NFL Exec: Deion Sanders 'Can Be Hard to Work For,' May Not Resonate with Pro Players

There's no denying Deion Sanders' ability as a college head coach, but there are some concerns within the NFL about his style resonating with pro players.

One NFL personnel director told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Sanders "can be hard to work for" and his message may not connect with players at the next level.

"He's a good fundraiser and college guys buy into what he sells," the personnel director said.

"He's tried to hire good coaches, but [I] have heard that he can be hard to work for.

And I'm not sure the NFL guys will be in as quickly and also stay as engaged." There is a long list of coaches who have had tremendous success in college, but their approach just didn't work in the NFL for whatever reason.

Urban Meyer's brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars is the most recent example, but he had been out of coaching for two years before being hired by the Jaguars in 2021.

Nick Saban is the best example of an all-time great college coach who wasn't cut out for the NFL.

His two-year stint with the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06 wasn't a disaster in the same way Meyer's tenure in Jacksonville was, but it certainly didn't go well.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer revealed in 2021 that Daunte Culpepper and Zach Thomas both wanted to fight Saban at various points during his run with the Dolphins because they didn't respond well to his brand of coaching.

Just because people like Saban and Meyer failed in the NFL doesn't automatically mean Sanders would if he made the jump, but their struggles are a good reminder of just how different coaching college athletes is compared to pro players.

No one will really know whether or not Sanders is cut out to be an NFL head coach until he tries it, if that's something he is interested in doing.

Given how quickly Sanders transformed Jackson State and Colorado into successful programs, it wouldn't be a surprise if an NFL team kicks the tires on hiring him this offseason..

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