Deion Sanders found a humorous way to sidestep inquiries about the rumors regarding his date with actress Karrueche Tran after she supported him during his bladder removal surgery in May.
During an appearance on the “Say What You Need to Say” podcast, former NFL player Asante Samuel raised the topic, mentioning how he noticed Tran in emotional videos shared by Sanders’ son, Dion Jr., at the Hall of Fame.
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Samuel remarked at the interview’s end. “Everyone saw Karrueche Tran with you during the hospital visit. People are curious about that friendship.”
At that point, Sanders pretended to lose the connection on the call, quipping, “Hey, we’re not connected,” in a light-hearted manner.
Samuel chuckled and commended Sanders for his leadership and wisdom.
Tran, who is 37, was seen emotionally supporting Sanders after he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his bladder.
She held his hand as he was transported to surgery, expressing her concerns: “We’re in the hospital because we’re dealing with bladder cancer. They’re removing the bladder and constructing a new one from part of the intestine. I think this route is best because it completely eliminates the cancer. I’m really trying to avoid further issues as we were getting closer to the muscle.”
It’s uncertain whether Sanders and Tran are officially dating, as neither has commented on the speculation.
Previously, Sanders ended his long-term engagement with television producer Tracey Edmonds in December 2023 after being together for 12 years.
Now cancer-free, Sanders announced he will discuss his health at a press conference in Boulder on Monday, together with Dr. Janet Kukleha, who is the president of urological oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
He took a break from coaching this spring due to unspecified health issues, revealing that doctors found his bladder cancer while examining blood clots in his legs and feet. This diagnosis followed a previous surgery in 2021 when he had to amputate part of his toes due to blood clots.
Having led Colorado to a 9-4 record in his second season, Sanders agreed to a five-year, $54 million contract extension in March.
The Buffaloes will kick off their 2025 season against Georgia Tech in Boulder on August 29th.
