Deion Sanders steps in to help Jimmy Horn Jr., his son Shedeur's “brother,” after he was cut by the Panthers
Coach Prime immediately backed his former Colorado receiver
Deion Sanders did more than offer sympathy when Jimmy Horn Jr. suddenly found himself without an NFL team.
The Colorado coach said he immediately began making calls after the Carolina Panthers waived Horn , the former Buffaloes receiver whom Shedeur Sanders has described as a brother.
Horn’s release came shortly after a costly special-teams mistake in Carolina’s 59-37 Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears .
“I made some calls too… immediately,” Sanders said when asked about the move Wednesday.
Horn had muffed a second-quarter punt against Chicago, helping set up a Bears field goal at a point when the game was still competitive. Sanders acknowledged the error but pushed back strongly against any suggestion that Horn’s character had anything to do with the Panthers’ decision.
“I don’t understand how it’s… and I hate questioning management because I’m not there, but this kid is a great human being,” Sanders said.
One story that sums up Horn
Sanders has known Horn since coaching him at Colorado in 2023 and 2024, and he used a small off-field example to explain why he continues to defend him so strongly.
“The best thing I heard, the story about this kid, you know we get our kids car deals and all of that, right?” Sanders said.
“The dealer that I know that a lot of our kids get car deals for, it’s only one guy who ever turned their car back in cleaned and a tank full of gas and that was Jimmy Horn. Says a lot about who he is.”
Sanders was also careful not to excuse what happened against Chicago.
“Okay, he dropped the punt. I get it. I understand,” he said. “But if you was just wanting to get rid of him, it wasn’t about character, I promise you that.”
Horn entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2025, selected No.208 overall by Carolina. He finished his rookie season with 11 catches for 108 yards after producing 1,001 receiving yards and seven touchdowns across two seasons at Colorado.
Bond with the Sanders family runs deep
The connection between Horn and the Sanders family has long extended beyond the field. Deion Sanders had promised Horn’s father, who was incarcerated at the time, that he would look after his son.
The coach later walked with Horn on Senior Day and has spoken of him with unusual affection. Shedeur Sanders has been just as open about their relationship.
“Jimmy definitely is missed,” Shedeur said last year while reflecting on former Colorado teammates. “A lot of the Colorado players are missed. All of them have different personalities. And Jimmy, I miss seeing his smile when we’re at practice with his gold grillz.”
Horn has also remained in touch with Deion during difficult moments, including after Sanders revealed his bladder cancer diagnosis. Horn has now cleared waivers and is a free agent, meaning another team can sign him without submitting a claim.
His next opportunity is uncertain. What isn't uncertain is that Sanders is already working to help create one.
