Deion Sanders has a new reason to celebrate—and this time, it comes down to his toes.
The Colorado Buffaloes head football coach recently received custom prosthetics for two toes on his left foot that were amputated following a serious blood-clotting ordeal in 2021.
Sanders’ son, Deion Sanders Jr., shared footage of the fitting on social media, showing his father inspecting the new additions. True to form, Sanders kept the mood light, even complimenting the prosthetics’ toenails and skin-tone match.
Once the prosthetics were in place, the Pro Football Hall of Famer celebrated the moment with a simple declaration.
“I’m 10 toes down again!” Sanders said.
The prosthetics replace Sanders’ left big toe and second toe, both of which were amputated during the medical complications he experienced while coaching at Jackson State.
For Sanders, the new toes are about more than appearance. He has dealt with mobility issues and discomfort since the amputations, and earlier this year began the process of getting custom silicone prosthetics.
During an earlier fitting consultation, Sanders explained one of his main goals was straightforward: getting his foot properly into his shoes.
“I need toes,” Sanders said. “I want to fit my shoes properly.”
The finished prosthetics are intended to provide additional support and help with weight distribution while Sanders stands and walks. He was particularly looking forward to being able to wear his usual size 11.5 shoes again.
Getting used to them, however, may take some time.
Sanders said the new toes initially felt tight and joked that they needed time to get acquainted with the toes that remained.
“They gotta spend more time with each other cause right now, they’re not together. This one’s mad cause they’ve been alone,” Sanders joked.
Behind the lighthearted moment is a much more serious medical history.
Sanders’ foot problems escalated in 2021 after he underwent surgery for a dislocated toe and an inflamed nerve. Doctors subsequently discovered dangerous blood clots, including a femoral arterial blood clot, while he also developed compartment syndrome and severe swelling in his leg.
Doctors ultimately amputated his left big toe and second toe. Sanders previously said physicians had at one point discussed the possibility of amputating his leg below the knee.
His vascular problems continued after the amputations, including additional procedures for blood clots. In 2025, Sanders underwent an aspiration thrombectomy involving arteries behind his left knee and lower leg.
Sanders also revealed in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and underwent surgery as part of his treatment. He later said he was cancer-free.
Through the setbacks, Sanders has continued his work as Colorado’s head coach while publicly documenting parts of his recovery.
Now, he has another milestone to celebrate—and Sanders summed up the moment in typically upbeat fashion.
“It’s a blessing,” he said.
