Deion Sanders

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sanders played college football for Florida State, winning the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988. He was selected by the Falcons fifth overall in the 1989 NFL draft. Primarily a cornerback, he received eight Pro Bowl and six first-team All-Pro selections. He made consecutive Super Bowl appearances in Super Bowl XXIX with the 49ers and Super Bowl XXX with the Cowboys, winning both. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He never played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In Their Own Story

The humidity hangs heavy over the old Tampa Stadium as the fourth quarter winds down. The crowd is restless, but on the sideline, Deion Sanders adjusts his gloves with a calm that belies the chaos of the game. He doesn't need to shout; the stadium knows who he is. As the quarterback drops back, eyes darting for an open receiver, they hesitate when they see Prime Time drifting in coverage. With a burst of speed that defies physics, Sanders breaks on the pass, snatching it from the air with one hand while already sprinting toward the end zone. The crowd erupts not just for the play, but for the sheer spectacle of the man who made football look like art.

Reader's Guide

Sanders is the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. He played in the NFL for the Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins, and Ravens. He played MLB for the Yankees, Braves, Reds, and Giants. He had 14 interceptions in his college career at Florida State, returning three for touchdowns. His NFL interception totals are not specified in the source.

Did You Know?

• Sanders is the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
• He spelled his first name 'Deion' after learning the nursery rhyme 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm' as a child.
• He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988 at Florida State.
• He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1985 but chose to attend Florida State instead.