Deion Sanders Faces Mounting Pressure as Colorado Legend Christian Fauria Withdraws Support
The temperature around Deion Sanders’ seat in Boulder just ticked up a few more degrees.
Christian Fauria-a Colorado football legend, national champion, and former NFL tight end-made headlines this week when he publicly withdrew his support for the Buffaloes under Coach Prime. His breaking point? The university’s decision to retire Shedeur Sanders’ No. 2 jersey this past April.
Fauria didn’t mince words. He called the move less about honoring excellence and more about inflating egos. And with Colorado coming off a 3-9 season and sitting at 16-21 overall during Sanders’ tenure, the timing and optics of the jersey retirement have stirred up plenty of debate-not just among alumni, but across the fanbase.
Fauria, who still wants to see the Buffs win, says he simply can’t stand behind what the program has become. “It’s a vanity project driven by his father,” he said of Shedeur’s jersey retirement. Fauria emphasized he has nothing against Shedeur personally, but doesn’t believe the quarterback has earned that kind of honor-especially when so many legendary players came before him wearing the same number.
One name that’s come up often in fan conversations is Deon Figures, a former All-American and first-round draft pick who also wore No. 2.
For many, it’s hard to reconcile that history with the current decision. “So many greats before him, and Shedeur’s number is the one that’s retired?”
one fan posted. The sentiment echoed across social media, with reactions ranging from disbelief to outright frustration.
Fauria’s comments struck a nerve, and the response has been deeply divided. Some fans backed his stance, calling the jersey retirement “ridiculous” and “bullshit.” Others warned against criticizing the Sanders family, defending the decision and urging patience with the program’s rebuild.
But Fauria didn’t stop there. He also appeared on The Zach Gelb Show, where he offered a blistering critique of Sanders’ coaching chops.
“I just don’t like the way he coaches football,” Fauria said. “I don’t think he’s very bright.
I don’t think he can manage a game. I think there’s a lot of flash, but I think there’s no substance.”
That’s a tough verdict from someone who once wore the black and gold with pride. And while Fauria’s son Caleb transferred out of Colorado after Sanders’ first season, the elder Fauria made it clear this isn’t personal. He’s not carrying a grudge-he’s calling it how he sees it.
The numbers don’t do Sanders many favors right now. In three seasons, Colorado has gone 9-18 in conference play.
The 2025 campaign ended with a 3-9 record, falling well short of the hype that surrounded Sanders’ arrival. And while the program has certainly generated headlines and social media buzz, the on-field results haven’t kept pace.
Now, with 2026 on the horizon, the pressure is real. The expectations were sky-high when Sanders took over, and the spotlight hasn’t dimmed since.
But in college football, charisma only gets you so far. Wins, development, and long-term progress are what ultimately define a coach’s legacy.
Fauria’s departure from the Sanders bandwagon is a significant moment-not just because of who he is, but because of what he represents. He’s part of Colorado’s storied past, and his disapproval signals a deeper frustration among those who helped build the program’s foundation.
The question now is whether Sanders can shift the narrative. Can he turn the flash into substance? Can he deliver results that quiet the critics and bring unity back to a divided fanbase?
One thing’s certain: the clock is ticking, and the margin for error is shrinking.