Shannon Sharpe sensed Deion Sanders' cancer battle early on through his silence and changed demeanor.
Cancer Survivor Shannon Sharpe Shares Insight Into Deion Sanders' Silent Health Struggles originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shannon Sharpe knew something was wrong. The Hall of Fame tight end and current co-host of the Nightcap podcast with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson recently opened up about Deion Sanders’ latest health battle—a bladder cancer diagnosis that Sanders kept private for months. While Coach Prime is now cancer-free and back in Boulder with the Colorado Buffaloes, Sharpe revealed he had long suspected something serious was going on, even before the news became public.
“You know when he had the—you know Ocho, remember he had the amputation, he had to have some of his toes removed,” Sharpe said on Nightcap. “He was in dire straits in that situation. And once he started feeling better, he came and told exactly what was happening. So I always felt that—I didn’t know what was going on—but I knew it was serious.”
That instinct stemmed from personal experience. Sharpe himself battled prostate cancer and understands how people process serious health issues in their own time and way.
Shannon Sharpe Says Sanders’ Silence Spoke Volumes
During the podcast, Sharpe recounted how his interactions with Sanders changed. “A lot of times, I would send him a text, and I’d just get like one or two words back. Same thing, kind of like what happened at Jackson State,” he said. “So I knew it was serious and I just left it alone.” That contrast stuck out for Sharpe because of how expressive Sanders typically is.
“When he’s in a good, in a better place and a good frame of mind, he’ll be back to joking and laughing,” Sharpe added. “But when he’s not joking and laughing, I know it’s something serious because he’s that type of guy. He’s a very fun-loving, very outgoing guy.”
Deion Sanders Quietly Battled Bladder Cancer This Offseason
Sanders' health issues date back several years, most notably when he had two toes amputated in 2021 due to blood clots. This offseason, the challenges escalated. After scans revealed an aggressive tumor in his bladder, Sanders underwent surgery to have the organ removed.
Doctors reconstructed a new bladder from intestinal tissue, a highly invasive procedure that left him weakened and uncertain about his future.
He prepared a will. He dropped 25 pounds. He didn’t tell even his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, until much later. Publicly, he remained mostly silent until Monday's press conference, when he revealed his diagnosis, surgery and recovery.
For someone as public-facing and vibrant as Sanders, the silence served as his own kind of alarm.
The Personal Insight Only Sharpe Could Offer
Sharpe wasn’t just speaking as a friend. He was speaking as someone who has also lived through the quiet moments of fear and uncertainty that come with a cancer diagnosis. That insight allowed him to recognize the subtle shift in Sanders' behavior. When he wasn't cracking jokes, when he wasn't returning texts with his usual energy, Sharpe understood what most people couldn't see. He didn’t press. He waited.
His words now serve as both confirmation and reflection: “When he’s not joking and laughing, I know it’s something serious.”
A Glimpse Into the Private Battles Public Figures Endure
Sharpe’s perspective sheds light on the emotional and mental toll health battles take, even on seemingly larger-than-life figures like Coach Prime. These aren’t just stories of surgeries and recoveries. They’re stories of internal battles, of how men who are icons to millions navigate suffering in solitude. That Sanders chose to go through it quietly, and that someone close to him could sense it anyway, adds a layer to the narrative.
Now back on campus in Colorado, Sanders is set to lead the Buffaloes into the 2025 college football season. He’s lighter, physically and mentally, but fully present.
Related: Colorado’s Athletic Trainer Has Blunt Response to Deion Sanders’ Retirement Rumors
Related: Deion Sanders Jr. Faces Major Hurdle in NFL Expansion Despite Backing from Roger Goodell
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
