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Full Name: Deion Luwynn Sanders Primary Position: DB
Height/Weight: 6' 1"/195 College: Florida State University
Birthdate: August 9, 1967 High School: North Fort Myers (FL)
Birthplace: Fort Myers, Florida Nickname: Prime Time, Neon
Pro Experience: 14 years

Biography[]

Biography[]

for Deion Sanders Baseball Career, see Deion Sanders (baseball)

Deion Luwynn Sanders (born August 9, 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida) is an American former National Football League cornerback, Major League Baseball player, and CBS Sports commentator.

Sanders, also known as Neon Deion and Prime Time, is considered one of the greatest and most versatile athletes in recent American sports history, much like Bo Jackson. In football, he is considered to be one of, if not the greatest cover cornerback of all time.

College career[]

Sanders was a star in three sports for the Florida State Seminoles, participating in football, baseball, and track. Beginning his freshman year, when he started in the Seminoles secondary, played outfield for the baseball team that finished fifth in the nation, and helped lead the track and field team to a conference championship, it was clear that Sanders was an exceptional athlete on a national level.

At Florida State, under head coach Bobby Bowden, Sanders was a two time consensus All-American cornerback in 1987 and 1988, and a third team All-American in 1986, intercepting 14 passes in his career, including three in bowl games, and managed to return one interception 100 yards for a touchdown. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988 and is widely considered to be the best cornerback to ever play college football. He was also a punt returner for Florida State, leading the nation in 1988 with his punt return average, and breaking the school's record for career punt return yards. His jersey at Florida State, #2, was retired in 1995, only the second jersey retired in school history (after Ron Simmons's #50 in 1988.).

Atlanta Falcons[]

Deion Sanders's professional football career started the same year as his baseball career, 1989. He was the fifth pick of the first round in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, where he played until 1993. During his time there, he intercepted 24 passes, three for touchdowns. During his stay in Atlanta, Deion claimed that the Georgia Dome was the house that he built.

San Francisco 49ers[]

After five seasons of feeling like the only bright star in Atlanta and yearning for a Super Bowl championship, Deion signed on to played one season with the San Francisco 49ers, where he had arguably his best season as a professional football player. He was voted the 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and recorded an interception in the 49ers 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.

Dallas Cowboys[]

On September 9, 1995, Deion Sanders signed a lucrative contract with the Dallas Cowboys (7 years, 35 million with a 12.99 signing bonus) essentially making him at the time, the highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Arthroscopic surgery kept him sidelined until his debut in week 9 against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons. He later went on to help the Cowboys win their unprecedented third Super Bowl title in four years with a win in Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he returned a punt for 11 yards and caught a 47-yard reception on offense, setting up Dallas' first touchdown of the game and a 27-17 victory. He is the only player to catch a pass and make an interception in the Super Bowl. At the trophy presentation, Sanders stated " I didn't even get to hold the trophy last year" in regards to his previous employer in San Francisco.

Washington Redskins[]

After 5 seasons with the Cowboys, he later was acquired by the Washington Redskins and played one season before abruptly and unceremoniously retiring in 2001.

Baltimore Ravens[]

In 2004, lured back to football by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, Sanders announced that he was going to end his retirement. He signed a 1-year deal reportedly worth $1.5 million with the Baltimore Ravens to be a nickelback. Sanders chose to wear the number 37, which matched his age at the time, to preemptively let people know that he was well aware of his relatively old age for an NFL player (The number 21 was used by him throughout his entire career, but was already in use on the Ravens by Chris McAlister). On October 24, Sanders scored his ninth career touchdown on an interception return against the Buffalo Bills, moving him into a tie for second place behind Rod Woodson (12) all-time in that category. Sanders is one of a handful of NFL players in skill positions to play after the age of 35.

In January 2006, Deion Sanders once again, unceremoniously retired from the game of football. Ironically, leaving the game and the Cornerback position he help revolutionize rather quietly, as opposed to the flashy, grand entrance upon entering the NFL in 1989.


Legacy[]

During his 14-year career, the All-Pro Deion Sanders was one of the most feared pass defenders to ever play the game. He was so versatile, that he was a threat to score every time he touched the football. He intercepted 53 passes for 1331 yards (a 25.1 yards per return average), recovered 4 fumbles for 15 yards, returned 155 kickoffs for 3,523 yards, gained 2,199 yards on 212 punt returns, and even caught 60 passes for 784 yards. Sanders scored 22 touchdowns: 9 interception returns, 6 punt returns, 3 kickoff returns, 3 receiving, and 1 fumble recovery. His 19 defensive and return touchdowns are an NFL record. Although his tackling was poor and his covering technique was unorthodox, his blanketed shadow of a receiver aided by his blinding speed and athleticism more than compensated at one of the NFL's toughest positions. He was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.17 seconds by NFL scouts [1] and 4.28 seconds at the NFL combine [2]. As a result of this, Sanders was completely respected in the defensive secondary and offensive coordinators and opposing teams were forced to alter their game plans accordingly. Over the course of his NFL career, Sanders was selected to 8 Pro Bowls in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. He was also awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1994.

One of the few successful two-way players of the modern NFL, Deion was occasionally used as a wide receiver at times appearing as nothing more than a decoy, as his speed kept opposing defenses honest and fully aware of the deep threat down field. But during the 1996 season, Sanders skipped baseball and his traditional two-sport persona by concentrating strictly on football and attended the first NFL training camp of his career to better familiarize himself with the nuances of the Wide Receiver position. He became the first two-way starter in the NFL since Chuck Bednarik for the first half of the season due to Michael Irvin serving a six game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

  • College Football News named Sanders #8 in its list of 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.
  • The Sporting News named Sanders #37 in their Top 100 Football Players of the Century released in 1999.
  • ESPN named Sanders #74 in its list of the 100 Great Athletes of the Century released in 1999.

