Deion Sanders Reflects on Surprise Trade to Cowboys

The Hall of Fame cornerback opens up about learning he was traded from the 49ers to the Cowboys in the middle of his career.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Deion Sanders, the current head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, has been making headlines during Super Bowl week with his media appearances. One of the biggest moments of his NFL career was when he learned he had been traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Dallas Cowboys, a move that caught him completely off guard at the time.

Why it matters

Sanders' trade from the 49ers to the Cowboys was a pivotal moment in his Hall of Fame career, as it led to another Super Bowl championship and further cemented his legacy as one of the most recognizable figures in NFL history. The way he found out about the trade, through seeing it on ESPN, also exemplifies Sanders' bold and fearless persona that has defined his path both on and off the field.

The details

Sanders recounted the moment he learned about the trade, saying he "saw a kid with No. 21, and I said, I guess that's it." The sudden trade was a shock, but it ultimately led to another Super Bowl run with the Cowboys and further solidified Sanders' status as a legendary player.

  • In the middle of his NFL career, Sanders was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Dallas Cowboys.

The players

Deion Sanders

A Hall of Fame cornerback who won two Super Bowls, one each with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, and is currently the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team.

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who announced on ESPN that Sanders would be joining the team after the trade.

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What they’re saying

“I look at ESPN and I see Jerry (Jones) saying, 'Prime, if you out there, you gonna be a Cowboy.'”

— Deion Sanders (si.com)

The takeaway

Sanders' surprise trade from the 49ers to the Cowboys exemplifies his bold and fearless persona that has defined his career, both as a player and now as a coach. The way he found out about the trade, through seeing it on ESPN, only adds to the unconventional nature of the moment and how it became a pivotal turning point in his Hall of Fame journey.