Deion Sanders’ growing momentum in recruiting spells bad news for the Dallas Cowboys with the Colorado head coach getting more and more reasons to snub his former employers.

Sanders has been linked with a return to the franchise he spent five seasons with as a player and won his second Super Bowl ring. The Cowboys are enduring a miserable season languishing at 3-7 after Monday’s defeat to the Houston Texans.

The team is expected to make sweeping changes in the offseason, with head coach Mike McCarthy coming to the end of his contract. Six-time All-Pro Sanders has been mooted as a potential replacement after his success at the collegiate level with Colorado and Jackson State.

Since taking charge of the Buffs last year, the 57-year-old has transformed a one-win program into a contender for the Big 12 championship and the college football playoff. But with his son – and star quarterback – Shedeur plus two-way Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter heading to the NFL, many have wondered whether Sanders may choose to follow them to the pro ranks.

However, Colorado has made huge strides in recent weeks in its attempts to fill the void left by those players and other starters declaring for April’s NFL Draft. The Buffs are closing in on securing a commitment from Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis, the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class after he withdrew his pledge to USC earlier this week.

Mike McCarthy

The Cowboys are set to have a new head coach next season with Mike McCarthy’s contract expiring ( 

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Perry Knotts/Getty Image)

Another big recruit is set to follow. After Lewis’ decision, fellow USC commit Carde Smith also withdrew his commitment, with numerous reports that he is heading to the Buffs. The four-star recruit is ranked the No. 12 offensive lineman in the class by On3.

And more top recruits could follow, with Colorado working hard on flipping linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, edge rusher London Merritt and Michael Carroll, who are committed to Michigan, Ohio State and Alabama respectively.

The fact Colorado is chasing, and in some cases landing, recruits over blue-chip programs is a testament to Sanders’ impact in Boulder. And while a return to the NFL to coach “America’s Team” is sure to be alluring, he has plenty of reasons to remain with Colorado and continue building.

He addressed his future this week amid the speculation linking him to the Cowboys, and he made his feelings abundantly clear on the situation.

“I’m happy where I am, man,” Sanders said. “I’ve got a kickstand down. You know what a kickstand is? That means I’m resting. I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited. I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here, truly do.”

Colorado athletic director Rick George said this week Sanders is with the school for the long term. “Deion’s not going anywhere,” he emphasised. “The guy is committed here. He’s just getting started, and I feel really good about our relationship and his love of Boulder and our tradition here, and the community’s embraced him.”