While at North Fort Myers High School, Sanders was drafted by the MLB Kansas City Royals, and was later drafted while in college by the MLB New York Yankees. While playing under head coach Mike Martin, at Florida State, Sanders hit .331 in 1986, although he was known more for base stealing, having stolen 27 bases in 1987.

Sanders also ran track during his years at Florida State. On one occasion, Sanders played the first game of a baseball double-header, ran a leg of a 4X100 relay, then returned to play another baseball game.

Statistics[]

Interception Stats[]

year team league games INT YDS LNG TD
1989 ATL NFL 15 5 52 22 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 3 153 82t 2
1991 ATL NFL 16 6 119 55t 1
1992 ATL NFL 13 3 105 55 0
1993 ATL NFL 11 7 91 41 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 6 303 93t 3
1995 DAL NFL 9 2 34 34 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 2 3 2 0
1997 DAL NFL 13 2 81 50t 1
1998 DAL NFL 11 5 153 71t 1
1999 DAL NFL 14 3 2 2 0
2000 WAS NFL 16 4 91 32 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 3 87 48t 1
2005 BAL NFL 16 2 57 33 0
14 year NFL career 189 53 1331 0 9

Punt Return Stats[]

year team league games RET YDS AVG FC LNG TD
1989 ATL NFL 15 28 307 11 7 68t 1
1990 ATL NFL 16 29 250 8.6 13 79t 1
1991 ATL NFL 16 21 170 8.1 9 23 0
1992 ATL NFL 13 13 41 3.2 9 14 0
1993 ATL NFL 11 2 21 10.5 1 16 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 1 54 54 1 43 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 1 4 4 1 4 0
1997 DAL NFL 13 33 407 12.3 12 83t 1
1998 DAL NFL 11 24 375 15.6 8 69t 2
1999 DAL NFL 14 30 344 11.5 1 76 1
2000 WAS NFL 16 25 185 7.4 6 57 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 5 41 8.2 0 23 0
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 212 2199 10.4 68 0 6

Kick Return Stats[]

year team league games RET YDS AVG LNG TD
1989 ATL NFL 15 35 725 20.7 72 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 39 851 21.8 50 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 26 576 22.2 100t 1
1992 ATL NFL 13 40 1067 26.7 99t 2
1993 ATL NFL 11 7 169 24.1 31 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 1 15 15 15 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
1997 DAL NFL 13 1 18 18 18 0
1998 DAL NFL 11 1 16 16 16 0
1999 DAL NFL 14 4 87 21.8 31 0
2000 WAS NFL 16 1 -1 -1 -1 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 155 3523 22.7 0 3

Receiving Stats[]

year team league games REC YDS AVG TD LNG
1989 ATL NFL 15 1 -8 -8 0 -8
1990 ATL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 1 17 17 0 17
1992 ATL NFL 13 3 45 15 1 37t
1993 ATL NFL 11 6 106 17.7 1 70t
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 2 25 12.5 0 19
1996 DAL NFL 16 36 475 13.2 1 41
1997 DAL NFL 13 0 0 0 0 0L
1998 DAL NFL 11 7 100 14.3 0 55
1999 DAL NFL 14 4 24 6 0 9
2000 WAS NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0L
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 60 784 13.1 3 0

Rushing Stats[]

year team league games ATT YDS AVG TD LNG
1989 ATL NFL 15 0 0 0 0 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
1992 ATL NFL 13 1 -4 -4 0 -4
1993 ATL NFL 11 0 0 0 0 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 2 9 4.5 0 8
1996 DAL NFL 16 3 2 0.7 0 3
1997 DAL NFL 13 1 -11 -11 0 -11
1998 DAL NFL 11 0 0 0 0 0
1999 DAL NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0
2000 WAS NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 1 -10 -10 0 -10
2005 BAL NFL 16 1 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 9 -14 -1.6 0 0

Sack/Safety Stats[]

year team league games SK SFY
1989 ATL NFL 15 0 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 0 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 1 0
1992 ATL NFL 13 0 0
1993 ATL NFL 11 0 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 0 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 0 0
1997 DAL NFL 13 0 0
1998 DAL NFL 11 0 0
1999 DAL NFL 14 0 0
2000 WAS NFL 16 0 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 0 0
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 1 0

Passing Stats[]

year team league games ATT CMP PCT YDS YPA TD INT SKD SKY RAT
1989 ATL NFL 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1992 ATL NFL 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1993 ATL NFL 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39.6
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1997 DAL NFL 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998 DAL NFL 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999 DAL NFL 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39.6
2000 WAS NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 39.6

Fumble Recovery Stats[]

year team league games TOT OWR OPR YDS TD
1989 ATL NFL 15 2 1 0 0 0
1990 ATL NFL 16 4 2 0 0 0
1991 ATL NFL 16 1 1 0 0 0
1992 ATL NFL 13 3 1 1 0 0
1993 ATL NFL 11 0 0 0 0 0
1994 SFO NFL 14 0 1 0 0 0
1995 DAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0
1996 DAL NFL 16 2 0 3 15 1
1997 DAL NFL 13 1 0 0 0 0
1998 DAL NFL 11 1 1 0 0 0
1999 DAL NFL 14 1 0 0 0 0
2000 WAS NFL 16 3 2 0 0 0
2004 BAL NFL 9 0 0 0 0 0
2005 BAL NFL 16 0 0 0 0 0
14 year NFL career 189 18 9 4 15 1

Trivia[]

See also[]

Awards[]

  • Won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1994
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