On Thursday, two former Colorado stars shared a special moment after the 2026 Hall of Fame Game, giving Deion Sanders another reason to smile.
When Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. embraced following the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers matchup, it felt bigger than a simple reunion. Instead, the moment highlighted the connection they built in Boulder under Sanders.
The two former college teammates faced each other in the Hall of Fame Game as the Carolina Panthers edged the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 on a walk-off touchdown.
Horn made his presence felt for Carolina, catching four of seven targets for 44 yards. His work also helped the Panthers set up a second-quarter field goal. Meanwhile, Weaver caught three of his five targets for 31 yards before leaving early and entering concussion protocol.
After the game, the former teammates added another personal touch to the reunion. Weaver and Horn exchanged jerseys, giving the moment even more meaning. Both receivers played together at the University of Colorado during the 2023 season under Sanders. So, Coach Prime was proud to see them living the NFL dream.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN's FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
To celebrate it, the Colorado head coach shared their jersey exchange picture on his official X account , showing love for the two players.
During their time at Boulder, Horn was an important part of Sanders' offense. After transferring from South Florida in 2023, he accepted his role as the second option and made several clutch catches when the Buffaloes needed them the most.
Over two seasons with Colorado, Horn finished with 95 receptions for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. That production helped him grow under Sanders while also improving his NFL prospects. Eventually, the Carolina Panthers selected him in the sixth round of 2025 NFL Draft, giving him the chance to continue his career at the next level.
On the other hand, after transferring from South Florida in 2023, Xavier Weaver also quickly adjusted to Sanders' fast-paced offense. He started 10 games for the Buffaloes and became one of Shedeur Sanders ' trusted targets. Weaver finished the season as Colorado's leading receiver with 68 catches for 908 yards and six total touchdowns. He scored four times through the air and added two rushing touchdowns.
His best moments included a 10-catch, 170-yard outing against Nebraska and a 118-yard performance in his Colorado debut against TCU. That strong season under Coach Prime helped Weaver raise his stock before the 2024 NFL Draft.
Although no team selected him during the draft, his development in Boulder gave him another opportunity. The Cardinals signed him as an undrafted free agent, giving him a path to continue chasing his NFL career.
So when Weaver and Horn faced each other in the Hall of Fame Game, it gave Sanders a special reason to celebrate. It was certainly a dream-come-true moment for both young athletes.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
