WATCH: Deion Sanders once dominated Pop Warner and high school sports as a three-way athlete

By Maliha

Modified May 26, 2024 16:00 GMT

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Deion Sanders first dazzled the sports world as a three-sport star in high school. Long before he revitalized the Colorado Buffaloes as their head coach, Sanders’ exploits at North Fort Myers High School in Florida were the stuff of legend. In a video that has recently made the rounds on X, "Coach Prime" can be seen dominating on the field in his youth:

Deion Sanders’ athletic journey began at the age of nine when his mother enrolled him in Pop Warner football. He used to dominate both baseball and football leagues at that time. By the time he reached North Fort Myers High School, Sanders had already established himself as a multi-sport phenom.

At North Fort Myers, Sanders played football, basketball, and baseball. He played both cornerback and quarterback, and his performances earned him All-State honors. On the basketball court, he was a prolific scorer, once netting 30 points in a single game, earning him the nickname “Prime Time.” In baseball, Sanders’ speed and hand-eye coordination made him a formidable opponent.

Sanders' all-around athleticism saw him letter in all three sports and secure a place on the Florida High School Association All-Century Team in 1985.

Deion Sanders was a two-sport star in his professional career

Deion Sanders began his college career at Florida State University, where he initially juggled football, baseball, and basketball. However, he later dropped basketball to focus on football and baseball.

In 1989, the Atlanta Falcons selected Sanders fifth overall in the NFL draft. This marked his third selection in a major American pro sport, having been previously drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1985 and the New York Yankees in 1989.

"Prime Time" prioritized the Falcons’ training camp over the Yankees, leading to his release from the baseball team. However, he later signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in 1991. He had to juggle postseason baseball with the Braves and regular-season football with the Falcons in 1992.

Over his 14-season NFL career, Sanders played for five teams, including the Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Ravens. In baseball, he spent nine seasons playing for the Yankees, Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.

Deion Sanders' baseball career was highlighted by a World Series appearance with the Braves in 1992. It made him the only athlete to play in both a World Series and a Super Bowl. He sat out the 1996 baseball season and the 1997-98 campaigns to focus solely on football, but he was an elite player in both sports.