Colorado AD Rick George Shows Support for Deion Sanders

Colorado football is going through another big change, but one thing is certain — Deion Sanders is not leaving. Rick George, the athletic director who hired Sanders and has supported him since day one, says Coach Prime is fully committed to staying at Colorado.

Rick George has led the school’s athletic department since 2013. Before stepping down, he spoke with BuffZone reporter Brian Howell on November 17 and made sure to end the rumors about Sanders’ future. He said he talked with Deion earlier in the week and explained, “Coach Prime is committed here. People keep trying to find reasons to say he’s leaving, but he’s not.”

For Sanders, this message means a lot. Rick George took a chance on him back in December 2022, and that decision changed the entire direction of the football program. Even though George is done serving as athletic director, he isn’t leaving campus. He will now work as AD Emeritus and as a special adviser to the chancellor, meaning he will still be around to help Sanders and the department.

Under Rick George’s leadership, Colorado made several big moves. The Buffs built a new athletics building at Folsom Field, earned the 2023–24 Athletic Director of the Year award, and made the big jump back to the Big 12 Conference. That move played a major role in the collapse of the Pac-12 after USC and UCLA decided to leave. George also helped raise a record $100 million for the UCHealth Champions Center back in 2014.

There are also reports that Rick George may mentor former Colorado star and Olympian Jeremy Bloom if Bloom accepts a leadership role. Meanwhile, the Buffs are struggling at 3–7, and Sanders currently ranks 131st out of 136 FBS coaches this season. Having George still involved could help the program settle down during this tough moment.

George also said he plans to help Sanders find solutions. One of the biggest needs is more revenue. Even though Colorado made strong numbers under Sanders — like $146.6 million in revenue and $31.2 million in ticket sales — the school still needed $31.9 million in extra funding to cover rising costs.

As losses continue and the team’s bowl hopes disappear, Sanders has been trying to keep his players motivated. A recent viral video showed Coach Prime telling his players that they must “want this” and speaking about the emotions he deals with from his own past.

The Buffs are facing serious challenges. The defense has allowed too many big plays, and the offense is scoring only about 22 points per game. With Rick George starting a new role and the team in a tough spot, all eyes are now on Sanders to see how he guides Colorado through the next steps.

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