Former Colorado Player Rips Deion Sanders' Coaching Style

Christian Fauria says 'Coach Prime' lacks substance and that Colorado's victories under him are 'hollow'

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Former Colorado Buffaloes tight end Christian Fauria criticized current head coach Deion Sanders, saying he doesn't like Sanders' coaching style and believes he lacks substance. Fauria said Sanders has 'a lot of flash but no substance' and that the team's victories under him are 'hollow' if fans only care about relevancy rather than winning the Big 12.

Why it matters

Fauria's comments highlight the divide between some former Colorado players and the Sanders era. While Sanders has brought increased attention and excitement to the program, his on-field results have been mixed, with the Buffaloes failing to make a bowl game in two of his three seasons so far. Fauria's criticism suggests that some within the Colorado community feel the hype around Sanders outweighs the actual progress of the team.

The details

In an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Fauria said he 'just doesn't like the way [Sanders] coaches football' and believes he 'can't manage a game.' Fauria also called out Colorado fans who get excited about the team's increased relevance and TV ratings rather than focusing on winning. He said the Buffaloes' 'victories are hollow' if that's all that matters to fans.

  • In the 2023 and 2025 seasons, Colorado failed to make a bowl game under Deion Sanders, going 4-8 and 3-9 respectively.
  • In 2024, Colorado had its best season since 2016 under Sanders, winning 9 games and narrowly missing the Big 12 title game.

The players

Christian Fauria

A former Colorado Buffaloes tight end who played from 1990-1994 and was later drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1995 NFL Draft.

Deion Sanders

The current head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, hired in 2022 after the team went 1-11 the previous season.

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What they’re saying

“I just don't like the way he coaches football. I don't think he's very bright. I don't think he can manage a game. I think there's a lot of flash but I think there's no substance...He's got a lot of people brainwashed.”

— Christian Fauria, Former Colorado Buffaloes Tight End (The Zach Gelb Show)

“If that is what gets you going, then good for you. All your victories are hollow in my book if all you care about is relevancy. They are hollow. They mean nothing. Win the Big 12.”

— Christian Fauria, Former Colorado Buffaloes Tight End (The Zach Gelb Show)

What’s next

As the Buffaloes enter the 2026 season, they hope to return to the level of success they achieved in 2024 under Deion Sanders, when they won 9 games and were in contention for the Big 12 title.

The takeaway

Deion Sanders' tenure at Colorado has been polarizing, with some former players like Christian Fauria criticizing his coaching style and questioning whether the team's increased relevance translates to actual on-field success. While Sanders has brought excitement to the program, the Buffaloes have struggled to consistently win, raising doubts about whether his 'Coach Prime' persona is backed by substance on the field.