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Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders gave an emotional tribute at the funeral of his sophomore quarterback Dominiq Ponder, who died in a tragic car accident last week. Think was 23.
Sanders took to the microphone after Ponder’s family, saying it “didn’t feel right” to do so, but he couldn’t help but feel “inspired” by their words.
Then Sanders, a spiritual man in his own right, began to speak.
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Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGIN)
“We’re always asking questions about why this happened … ‘God, why this and why that?'” Sanders said.
“When we succeed, excel, and overcome adversity, we never ask God, ‘Why?’ thereafter. Only in our death and the sorrow of life do we challenge and ask God: ‘Why?’ I think I have the solution.”
Sanders then began talking about his former signal caller.
“As I look right there, looking at a young man who is so full of life — so full of respect, hustle, hard work and integrity. I ask God, ‘Too real?’ And he whispered: ‘Dom was chosen.’
“Dom was chosen to unite you, to bring you all together. Dom was chosen.”
“Coach Prime” addressed part of his tribute to Ponder’s parents, which led to him understandably getting choked up on the podium.
“The only regret I have is that when you sent us a boy. I wanted to send you back a man,” Sanders said, pausing to try and control his emotions.
Ponder had been a walk-on quarterback with the Buffaloes in Sanders’ first season as he tried to configure his team. He already had his son, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, set to start for Colorado after their success at Jackson State. But Ponder and others in the quarterback room sought to work and develop under the elder Sanders’ guidance.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
Ponder saw appearances in two of the Buffaloes’ games last season.
But while Sanders regrets Ponder, his parents praised him and released a statement thanking “Coach Prime” for his “unwavering generosity, support and love shown to our family.” They also thanked everyone for their “heartfelt gratitude” in a separate statement.
Sanders called an emergency meeting with his Buffaloes roster after learning of Ponder’s death, and a raw scene shared on social media showed him comforting emotional players. Sanders himself was emotional while giving a speech to his team.
“His character, humor, work ethic and tenacity. That’s something that I want us to remember,” he said in the clip.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Sanders also confirmed Ponder’s death last Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was loved, respected and a born leader. Let’s pray for all who knew him and had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord, you receive a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
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