Deion Sanders and Randy Moss have a lot in common. They were both star athletes that helped define a generation of NFL talent, multi-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro honorees, members of their respective teams’ Rings of Honor and members of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
More recently, they’ve both added another shared experience to their already impressive résumés: cancer survivors.
Sanders, 57, revealed in a Monday press conference with his medical team that he had been diagnosed with – and subsequently had defeated – bladder cancer. As he shared details about his cancer battle, Sanders took the time to thank Moss for his support during the treatment.
‘Randy Moss called me every other day to make sure I was straight,’ he said. ‘Randy Moss prayed for me. He and his wife told me what I needed to be doing. He’s gone through some things very similar.’
Sanders was referring to Moss’s recent battle with bile duct cancer, which led the former Vikings receiver to announce a leave of absence from ESPN’s NFL coverage in early December. Moss announced later that month that he was a cancer survivor and returned to ESPN’s ‘Sunday Night Countdown’ for Super Bowl 59 coverage in February.
The Athletic recently reported Moss would return to ‘Sunday Night Countdown’ full-time for the 2025 season.
‘Randy Moss, man. I love him to life. Love him more than ever,’ Sanders said. ‘He gave me so much strength and so much guidance. And so much love and respect and appreciation.’
The Colorado Buffaloes’ head football coach had been battling his health issue for months – leading him to miss a recruiting event and former Colorado star Travis Hunter’s wedding, among other things – before returning to Boulder on Friday. Monday’s press conference with his medical team was the first time Sanders publicly disclosed his diagnosis and ensuing treatment.