Christian Fauria blasts Deion Sanders’ “vanity project” at Colorado
A Colorado alum has turned on current Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sanders, saying the program has now lost him as a supporter.
Former Colorado tight end Christian Fauria says he still wants his alma mater to succeed, but he can no longer support the football program under head coach Deion Sanders.
“I hold my nose and move on”
Fauria, who won a national championship at Colorado before carving out a 13-year NFL career, told USA Today that he officially “tapped out” in April 2025 when the school retired the No. 2 jersey of Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders.
“I don’t want Colorado to fail. I want them to succeed!” Fauria said in an email. “But I find the head coach’s priorities off-putting.”
Deion Sanders walks out with his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, for the final time at Colorado 🥹 pic.twitter.com/K12tWCt0BX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 29, 2024
The moment that crossed the line for him, Fauria explained, was when athletic director Rick George approved the jersey retirement.
Fauria made clear that his frustration is not aimed at Shedeur as a player, but rather at what he views as the symbolism behind the decision.
“Believe me, I can root for Shedeur as a player while still calling his jersey retirement what it was: a vanity project driven by his father,” he said.
Comedian Shan Gillis ROASTED Shedeur Sanders Colorado jersey retirement. 😳😳
— Preme Football (@premefootball) July 17, 2025
“It’s because he went 13-12 over his career and he almost won the Alamo Bowl. Definitely not nepotism?” pic.twitter.com/9GyVXZLb3u
The former Buffaloes standout also pushed back on what he described as a culture of unquestioned loyalty surrounding the Sanders.
“What I find comical is that any criticism of Deion Sanders gets labeled as ‘hate,’” Fauria added. “Apparently, only blind loyalty is acceptable, no matter how self-serving or self-promoting his personality comes across.”
Fauria’s comments come with some personal context. His son previously played at Colorado but transferred to Delaware shortly after Sanders was hired. Fauria, however, dismissed the idea that his criticism stems from personal animosity. Instead, he framed his concerns around leadership style and program direction.
.@christianfauria loves Colorado, but makes it clear he can’t stand what Coach Prime is doing with the football program right now.
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) February 10, 2026
Listen to Christian’s thoughts on Deion Sanders ⬇️
pic.twitter.com/6v9hvr57Lx
Under Sanders, Colorado has undoubtedly become one of the most talked-about programs in college football. After inheriting a 1–11 team, Sanders improved the Buffaloes’ competitiveness and national visibility. However, the team’s overall record under him currently sits at 16–21, a mark that leaves room for debate about long-term results versus simply a few headline-grabbing moments. For Fauria, the issue appears less about wins and losses and more about culture.
Fauria’s comments reflect a divide among Colorado supporters that is steadily increasing, some energized by Sanders’ star power, and others uneasy with the spotlight that comes with it.
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