Colorado’s homecoming weekend delivered an unexpected surprise when Shedeur Sanders made an unannounced visit to Boulder, catching his father Deion Sanders completely off guard.
The reunion, captured on video by Well Off Media, showed genuine emotion as the NFL quarterback emerged from behind a doorway to surprise his father before Saturday’s game.
Just days earlier, Shedeur had convinced fans he wouldn’t make the trip to Colorado for homecoming. In a live stream that went viral among Sanders and Cleveland Browns fans, he said he had to “get ready, BIG ready.” The comment now appears to have been misdirection to keep his travel plans secret.
Coach Sanders’ reaction was immediate and heartfelt. The father and son embraced while repeating the same phrases – Deion asking “why are you here?” while Shedeur kept saying “you need your son.”
The moment revealed how challenging this season has been for the elder Sanders, coaching without his quarterback son for the first time in his career.
“Oh you playing today,” Coach Sanders joked after their initial embrace. “Go get your stuff on, you playing today.”
The videos showed a joyful side of Coach Sanders that local media hasn’t seen recently. While he’s appeared relieved during his cancer-free press conference and proud after beating ranked Iowa State, he’s been visibly frustrated following recent struggles.
The visit addressed ongoing questions about Shedeur’s NFL status. His week-to-week availability has sparked conspiracy theories among fans when injuries are cited. Bucky Sanders recently confirmed Shedeur has been dealing with a back issue, and Saturday’s footage showed him receiving treatment three separate times.
Physical transformation evident during visit
Shedeur’s physical development since joining the NFL was immediately noticeable to those who know him best.
Constance Schwartz-Morini, Deion Sanders’ business partner and CEO of SMAC Entertainment, had specific words for the quarterback’s appearance.
“Seriously though, he’s ‘swole’, he’s swole.”
Lauren Askevold, the team’s sports medicine coach, showed the most animated reaction. She nearly leaped into Shedeur’s arms before he reminded her about his back injury. Even with the injury, his conditioning level impressed her when he requested 20 minutes on the underwater treadmill.
Colorado fans in attendance showed their appreciation when Shedeur, known as “Grown” during his playing days, entered the stadium. They witnessed something unseen since the 2024 season – the traditional father-son walk before kickoff.
Shedeur & Deion. Just like old times pic.twitter.com/gRjAOR3Qni
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 1, 2025
The game itself didn’t provide the same joy as the reunion. Colorado’s loss left them at 3-6, needing to win their remaining three games to reach bowl eligibility.
The Buffaloes face a challenging path forward, starting with their next game at West Virginia. That matchup will air on TNT and HBO Max.
The complete behind-the-scenes footage of Shedeur’s Boulder visit remains available on the Well Off Media YouTube channel, offering fans a glimpse into the Sanders family dynamic during a difficult season.
