Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has put any chatter about a jump to the NFL firmly on hold while he deals with an undisclosed medical issue that has limited his public appearances this spring and summer.

The 57-year-old, better known as “Coach Prime,” spent much of the off-season away from Boulder recuperating from what the school has called a “personal health matter.” Speaking at Big 12 media day on July 9, Sanders politely—but firmly—steered questions toward his players. “I’m not here to talk about my health,” he told reporters with a smile. “I’m here to talk about my team.”

Sanders’ absence had already raised eyebrows. He missed a sickle-cell symposium in early June and skipped star two-way player Travis Hunter’s May wedding, fueling speculation that his condition might be serious. Those concerns intensified after his eldest son, Deion Jr., mentioned on a YouTube livestream that his father was recovering from an unspecified issue but “feeling well.”

Although Sanders insisted he is “living lovely” and “already back” in the football facility, analysts believe the lingering uncertainty virtually eliminates the possibility of an NFL job in the near term. One commentator suggested that the ongoing recovery will keep “Coach Prime” in Colorado for the foreseeable future, shelving talk of professional coaching ambitions.

Health has factored into Sanders’ career decisions before. In 2022, he underwent multiple surgeries for blood clots that ultimately resulted in the amputation of two toes on his left foot—procedures he discussed openly in his docuseries Coach Prime. Whether his latest setback is related remains unknown; Sanders declined to elaborate, saying only that “God has truly blessed me” and that he’s eager to meet new recruits once preseason camp opens.

For now, Colorado fans can exhale: their head coach plans to be on the sideline this fall, intent on building on last season’s 9-4 turnaround. As for the NFL? That conversation is, at least temporarily, off the table.