NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Deion Sanders’ bodyguard said the NFL legend receives about five death threats a day, according to a YouTube video posted by Sanders’ oldest son, Deion Jr.
The bodyguard, Michael Rhodes, told the University of Colorado football players, Sanders’ coaches, to “be careful” who they let into the team facilities.
“I’m Officer Rhodes. I’m the head of security for Coach Prime,” Rhodes told the team.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
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)
“Really quick, I want to say this. Those of you who are new, when you all go up to the facilities in the morning, be aware of who’s coming in with you, especially in the elevator. Don’t let anyone force you to scan them up on the floor, because everyone’s trying to get to Coach Prime. The people who are trying to get to them, just don’t pay attention. Open all the doors, because my philosophy is, if the doors open, they’re going to meet me.
Sanders then cited being a “black man” for his constant death threats.
“We get death threats all the time,” Sanders said. “Why? I’m a black man who makes it happen, makes things move, makes all that happen. So we have things that are real.”
Sanders then asked Rhodes, “How many death threats are we getting?”
“About five every day,” Rhodes said.
Sanders’ life and well-being has been a matter of concern over the past year.
3 SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN $200,000 BURGLARY AT BROWNS STAR SHEDEUR SANDERS’ HOME, POLICE ANNOUNCE
University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders talks about his journey against bladder cancer during a press conference at the Touchdown Club at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., Monday, July 28, 2025. (AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Last June, reports surfaced that the Pro Football Hall of Famer was sidelined with an unspecified illness.
In July, Sanders revealed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. During a press conference with his doctors, Sanders shared that part of his intestine had been surgically reconstructed to function as a bladder.
After his bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, Sanders often needed to use the restroom, so the school introduced one portable siding bathroom for him during games.
Then, during a postgame press conference in October, Sanders predicted he faced several blood clots after being affected by them earlier.
“The cat’s out of the bag, okay. I think I’ve got more blood clots,” Sanders said. “It doesn’t make sense. I hurt like crazy… I’m not getting blood to my leg. That’s why my leg is throbbing.”
The blood clot problem resulted in the amputation of two toes on his left foot in 2021. Sanders was the coach at Jackson State at the time. In 2023, the two-time Super Bowl champion missed Pac-12 media day to address a blood clot in his right leg and another surgery to correct bowed toes on his left foot.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
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)
“I want to go in there [surgery]and I’m going to get some of the best sleep in the world for, I think, four hours, the surgery is going to be,” Sanders said Tuesday.
“I’ve never been high a day in my life. I’ve never drank or smoked or anything. But when I get those surgeries, I’m there on time.”
