Deion Sanders Faces Subpoena Drama As Colorado’s Season Nears

A subpoena tied to Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy trial could put Deion Sanders’ legal obligations on a collision course with Colorado football’s season opener.

The business of college football rarely stops for personal matters, but Deion Sanders may soon have to balance a courtroom obligation with one of the most important dates on Colorado’s calendar.

A Boulder County sheriff’s deputy attempted to serve Sanders with civil papers on Aug. 11 while he was at a Colorado football practice, according to USA TODAY Sports. Sanders was unavailable at the time, but the papers are connected to a subpoena requiring him to testify in the bankruptcy trial of his son, Shilo Sanders.

The elder Sanders’ attorney reportedly indicated that legal counsel could accept the papers on his behalf, although they were not in Boulder County. The paperwork was subsequently transferred to Denver for service.

“While working with university staff to find a better time to complete the process, we heard from Mr. Sanders’ legal counsel who indicated that they were able to take receipt of the papers on behalf of Mr. Sanders,” Carrie Haverfield, a senior communications specialist for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, said in an email.

The timing adds another layer to an already complicated family and financial matter. Shilo Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 after a Texas court entered an $11.89 million default judgment against him in a lawsuit brought by John Darjean, a former security guard at his Dallas-area school. The bankruptcy trial, scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in Denver and expected to run through Sept. 4, will examine whether the underlying debt can be discharged. Deion Sanders’ testimony could be relevant because of his connection to events surrounding the 2015 incident that sparked the litigation.

The calendar presents an obvious conflict for Coach Prime. Colorado opens its 2026 season Sept. 3 against Georgia Tech, right in the middle of the scheduled trial. Judge Michael E. Romero acknowledged the potential issue during a pretrial conference, saying, “I noticed Deion was subpoenaed.” He added, “I’m also concerned there’s a game: CU’s first game is that same week.”

For Sanders, the situation underscores the complicated intersection of family, reputation, and business. College football coaches operate as CEOs of multimillion-dollar programs, but even Coach Prime can’t necessarily call an audible when the court comes knocking.