Deion Sanders received 'very credible threat' before Colorado game this season, security team reveals
Colorado coach Deion Sanders has made a name for himself in the college football world and is become a Buffaloes icon in just a matter of three seasons, but the former NFL player has also become a polarizing figure to some. And, according to his security team, heβs been subjected to multiple threats because of it.Β
In the latest season of the "Coach Prime" docuseries which aired on Prime Video earlier this week, Sandersβ personal security, officer Michael Rhodes, revealed that Sanders received a "very credible threat" before a game duringΒ the 2024 season.
"Coach gets a lot of mail every day, a lot of packages β a lot of gifts," Rhodes said in the second episode as he put on gloves in preparation of reviewing Sandersβ mail.Β Β
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"As he stated publicly, he gets a lot of death threats, a lot of hate mail, so just as a precaution, we go through the mail very carefully. Put on these gloves just to ensure that we donβt come into contact with any type of hazardous material."
Rhodes said he served as a member ofΒ Jackson Stateβs campus police for around 10 years when he was asked to be a member of Sanderβs security detail during his tenure there. When Sanders was offered the job at Colorado, he asked Rhodes to join him.
Since then, Rhodes has had his hands full.
He said in the episode that before a Sept. 14 game againstΒ Colorado State, they received "multiple threats concerning people trying to do harm to Coach."
"There was a very credible threat β two individuals trying to possibly tackle Coach either before, during, or after the game," he continued. "So we had to have multiple law enforcement agencies there β SWAT team, CSUPD as well as Boulder PD."Β
Rhodes said during games he keeps his head "on a swivel" watching for any potential threats in the crowd and around the stadium.Β
"Everybody doesnβt love Coach. With all of the death threats, I donβt know who is who. Iβve got one job, and thatβs to make sure that Coach is good, to make sure heβs safe, so that he can go out and coach the team to a victory."
The Buffaloes closed out the 2024 season on a high note despite a blowout loss to BYU in the Alamo last month.Β
Colorado made their first Bowl game appearance since 2020 and sold out every home game for the past two seasons β a first in the programβs 134-year history. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, and he and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be first-round draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Β
Follow Fox News Digitalβs sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.