders the seventh coach to win the award, landing him on a distinguished list that includes names like Don Shula, Mike Krzyzewski and Pat Summitt.
There’s no doubt about it: Colorado Buffaloes football reached new heights in 2023 because of the high-profile status of its coach. With early-season wins, many college football fans became interested in a program that had only won a single game in 2022.
From sold-out season tickets to celebrities on the sidelines to viral quotes, Deion Sanders pushed Colorado into the national spotlight.
Coach Prime is here, and he's just getting started
Deion Sanders is SI's 2023 Sportsperson of the Year! https://t.co/Xebtm9bmNZ pic.twitter.com/Sdt500V93u
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 30, 2023
Still, Sanders’ selection has left many college football fans with mixed feelings:
