Dion Sanders’ Health Concerns
Dion Sanders has been in the spotlight for health reasons this offseason. Back in June, there were reports indicating that the Pro Football Hall of Famer was missing from events due to an unspecified illness.
By July, Sanders disclosed that he was diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. During a press conference, he explained that part of his intestine had been surgically modified to act as a bladder.
At a post-game press conference on Saturday, he expressed concerns about increasing blood clots. “The cat came out of the bag, it’s fine. It looks like the blood clots have increased,” Sanders noted, adding, “I don’t understand what it means. It hurts so much… There’s no blood in my legs, so my legs are throbbing.”
In 2021, he had to undergo surgery to amputate two toes on his left foot due to blood clots. At that time, he was coaching at Jackson State University. The two-time Super Bowl winner missed the Pac-12 Media Day in 2023 due to blood clots in his right foot and to rectify the curvature of his left foot.
Sanders mentioned that an upcoming operation, referred to as aspiration thrombectomy, will take several hours. He’s expected to return to the sidelines for Colorado’s practice the day after his surgery.
During a press conference on Tuesday, he stated, “I’m having surgery today. Prayerfully, I’ll be back tomorrow. I won’t take a break from practice. I’m not going to do that.” He expressed confidence in his medical team from UC Health and his training staff.
He clarified that his situation isn’t about how hard he works but rather genetics. “I trust God with all my heart, my soul, and my spirit,” he added.
Support from friends in the sports community was evident, as former NFL player Adam “Pac-Man” Jones appeared at the media session. Sanders appreciates the messages from those concerned about his well-being, noting, “There’s nothing I could have done to stop what was happening.”
Since his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Sanders has had to visit the restroom frequently, which led to the school introducing portable sideline toilets during games, sponsored by Depend Underwear.
Reflecting on his upcoming surgery, Sanders joked, “I’m going to probably get the best sleep in the world for four hours before the surgery begins.” He highlighted that he’s never used alcohol or smoked, emphasizing his commitment to being punctual for his medical procedures.
The Colorado Buffaloes have had a challenging record of 15-16 since he took over as coach in 2023, but they are working hard to improve this season with standout players like quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
