- Sanders juggled football and baseball for most of his iconic career
- In 1989, he became the first and only athlete to score a home run and touchdown
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Not only was Deion Sanders perhaps the greatest NFL cornerback of all time during his time, the Colorado coach was also capable of hitting home runs as an MLB star.
In fact, he could even combine them both in the same week – to devastating effect.
Just over 34 years since he wrote his name in the record books, Sanders remains the only athlete in history to both hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week.
Images of his astonishing performance in September 1989 have resurfaced during Colorado’s impressive start to the season, with the Buffaloes recording their third straight victory in a grudge match against Colorado State last weekend.
While playing for the New York Yankees, Sanders hit a home run for the first time in a 12–2 victory at the Seattle Mariners on September 5. He would also register two more in the match.
Deion Sanders was a two-sport superstar during his legendary football and baseball careers
He remains the only athlete in history to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week
‘Prime Time’ first hit a homer during the Yankees’ victory over the Seattle Mariners in September 1989
And just five days later, “Prime Time” was there with a touchdown in the Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the LA Rams.
Several athletes have tried their hand at becoming superstars in two sports over the years, but none have matched Sanders’ historic feat since he pulled it off all those years ago.
The Florida native played football, baseball and track during his college career, becoming a two-time consensus All-American cornerback in 1987 and 1988 and a third-team All-American in 1986.
He also excelled as a punt returner for Florida State, breaking the school’s record for punt return yards.
In baseball, Sanders’ batting average was .331 in 1986, while he also collected 27 stolen bases a year later.
The 56-year-old represented five professional football teams in his glittering career, starting with the Falcons before landing stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens.
After winning two Super Bowl titles, he is widely considered the best cornerback of all time in football.
He then recorded a touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons against the LA Rams five days later
Sanders is also the only player to appear at both the Super Bowl and the World Series
On the baseball field, Sanders played for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, as well as the Yankees.
And the records don’t stop there either, as in 1992 he became the first athlete ever to play in both a World Series and a Super Bowl while with the Braves.
After retiring in 2006, Sanders ventured into high school coaching while working as an NFL analyst in 2011.
He then spent three years as head coach for the Jackson State Tigers, reaching two Celebration Bowls and amassing a 27-6 record before joining Colorado last December.
