“Take care of your mom”: Deion Sanders opens up about the high-quality advice given by his stepfather that changed his life

Deion Sanders credits his stepfather, Willie Knight, with teaching him one of life’s most valuable lessons: caring for family. During an appearance on “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” that premiered on Sunday, Coach Prime shared the advice that directed his life and journey.

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“My stepfather always said that no matter what, [even though] I might not be here for long, take care of your mom. Make sure you take care of your mom,” Deion shared. [25:16]

This advice stuck with a 6-year-old Deion Sanders, who ensured his mother would never have to struggle again. The 57-year-old also shared advice from his biological father about not wearing earrings. Sanders shared:

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"I remember, my biological father, on his way from a Falcons game, he said, ‘Baby boy, I don’t think earrings have no place for a football player’ and I’m like you going to tell me something about earrings? But I never wore earrings again. Why would I be wearing an earring on the football field trying to be seen?" [24:10]

Another lesson that he took from his stepfather was never indulging in intoxication. The 57-year-old said,

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“Never drank, never smoked because I saw them doing it. So I needed that kind of struggle to comprise who I am.”

Knight’s words and lifestyle stayed with the former two-sport star and gave him a sense of responsibility that guided Coach Prime through his career and beyond.

Deion Sanders advises Colorado athletes to focus on grades

Deion Sanders isn’t just about producing stars on the field—he’s committed to shaping well-rounded individuals who excel in all fields of life. In a team meeting on Sunday, Coach Prime issued a no-nonsense message to his senior players: shape up in academics, or it could hit their wallets.

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"Seniors, I want you to listen to this. ... When you stop going to class and I see a multitude of F's and D's, we're gonna affect your check. Do we understand that?"

This tough-love approach follows a 9-4 season for the Buffaloes, who qualified for a bowl game for the first time since 2020. However, discipline was a recurring theme for Sanders, who noted, (Start at 16:40)

"How can you win nine games and you're 124th in penalties and last in the Big 12? That means you don't have the discipline and where does discipline start? It starts in the meeting room, it starts with your personal life, in the weight room ... If you're not disciplined off the field, you're not gonna be disciplined on it."

Sanders will be without his sons - Shedeur and Shilo Sanders - and Travis Hunter for the first time in Colorado in the 2025 college football season.

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