- Colorado athletic director Rick George, who hired Deion Sanders, is stepping down in June 2026.
- Sanders indicated on social media that he will continue to work with George in his new advisory role.
- The Buffaloes’ recent struggles and financial questions could test the relationship with a new athletic director.
The man who hired Deion Sanders at Colorado announced Thursday he is stepping down from the job next year, leading to another round of speculation about Sanders’ future in Boulder. But Sanders indicated on social media Friday his working relationship with Rick George will continue as Colorado looks for a new athletic director to replace George next year.
George, 65, is stepping down as Colorado’s athletic director in June 2026 to become emeritus athletic director and special adviser to the university chancellor.
“Love ya man and I appreciate the tremendous OPPORTUNITY you’ve given us,” Sanders said about George on Instagram Friday. “We OWE you we’re gonna do this together! Thank u for always being there, being real, being tough and being RICK GEORGE! I love you man and i appreciate u staying connected to the program. We need You.”
George mentioned Sanders in his announcement Thursday and said he would continue working with him in his new role.
“I also wanted to time my announcement so that I could support Coach Prime and our football team this season, which I’m looking forward to continuing in my new role,” George said in the announcement.
How does this affect Deion Sanders?
George made a big bet on Deion Sanders by hiring him in December 2022. That bet paid off at first, with a sold-out season in 2023 and $3.2 billion worth of media exposure for the school since then, as measured by Cision, CU’s media monitoring company.
George doubled down on the bet after the Buffaloes went 9-4 in 2024. In March, he gave Sanders a new five-year contract worth more than $10 million annually.
But the Buffs took a step backward this year. They’re 3-7 heading into a bye weekend. And the school recently claimed it wasn’t sure where the money was going to come from to pay for Sanders’ new contract and $20.5 million in new player benefits this year.
The new boss won’t be as personally invested in Sanders as George was, simply because the new boss didn’t make those hiring and contract decisions.
And Sanders might not have the same special rapport he does with the new boss as he did with George. Sanders has said George was one of the biggest reasons he chose Colorado, where he had no previous ties.
More losing seasons will test the relationship with the new boss. But winning has a way of making everybody happy.
Rick George is leaving a year earlier than contract term
The University of Colorado’s Board of Regents approved a new contract for George just a few days after Sanders’ sizzling debut as Colorado’s coach in September 2023. The contract ran through June 2027 at $1.1 million annually, so George is stepping down a year earlier than that.
Since his hiring at Colorado in 2013, George hired two other football coaches before Sanders. One was Mel Tucker, who went 5-7 in 2019 before leaving to take more money at Michigan State. The other was Karl Dorrell, who bombed out and got fired after a 0-5 start in 2022.
After hiring Sanders to replace Dorrell, George said it would be his last hire of a football coach at Colorado. In his announcement Thursday, George said he had been considering stepping down since at least ‘last spring.’
Sanders three-year record at Colorado is 16-19. The Buffs next play at home against Arizona State on Nov. 22.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
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