Deion Sanders Credits God for Cancer Recovery
College football coach Deion Sanders credited God for healing him from bladder cancer during a press conference alongside medical professionals Monday.
Dr. Janet Kukreja, who sat alongside Sanders, explained that she had removed a tumor from Sanders’ bladder as well as the bladder itself. She added that a new blader was made using parts of Sanders’ small intestine, ESPN News reported.
Sanders, who has had 14 surgeries since 2021, discussed the challenges he faced after the surgeries, including an inability to control his bladder.
"I can't pee like I used to,'' the football coach said. "... I depend on Depends. ... I'm making a joke out of it, but it is real. It is real. It is real. If you see a port-a-potty on the sideline, it is real, I'm just telling you. You're going to see one at practice, on the sideline [in games].''
After praising God for surviving the challenges, Sanders addressed “all you people that get upset when I start talking about the Lord.”
He added, "I never once, through this whole journey, said, ‘God, why me?’”
According to The Christian Post, Sanders also highlighted God’s blessings in his life, including becoming a head football coach at a “prestigious university” and “father to five wonderful kids.” During his ordeal with illness, “I said, ‘Lord, whatever it is that you’re doing, let me know what it is so I can expedite the process because I know you’ve got me.’”
“I’ve seen you have my back. I’ve seen you there in the midst of storms when nobody knew I was going through hell. I’ve seen you guide me and bring me through,” he added.
Overall, Sanders stressed the importance of his faith when faced with trials.
“I know He’s going to magnify me. I know He’s going to glorify me. And that’s what has transpired. So, I don’t mind going through the afflictions I go through because I know the result,” he said.
When asked how he could stare “death in the face,” Sanders countered with the response, “I stared life in the face.”
“I’m God’s guy. I really am. I’m allowed to go through these trials and tribulations so that I could touch and reach and bless people with my words, with the energy, with that thing that God gave me,” Sanders said.
“I got too much life in me,” he continued. “And I got work to do. We got to win the darn championship. You talking about death? No, God definitely ain’t getting ready to take me before that.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Maddie Meyer/Staff
Originally published July 31, 2025.
