In the world of celebrity scandals and bitter divorces, one story that has recently caught the attention of the public is the feud between coach Deion Sanders and his ex-wife, Pilar Sanders. Pilar took to social media to air her grievances about Deion’s alleged lack of support for their daughter, Shelomi. However, Deion has responded, vehemently defending his commitment to fatherhood and shedding light on the truth.
Deion Sanders, known as “Coach Prime” during his illustrious football career, has always been known for his charisma and confidence. After retiring from football, he became a highly sought-after coach. Despite his success on and off the field, Deion’s personal life has been marked by turmoil and estranged relationships.
His marriage to Pilar Sanders was no exception. The couple’s divorce was highly publicized, resulting in a bitter custody battle over their children. Throughout the ordeal, Deion has consistently maintained that he has continuously been present in his children’s lives, emphasizing the importance of his role as a father.
According to Coach Prime, the barometer for being a good father is, at minimum, being active in a child’s life. “We just need you to be present. You don’t have to be perfect,” said Deion when he appeared on the “Outta Pocket with RGIII” podcast that first aired this week. Furthermore, he stated that some Black men, in particular, often do not have a strong male figure to model their approach to fatherhood after.
For Deion, he leaned on the limited representation he could find on television, namely those depicted on “Sanford and Son” and “The Jeffersons.”
“I used to watch them and see that connectivity that they had with their sons, and it was just so darn phenomenal, man. I would mimic that. We don’t have that on television right now. We can’t even think about a relationship with a Black man and a son on television, so now we turn to sports and we making a comeback,” he said as he highlighted LaVar Ball and LeBron James.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer began making headlines new when he became the head football coach of Jackson State University in 2020, where he coached his sons Shedeur and Shilo Sanders.
The young men, as well as their sister Shelomi Sanders, who plays collegiate basketball, followed Deion when he accepted the head coaching gig at the University of Colorado in 2023. He shares the student-athletes with his ex-wife, Pilar Sanders, whom he divorced in 2013.
The split was volatile and incited a custody battle, which Deion won. In the interview with Robert Griffin III, he said that the end of the relationship did not impact his duty as father.
“I’m a divorced father, but I didn’t stop fathering. Won custody of my kids that I never stopped fathering. … I’ve been there the whole time. … I’ve built my life around my kids. The moves I made was based on my babies, not me. My babies. They was based on what was good for them, so I take pride in that. I ain’t no baby daddy. I’m a father,” said Deion.
However, Pilar views things differently. In April, her ex-husband publicly shared a critical take on Shelomi’s decision to transfer from Boulder. More specifically, he called his child’s decision to enter the portal “stupid” and said that “I’ve been dictating where my kids go. Not them dictating to me where I go.”
In the case of Deion Sanders and Pilar Sanders, their feud is an indication that children should not be caught in the crossfire of their parents’ disagreements. Both parents must prioritize their children’s well-being, set aside their grievances, and work towards creating a harmonious and supportive co-parenting relationship. After all, their children deserve nothing less than the love and support of both their parents.
Flip to the next page to watch Deion Sanders speak on fatherhood and how he’s been supportive in the lives of his kids…
