Deion Sanders Addresses Subpoena Ahead of Colorado Season Opener

Deion Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, has been subpoenaed to testify in his son Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial, starting August 31, just days before Colorado’s 2026 season opener.

Shilo Sanders is involved in a bankruptcy case in Denver, with his father called to testify. The trial coincides closely with Colorado’s first game of the season on September 3 against Georgia Tech.

Additionally, Deion Sanders faces a separate lawsuit from a graphic designer claiming false promises regarding rights to logos created for Sanders' personal brand over a decade ago. Sanders’ attorney has filed a motion to dismiss this case.

Despite these legal matters, Deion Sanders downplayed concerns about distractions affecting the team.

“Do you think that’s my first subpoena?” Sanders said, according to the Associated Press. “When you have ‘it,’ when you’re ‘him,’ you get sued. You have off-the-field foolishness that if someone really sat down and explained it to you, you would say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ But it is what it is.

“I don’t know anyone that’s a game-changer, a way-maker, that is not dealing with some type of lawsuit.”

Regarding his son’s legal issues, Sanders emphasized Shilo’s previous win in the case related to a civil judgment for an altercation during his high school years.

“You know Shilo won this case previously, right?” Sanders said at a news conference. “(Does) anybody know that? Raise your hand if you know that.

If you knew that Shilo got awarded money for this. Check it out. I can’t wait till it is over and he gets to tell his story.

He already won this case, you know?”

The bankruptcy case stems from a nearly $12 million civil judgment against Shilo after failing to appear at trial over a high school incident in 2015. Shilo filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and is seeking to discharge the debt under bankruptcy law.

Colorado’s program is preparing to rebound from a 3-9 record in 2025 under Sanders, who is entering his fourth season as head coach. The season opener will be nationally televised on ESPN.

“That’s normal for us. Contrary to popular belief, we play on TV darn near every week,” Sanders said. “I’m happy that we’re still that someone that people want to see. They have the desire to see us either way, up or down, but they want to see us regardless. We have some guys that I can’t wait to see them in that light, in that spotlight and see how they respond.”