Colorado’s head coach, Deion Sanders, is responding to remarks made by a longtime associate of his. Christopher Neely, a YouTube content creator known as “Uncle Neely,” recently claimed that Coach Prime was ready to pay up to $50,000 to quiet his critics. “That was a joke,” Sanders explained to reporters on Tuesday.
Neely had mentioned in a video during an online roundtable that many individuals who criticize Sanders are benefiting financially because of him. He stated that Sanders once told some of these critics, “Hey man, let’s just do this. I give you $50,000 to not mention my name for a year.” According to Neely, none of them have taken that deal yet.
When reporters questioned Sanders about what seemed to be an offer of hush money to his detractors, he appeared to need some clarification. Neely, present at the press conference, quickly elaborated on his comments.
“Oh no, no, no! I think you misinterpreted that,” Sanders responded. “I said, like some of y’all in here sitting right now, ‘I would love to give you money and not mention my name, and I want to see how far that goes.’ … That’s what we were saying. Some people live on your name.”
Sanders reflected on criticism, noting that it’s something he’s dealt with since his days in the NFL, and it has continued throughout his coaching journey.
“I would never offer a man money. I don’t give a darn what you say about me,” Sanders asserted. “That was really a joke about someone prospering off of your name and your brand. It’s not in my heart to not like anybody in this room. I may not like some things you may do or say, but I don’t know you enough to form that opinion.
“This is normalcy because I’m just different. I’m unapologetic about things I say and how I live my life.”
Now in his fourth season with Colorado, Sanders came on board after a successful period at Jackson State. He has significantly boosted Colorado’s profile, securing nine wins and guiding the team to a bowl game in his second season.
Colorado concluded the 2025 season with a 3-9 record. This year, they started strong with two wins but have since lost their last five games. The Buffaloes are set to face Kansas State on Saturday.
