Deion Sanders’ Kids

Deion Sanders is a former NFL cornerback who also played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Colorado Buffaloes head coach, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 is the only player to ever appear in both Super Bowl and World Series Finals. The former Seminole attended North Fort Myers High School before pledging his loyalty to Florida State University in 1985. Popularly known as “Prime Time” and “Neon Deion”, Sanders managed to pile up 186 total tackles and 14 interceptions in his 4 years of college tenure. Sanders was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the 1985 MLB draft. Four years later, Deion was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft.

Deion played 14 seasons in the NFL while also appearing for nine seasons in MLB. Sanders went on to coach two different high school teams and one collegiate team in Jackson State before taking the head coaching gig in Colorado in 2023. A father of five, the icon had two children with his first wife, Carolyn Chambers: a daughter, Deiondra, and a son, Deion Jr. He also had three children with his second wife, Pilar Biggers-Sanders: sons Shilo, and Shedeur, and daughter Shelomi, 18.

Who are Deion Sanders’ Children?

Deion Sanders has five children of his own. He has two daughters, Deiondra and Shelomi, and three sons, Deion Jr., Shilo, and Shedur.

In his children, Deion has found the perfect mix of the sporting and family worlds. Both of his daughters were talented athletes in basketball and all of his three sons played football, with Sanders even coaching Shilo and Shedeur at Jackson State — and now Colorado University.

Deiondra Sanders

Deiondra Sanders, the eldest child of Sanders and his first wife Chambers, came into the world on April 17, 1992, during a period when her father was excelling in two professional sports. It has even been reported that on Oct. 11, 1992, when Deiondra was a mere 6 months old, Sanders made an audacious attempt to play in both an MLB game and an NFL game on the same day.

Deiondra recently opened up about her experience growing up as the daughter of a professional athlete during an interview on The Reflections Show. She candidly shared that it was a "bittersweet" journey, with the bitter part stemming from being constantly judged at school and lacking a vast circle of friends due to frequent travels with her parents. However, the sweet part was equally significant, as she had the privilege of growing up in a way that many kids would envy, involving constant travel, encounters with celebrities, and the luxury of having personal chefs.

While Sanders remained a professional athlete throughout most of Deiondra's childhood, her young adult years took a different path as she ventured into the realm of reality television. Starting in 2008, she appeared alongside her family on the reality show "Deion and Pilar: Prime Time Love" on the Oxygen network. Later, from 2014 to 2015, she took part in the OWN show "Deion's Family Playbook" alongside her four siblings, her renowned father, and his then-girlfriend Tracey Edmonds. Deiondra also made an appearance on "Paradise Hotel" in 2019.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Deiondra has held the position of director of communications at Sc3 Sports Management since June 2019. Despite acknowledging that her father's legacy opens doors for her, she emphasized that it is her hard work and dedication that allow her to maintain her position. She takes pride in establishing her own identity, stating that people are now recognizing her for her work with athletes.

Deion Jr. Sanders

On December 1, 1993, Deion Jr. entered the Sanders household. Following in his father's footsteps, Deion embarked on a football journey, playing as a wide receiver at Marcus High School in Dallas, Texas, and later at Atlanta Sports Academy in Georgia. His passion for the sport led him to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas, where he played college football for three seasons.

During his time at SMU, Deion Jr. garnered attention with several notable incidents. In April 2013, he caused a stir when he tweeted a photo of himself in his SMU dorm with luxurious Versace bedding, expressing his desire for a good night's sleep. Later that year, he faced an investigation by the SMU compliance department after sharing a backstage picture from a Lil Wayne concert. In 2015, his lack of playing time on the field drew criticism from his father, who publicly questioned SMU's coach.

Following his football career, Deion Jr. transitioned to the world of fashion, establishing his streetwear clothing brand called 'Well Off' in 2016. Reflecting on his decision, he expressed that he had to find an alternative path to success after stepping away from football and needed an outlet to channel his creativity and self-expression.

In addition to his pursuits in fashion, Deion Jr. inherited his father's musical talents. He released his first rap track titled "Swaggin" in 2011 and, most recently, unveiled two new songs, "Money Old" and "Kandy," in 2022.

Shilo Sanders

On February 9, 2000, Shilo was born to Sanders and his second wife Pilar. Shilo inherited his family's athletic talent and pursued football. While he had the opportunity to play at his father's alma mater, Florida State University, Shilo decided to forge his path.

In 2019, Shilo received a football scholarship offer from Florida State, where his father had made a name for himself as an All-American player in the 1980s. Shilo expressed his admiration for his father's legacy but wanted to carve out his journey.

Ultimately, Shilo chose the University of South Carolina for two years. However, when his father became the head coach at Jackson State University in 2020, Shilo transferred to the historically Black college in December 2020. In a tweet, he expressed his excitement about helping to elevate the program and change the game at JSU.

Playing for his Hall-of-Famer father had its complexities. While the highs included Jackson State's first-ever undefeated football season in 2022, the dynamic between father and son on the field was challenging. Sanders made it clear to Shilo that during football activities, he would be his coach, not his dad, leading to a unique dynamic between the two. In 2023, he joined his father at Colorado Buffaloes. He plays as a defensive back for the Buffaloes as of October 2024.

Beyond football, the father-and-son duo enjoy each other's company. Shilo often shares videos on YouTube, impersonating his father and playing light-hearted pranks on him. He aims to create an impact both on and off the field, just like Deion.

Shedeur Sanders

Sanders' third son, Shedeur, also possesses remarkable football talent. Born on February 7, 2002, Shedeur's journey as a football quarterback began in high school at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill School in Texas, with his father as the offensive coordinator for the football team. Initially committed to playing college football at Florida Atlantic University, Shedeur chose to join his father and older brother Shilo at Jackson State in 2021.

Since starting his college football career, Shedeur has achieved remarkable milestones. He made history as the first athlete from a historically Black college and university to secure a brand deal with Gatorade, and he has also signed contracts with Beats by Dre and BRADY, Tom Brady's sports apparel line, according to Fox Business News.

Shedeur is the quarterback for Colorado University as of October 2024. During a press conference where Sanders was officially announced as Colorado's next head coach, he pointed to Shedeur and declared, "This is your quarterback." However, Sanders emphasized that Shedeur would have to earn his position.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Shedeur expressed his determination to make a name for himself and leave his mark on the world. He claimed that all that matters is what he accomplishes and contributes during his lifetime.

Shelomi Sanders

Deion’s youngest, Shelomi, was born on December 14, 2003. Unlike her siblings, Shelomi’s athletic talents took her to basketball. She committed to playing basketball at Jackson State in 2022, bringing the total of Sanders children on campus to three.

Sanders proudly announced Shelomi's commitment on Instagram, expressing his gratitude to God and celebrating her achievement. He affectionately referred to her as "Bossy" and expressed his pride in having three kids on campus at the same time. When Shelomi made her debut in November 2022 and sank a three-point shot, Sanders took to Instagram once again to express his joy and praise her performance. She is a guard on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs women's basketball team as of October 2024.