Following the Dallas Cowboys’ hiring of a new head coach, Deion Sanders has reiterated his stance on coaching in the NFL.

“I couldn’t coach pro ball,” Sanders declared during his weekly show on Tubi, titled “We Got Time Today.”

Sanders, the head coach at Colorado, made these remarks during a chat with former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who appeared on the Tuesday broadcast. They discussed the demanding nature of football practices from their time as teammates on the Cowboys in the 1990s and compared them to what Sanders sees as a drop in work ethic in today’s professional football environment.

“That’s why I say, I couldn’t coach … I know it sounds appealing, but I couldn’t coach pro ball, because of how they practice and their approach. I couldn’t manage that, as a man and as someone who loves football. I care deeply about this game, which is still providing for both Troy and me, so there’s no way I could let that happen on my watch. It would be a challenge,” Sanders explained.

Discussion on Cowboys Coaching Opportunity

Sanders did not have a formal interview to lead the Cowboys before they appointed Brian Schottenheimer. However, he did receive a call from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones regarding the position. Aikman mentioned this in their conversation and pointed out that fellow Cowboys great Michael Irvin was unhappy about Sanders not getting the job.

“I can’t believe I didn’t hear from you while all that was happening,” Sanders remarked to Aikman, seemingly referring to his potential candidacy for the Cowboys role. “I was expecting your call. I was waiting to see Troy Aikman pop up on my phone.”

“You didn’t need my call,” Aikman replied. “I was watching closely to see how everything would play out. And yes, as you know, Michael Irvin is a diehard Cowboy advocate, and he’s not thrilled that you didn’t get an official interview or the position. I’m not sure he’s on board right now.”

“He’s definitely not pleased,” Sanders confirmed.

After Sanders mentioned he couldn’t coach in the NFL, the show’s co-host, Rocsi Diaz, wanted to emphasize his statement.

“You just said you couldn’t coach in the NFL,” she pointed out. “You just confirmed that.”

“Yeah, I’m serious,” Sanders responded.

Aikman on Sanders’ Fit for the Cowboys

This aligns with Sanders’ previous comments, such as his statement in a 2022 “60 Minutes” interview where he expressed he was “not one bit” interested in an NFL coaching position. He generally prefers to nurture young talent and coach players who genuinely have a passion for football. Additionally, he has stated he would only contemplate an NFL role if he could coach his two youngest sons.

Diaz then turned to Aikman to ask if the Cowboys would have been a suitable match for Sanders.

“Given that Jerry made that call to him and considering Michael Irvin’s thoughts on it, it seems to make sense, right?”

“It would indeed make a lot of sense,” Aikman affirmed.

Aikman, Irvin, and Sanders were part of the last Cowboys team that won the Super Bowl, which was in January 1996. On his YouTube show, Irvin mentioned in January that he advocated for Sanders to be the Cowboys’ coach and was surprised that Jones passed up the opportunity. Aikman also recognized Sanders’ potential.

“For Dallas, Deion would have been an excellent fit because he would have commanded respect, and his personality would have made it clear he was in charge,” Aikman stated during the show. “It’s crucial for an organization to recognize that the head coach is the one making the decisions.”

Sanders recently completed his second season at Colorado, leading the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record in 2024 following a 4-8 finish in 2023.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer.