During the 2021 season, Deion Sanders discusses how blood clots lead to toe amputation in a docuseries.
During the season, the Jackson State coach needed eight surgeries in three weeks, in part to save his leg.
Deion Sanders, the Jackson State football coach, rolled up his left pant leg a day before the Cricket Celebration Bowl in December, displaying a skin graft roughly 6 inches long and 3 inches wide on each side of his thigh.
He then went through his phone’s photos till he located the correct one.
“Are you certain you want to see?” “Will this make you sick?” Sanders inquired.
His big toe and the one next to it had been removed, and the shot depicted a bloodied foot.
The moment Sanders saw his surgically healed foot for the first time was filmed by the cameras from Coach Prime, the docuseries that follows Sanders’ stint as JSU’s head coach.
“Because I was extremely drugged, I didn’t recall half of what the doctors said, it was humbling when I first looked down, because I’ll never run like that again.” Sanders told Andscape, “I don’t know if I’m going to wear shorts again,” in his first public statements about the seriousness of his health problems.
“All of these things occur to you. All of my accomplishments have been pushed to the side. I’m debating whether or not I’ll walk again. Will I be able to walk properly? Is it possible for me to jog? Is there any way I’m going to live?
“There were some long nights when only my lady, Tracey, was in the room and I was screaming at the top of my lungs thanking the Lord for keeping me and choosing me.”
Sanders’ devotion to honesty, according to Dana Bahrawy, who produces and edits Coach Prime, gives the show depth.
“It isn’t sugarcoated; we don’t leave much out.” We’re just trying to show what happens in real life. Coach preaches the same thing. ‘We’re going to show you what’s real, what’s legitimate,’ he says, according to Bahrawy. “Everyone in [the hospital room] was pretty emotional at the time.” “I recall that so clearly.”
Sanders’ health issues are featured prominently in the fifth episode of the series. He was unable to play in three games. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the series airs on Barstool’s platforms. The final episode will be broadcast on Thursday.
“The show focuses on Jackson State’s season. “We wouldn’t be presenting the narrative if [the amputation] hadn’t happened during the season,” Sanders explained, “but it was in the midst of us being dominant and winning, and you have to portray the ups and downs and the seesaw of life.”
“It’s one thing to hear it, but seeing it will give them the courage to move forward.” You have no idea what someone else is going through. Maybe they won’t lose any toes, but they might lose a spouse or a child to the military or whatever life throws at them, and they’ll have to keep going. We never came to a halt. We didn’t flinch once.”
In this episode, Sanders and Bahrawy intended to deliver that point.
“Just because I had a gift to do my thing on the football and baseball fields at one point in time does not exclude me from life’s misfortunes,” Sanders said. “I go through hell just like everyone else, and I’m going to show you what it’s like to go through hell.”
“You mean to tell me you still coach despite having two toes amputated and a side of your leg sliced out like a shark bite?” The beat goes on, and that’s something I educate my children.
“I teach that to our support workers.” You’ve got to keep going. Everyone is dealing with a problem.”
JSU was 5-1 when Sanders’ foot was inspected by trainer Lauren Askevold after she observed two toes were “jet-black” when she changed his bandage.
Sanders had foot surgery earlier in the season.
The coach had surgery on Tuesday and Wednesday and returned to practice on Thursday, according to athletic director Ashley Robinson. “He puts in a lot of effort. He was calling coaches and being as involved as he could even when he was in the hospital.”
Doctors admitted Sanders to the hospital on this October day, and he spent the next 23 days there, mostly in the intensive care unit.
What is the issue? He had three blood clots in his left leg’s arteries, which shut off blood flow to his foot from the rear of his calf to his ankle. He learned that his mother and two uncles, one of whom died, suffered from blood clots.
Sanders underwent eight surgery in three weeks, some of which were necessary to save his limb.
On the rare occasions when he had an appetite, he shed over 40 pounds by eating mostly applesauce.
“It was the discomfort.” “They cut all the nerves, and that thing just throbbed sometimes,” Sanders explained. “Nobody’s going to inform me about no journey.” In there, I was fighting for my life.”
JSU persevered while Sanders fought for his limb and then his life.
Former Howard head coach Gary Harrell was named interim head coach, and he led the Tigers to three straight victories.
Sanders was able to play against Southern because his son, JSU quarterback Shedeur, told him in the hospital that he needed him on the sideline.
It was a humbling experience to return home.
“They had to remove me out of the automobile and into another vehicle.” Sanders responded, “Take me out of the bathroom and put me in the bathroom.” “Get me out of bed and into bed again.” “In the morning, afternoon, and evening.”
With 1:31 remaining in the game against Southern, Shedeur Sanders threw a game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass. Sanders’ other son, Shilo Sanders, who plays defensive back for JSU and wears the No. 21 jersey, helped the team to a 21-17 victory.
Sanders, who played in the NFL as No. 21, saw the profusion of 21s as a sign from God.
Sanders’ confidence in a higher power was strengthened by the amputation and the season.
“Without a doubt, I put my faith in God.” Sanders stated, “I never flinched, stuttered, or tripped.” “My faith was really, truly tested, but it was exactly what I intended it to be.” It’s true, it’s true. It’s genuine.”
Jean-Jacques Taylor, a native of Dallas, is the president of JJT Media Group and an award-winning writer who has covered the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL for the past 25 years.
