Deion Sanders ‘Praying’ Son Shilo Gets Another NFL Shot

Deion Sanders says he’s “praying” that his son Shilo Sanders will get another shot in the NFL, but left the door open for the possibility that his professional football career may be over.

Deion, 58, opened up about the news that his son Shilo, 25, had been cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week after getting ejected for punching an opponent during the team’s final preseason NFL game on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference following his University of Colorado team’s practice Tuesday, the college football coach said he’s spoken to Shilo about Saturday’s incident.

“He’s my son, and I’m proud of my kids, all of them, and I’ve prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports,” Deion said. “That’s part of fathering, that’s part of parenting, that’s part of having a relationship.”

Deion said Shilo “is mentally where he needs to be, physically where he needs to be” but will need to wait for another opportunity to play in the NFL.

“We’re praying that he gets another opportunity to go with a team, but if he doesn’t, the plans have already been put forward for what he’s going to do next,” Deion told reporters. “Shilo’s a man of many talents, I don’t know if you guys know, he’s a man of many talents, and he’s going to be straight. All the Sanders are going to be straight with or without football, you better believe that. You better believe that. I take care of mine and I always have, and y’all know what I mean. And you better believe that.”

Shilo played six seasons of college football – four with his dad as coach at Jackson State and at Colorado – before he was picked up by the Buccaneers earlier this year as an undrafted rookie free agent. The defensive safety played in three preseason games for Tampa Bay before he was waived by the team this week after punching Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson in the helmet with a closed fist.

“You can’t throw punches in this league, that’s inexcusable,” Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles told reporters after the game. “They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”

Shilo’s younger brother Shedeur, 23, is also in his rookie NFL season, and made the Cleveland Browns roster as the team’s third quarterback on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Shilo recently opened up about how he and his brother want to make a name for themselves beyond their father’s shadow, after both played for Deion in college.

“We have to grow up and do things on our own,” Shilo said recently, according to ESPN. “So that’s why I want my dad to come out here, but at the same time, it’s time to grow and to figure things out and go through the grind.”