Colorado legends call out Deion Sanders for Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders jersey retirements: ‘We’re celebrating mediocrity’

The Colorado Buffaloes have become Deion Sanders‘ program. That means doing things in their own way, garnering plenty of attention in the process. Now, some of that attention is coming from former players who aren’t happy with the recent decision to retire Heisman winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders‘ numbers.

One member of Colorado’s 1990 national title team spoke to The Athletic. Granted anonymity, they shared that they think the decision to retire their numbers is a celebration of mediocrity.

“We’re celebrating mediocrity,” the player said. “Where are the wins? Where are the top-10 finishes? Go Buffs for life, but you have to just hold your nose and deal with it… If you b— and complain, you look jealous and envious, and you’re just a hater.”

In their two seasons at Colorado, Hunter and Sanders helped lead the team to a 13-12 overall record. That included an AP Top 25 finish in 2024, though they would lose the Alamo Bowl. Hunter, also, notably won the Heisman Trophy. Now, both players are expected to be high NFL Draft picks.

That anonymous Colorado player wasn’t alone. Another player from that 1990 national title team, Chad Brown, who was also a two-time All-Big Eight linebacker who spent more than a decade in the NFL, was also critical of the decision.

“I had no idea whatsoever,” Brown said. “I hadn’t heard of anyone who heard it was happening. Everybody from my era was just as caught off guard as I was… Not a lot of numbers have been retired over the years. For this to be the exact opposite of our experience is one of the reasons why it was so different to see this.”

Including Hunter and Sanders, Colorado has only retired a total of six numbers. That includes Bobby Anderson, Rashaan Salaam, Byron White, and Joe Romig. However, Colorado athletic director Rick George announced in 2020 plans to re-issue White, Romig, and Anderson’s numbers, though no player has worn their numbers since the announcement. Other stars in Colorado’s history, like Kordell Stewart and six other College Football Hall of Famers, haven’t had that honor.

“The leapfrogging has already been done,” Brown said. “Does Rick George go back and start this process? Who do you start it with? What guys of our eras? Who picks this? Who chooses this? Who chose this one? It seems like it would be a committee kind of thing of folks who understand the legacy and the history of CU football, and maybe some newer folks. … But as far as I know, nothing like that was done.”

Those players from the 1990 team aren’t alone in their criticism, though. Former player and assistant coach Darrin Chiaverini took to social media to share his own concerns.

“The excitement and the notoriety that Shedeur and Travis have brought to the University of Colorado is unquestioned, but retiring these numbers before recognizing previous great players in CU history needs to be addressed,” Chiaverini wrote.

Tyler Polumbus, a two-year starter who was on the roster from 2003-07 who also played in the NFL called it a mistake. He also noted that it’s the first decision at Colorado he’s noticed from Deion Sanders that has bothered alumni.

“This is the first decision that Deion Sanders has made that has really enraged the alumni, including myself,” Polumbus said, 

Deion Sanders would go on to publicly defend retiring his son, Shedeur’s number, which has garnered more criticism than the decision to retire Hunter’s. He emphasized that if Shedeur’s last name wasn’t Sanders, he doesn’t think it would even be a discussion. However, Chad Brown pushed back on that, emphasizing Colorado has a long history of football success that deserves to be honored.

“The idea we wouldn’t be having this conversation or we’re only having it because it’s Deion’s son, well it would also be fair to say he wouldn’t be getting this consideration if he wasn’t Deion’s son. It goes both ways,” Brown said. “If we’re going to ignore the legacy of the greatest era ever of Colorado football and act like it was invented three years ago, it’s dismissing, disrespecting and in some ways trying to erase the greatness of past players.”

Former Colorado quarterback and current broadcaster and analyst Joel Klatt added to that, sharing that the decision wasn’t a good look. He also added that it “becomes a disservice to Shedeur.” After all, it’s easy to point to his relationship with his father for why it would be retired.

“I’m not a hater. I’ve bled on the field. I’ve contributed off the field. I’ve coughed up money. It’s not me pushing back on the program or Coach Prime or Travis or Shedeur,” Brown said. “It’s fighting for recognition of players from my era who clearly deserve to be included in this conversation.”

Deion Sanders explains retiring Travis Hunter, son Shedeur’s jerseys

While for some, the jersey retirement may seem it came too soon, for Deion Sanders it mattered to honor Shedeur and Travis Hunter now. In particular, because he didn’t want to wait to give players their flowers for their success.

“I saw them, and I looked in both their eyes. I know they were pleased, they were thankful and they were proud. And that means a lot to me. I’m one of those type of guys who I’m going to tell you how I feel right off the rip. You know? I’m not gonna really wait, so I give you your flowers now. I’m not gonna wait 20 years down the street, then bring you back when you’re limping, you can barely walk, or because some tragedy happens to recognize your greatness and what you contributed to this program,” Sanders said.

“So I’m thankful that [athletic director] Rick [George] shot a shot and moved on what we all know was inevitable in due time. The time frame, nobody’s going to be happy with. Somebody’s always going to have something to say. But the way we are right now, we’re a ‘now’ generation. You guys are ‘now’ people and this is a ‘now’ time. And those guys deserve what they deserve right now. So I’m proud of them.”

There is no standard around college football for when a player can have their jersey retired. Those decisions end up falling on the school themselves and, in this case, the current staff and administration at Colorado felt that Hunter and Sanders deserved the honor now.

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