“My biological father, Daddy Sanders—he’s the prime side of me and stepfather’s (Willie J Knight) to Deion side of me.” Deion Sanders’ childhood wasn’t smooth, working in Bojangles to scrape for leftover chicken and sides only to see his father shoot it in the back room and then ending up with a “Somewhat of an alcoholic” stepfather. Given he has never had a constant father figure behind him, he once even confessed, “The first time I ever saw a grown man shave was in college.” However, every experience can take a positive or a negative turn. For Sanders, he didn’t have the case of ‘Like father, like son’. To date, he continues to not just be the Coach Prime to his student athletes at Colorado but also a second father who connects with them on a much deeper and personal level. One of the prime examples of this is his connection with his former WR and a now-NFLer, Jimmy Horn Jr. who has had “One of a kind experience” with Deion.

From the very first time coach Sanders met Horn Jr. in Seminole high school, he saw not just an athlete he has to hone but another son he has to raise. Fast forward to 2025, as all the athletes at the University of Colorado got ready for their Senior Day, Horn Jr. sat in the locker room, knowing his father, like every other senior’s, wouldn’t be there to walk beside him. But when he looked up, he saw Deion. “You don’t have to ask me twice. I got you. I got you,” the coach said. It was especially important for Deion, given Horn Jr.’s father had to miss his son’s tremendously successful college career serving time in prison. Even Rich Eisen called Deion’s role for Jr. as “A surrogate father.” 

Growing up in his shadows, Jimmy Horn Jr. not only sculpted his future being picked in the 6th round with the No. 208 pick by the Carolina Panthers, but also learned many lessons that his father would have otherwise taught him. He knows how special that man is who has been a constant presence for the Florida native. So when the question comes up, he has nothing but respect and love for the Hall of Famer with whom he shares “A great relationship, it’s like a father and son relationship.”

In the media availability after his rookie minicamp, a reporter asked Jr., “Coming from Colorado, having kind of that NFL kind of program, how do you think that prepared you?” Without wasting a breath, Jimmy responded, “It prepared me real good. Our practices at Colorado are like 15 minutes longer than this. Coach Prime practice pretty good. And he ran the system out there pretty similar a little bit too.”

Following that, another reporter asked him what it was like playing for Coach Prime, he told the press, “It was fun playing for Coach Prime. You know, it was a pleasure to play for him. You know, he helped me in life. And, like, that environment out there in Boulder itself was just different. It was one of a kind environment too. I love that city of Boulder.” Horn Jr. may have met Sanders at his high school, in Colorado, Coach Prime took it upon himself to make sure the WR’s father could be proud of him.

Horn Jr. scored a crucial 45-yard touchdown catching from Shedeur, at the tail end of the Colorado State game in 2023, allowing it to advance to overtime. But the highlight of the game was the powerful message Sanders shared with the WR right before that clutch TD.

“[Guess] what, pop is at the crib, and he’s incarcerated watching you right now. And he wants to clap in front of all his different inmates because he believes in his son. We’re gonna make pop proud tonight. That’s what we’re gonna do because his son is a dog. Now you go out there and show the world who you are,” Coach Prime told Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report. Sanders also accompanied Horn Jr. to a prison visit to see his father and also appealed to a judge in favor of him.

The WR’s father couldn’t help but send his appreciation for Deion Sanders in a letter, writing, “Appreciate you more than you ever know. You are truly a blessing, a sign that all things are possible through mercy, grace, and everlasting love. You say you would be there for my son, Jimmy Horn Jr., also including me. Here’s the truth and the proof. Thank you!”

No doubt, Horn Jr. was almost like a son to Deion Sanders because, “He has always been a man of his word to me and I love that man to death,” as the WR would put it. Now, everything he learned as a result of that special bond is finally getting its due results.

Horn Jr. is “flying” at Carolina, thanks to Deion Sanders’ “special” coaching

Jimmy Horn Jr. is creating quite the buzz at Carolina, particularly for his speed. He’s not like your usual WR, but he’s got some serious athleticism in him. He already trounced the 40-yard dash at the Combine by running a beyond-impressive 4.46. Horn Jr., however, thought that was not his best. He turned that into a further jaw-dropping finish of reported 4.40 at Colorado’s Pro Day.

“I’ll be flying,” he told the media. And fly he will. What caught the eyes of everyone at camp was a seamless 90-degree cut he made. In fact, such was his performance that day that he was even appreciated by Grammy-nominated rapper Wale on X. He wrote, “Jimmy Horn Jr gon really go crazy year 1 you can see it a mile away.” He also said in another tweet, “He’s an example of somebody who get better every year . He got it fr.”

“It was a great experience. It was fun. You know, one of a kind experience that I’ll never get the experience again playing for Coach Prime, specifically,” Jimmy Horn Jr. said about his time with the iconic NFL legend. It’s one thing to have the man as a coach. But to have him as a father figure? A surreal experience. And he’s making sure Coach Prime knows how special he is to his career.