Brennan Marion idolized Deion Sanders as a kid. Now Sanders needs him

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Brennan Marion idolized Deion Sanders as a kid. Now Sanders needs him

Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Wed, Dec 10, 2025 ·

5 min read

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On page 54 of the Tulsa football media guide in 2008, senior wide receiver Brennan Marion listed some personal things about himself, including his favorite movie and his favorite book — "Coming to America" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

He also listed his childhood idol.

"Favorite NFL player while growing up was Deion Sanders," Marion's bio stated in 2008, the year he turned 21.

His family remembers. As a kid growing up near Pittsburgh, Marion wore Sanders' jersey, durag and gloves. At his 8th birthday in 1995, his mom told USA TODAY Sports that his birthday cake said "Neon Brennan" on it to make him feel like "Neon Deion."

Which is wild because Marion, 38, recently was named the new offensive coordinator at Colorado under Sanders, 58, Colorado's head coach .

"It's insane to me," said Rich Gillcrese, Marion's uncle, who also is long-time fan of Sanders.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his father Deion Sanders on the sideline before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on Dec. 28, 2025. Shedeur Sanders made seven starts during his rookie season with the Browns, going 3-4 in those games.

(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)

2024: Deion Sanders embraces Travis Hunter after the wide receiver/cornerback won the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
(Todd Van Emst, Heisman Trust via Imagn Images)

2024: Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) and social media producer Deion Sanders Jr. following a win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field.
(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

2023: Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and celebrity guest picker Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson exchange pleasantries on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the Buffaloes game against Colorado State at Folsom Field on Boulder, Colorado.
(Andrew Wevers, USA TODAY Sports)

2023: Colorado coach Deion Sanders in attendance before the national championship game.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders is introduced as the head coach of the University of Colorado.
(Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)

2022: Deion Sanders during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders went 27-6 in three seasons leading Jackson State.
(Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders enters the field with his team before the start of the game against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., on Sept. 4, 2022.
(Rich Storry, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

2021: Deion Sanders coaches during the Celebration Bowl. Sanders required a scooter following blood clot issues that ultimately led to the amputation of some toes.
(Mickey Welsh, USA TODAY NETWORK)

2017: Deion Sanders, working for NFL Network, interviews New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Melissa Stark (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Kurt Warner (right) smile during an NFL Network broadcast at the Super Bowl XLIX NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center on Jan. 26, 2015.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Rich Eisen (left), Deion Sanders (center) and Michael Irvin on the NFL Network set before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Dec. 5, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

2013: Deion Sanders as "Leon Sandcastle" of Primetime University arrives on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)

NFL network broadcaster Deion Sanders interviews San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Jan. 29, 2013.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders reports the action from the sidelines during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
(Mark J. Rebilas, US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders makes his return to football with the Baltimore Ravens after a three-year retirement in the 2004 season opener iat Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 12, 2004. The Browns beat the Ravens, 20-3, in the game.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders and family celebrate Kids Day at the New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 29, 2003.
(Ray Amati, Getty Images)

Washington's Deion Sanders jukes the Detroit Lions' Brock Olivo at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2000.
(JEFF KOWALSKY, AFP via Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboys' Deion Sanders outdistances Indianapolis Colts defensive back Tito Wooten to score a touchdown at the RCA Dome on Oct. 31, 1999.
(JOHN RUTHROFF, AFP via Getty Images)

Deion Sanders at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1997 season. The Reds were among four different MLB teams that Sanders played for during a nine-season career.
(Tony Tomsic, USA TODAY Sports)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deion Sanders covers San Diego Chargers receiver Shawn Jefferson during Super Bowl XXIX at the Joe Robbie Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Chargers, 49-26.
(Matthew Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

On Oct. 11, 1992, Deion Sanders played in a game against the Miami Dolphins, then flew to Pittsburgh for the Atlanta Braves' NLCS game against the Pirates (he did not appear in the game).
(H. DARR BEISER, USA TODAY)

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Deion Sanders (21) on a kick return against the Green Bay Packers at Fulton County Stadium on Dec. 1, 1991.
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)

The Atlanta Braves' Deion Sanders bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 7, 1991.
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)

1991: Deion Sanders attempts a steal against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fulton County Stadium. Sanders spent four seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 1991-94.
(USA TODAY Sports)

1990: Pro Football Hall of Famers duel at Milwaukee County Stadium as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders covers Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe.
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)

The Atlanta Falcons' Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium on Sept. 17, 1989.
(US PRESSWIRE)

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Fulton County Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Cowboys, 21-17, on Sept. 17, 1989.
(US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders was a two-time All-American, the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner and a 2011 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
(Allen Steele, Getty Images)

Deion Sanders in action for Florida State during the 1987 season.
(Malcolm Emmons, US PRESSWIRE)

Marion's mom has another way to describe it — "a dream come true." Sanders hired Marion but didn't know him personally. On March 28, 2025, Marion even sent a message on social media to Sanders that said, "I don't know you at all Coach" but told him anyway that he continues to be "the standard!"

"Love seeing you shine prime time!" Brennan wrote on X.

Like a young fan still shadowing his sports hero, Marion posted three other messages at Sanders on social media site X from March to October 2025 . Sanders didn't respond then. But now he just hired him away from Sacramento State to help revive his program.

Two cowboys in Boulder: Deion Sanders and Brennan Marion

The Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 record in Sanders' third season on the job. Sanders' offense needed a jolt. So now it's getting the Go-Go scheme designed by Marion, who learned to design plays from video games and likes to wear cowboy hats and jewelry around his neck just like Sanders , according to family members.

Just don't try to tell his mom, Richelle Gillcrese-Hines, that Marion copied Sanders on that one. She said it stems from her son's time at Texas in 2022, when he was the team's passing game coordinator. It's where he met actor and Texas alum Matthew McConaughey .

"Brennan worked at the University of Texas and talked to Matthew McConaughey," Gillcrese-Hines told USA TODAY Sports. "And after that, he was rocking the cowboy hat, and then Coach Prime followed. That's what I saw."

Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion is expected to head to Colorado to lead the offense.

Three years later, the net result is that there might be two coaches wearing those big-cattle hats now in Boulder.

"I think it's funny because it's two cowboys," said Marion's brother, D. Brandon Gillcrese.

The chains are similar, too.

"I want to see Coach Prime in his Prime chain and my brother, he rocks his Go-Go gold chain," his brother told USA TODAY Sports. "So you're going to have two types of people on that sideline, one calling the plays, one leading the team."

His brother said Marion has "swagger just like Deion."

The Brennan Marion story

Both Sanders and Marion come from humble beginnings. Marion even was homeless for a while after he moved to play football at DeAnza College in Cupertino, California, right in the shadow of Apple, one of the richest companies in the world. He was raised by a single mom in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles outside Pittsburgh. She sold roses at bars and night clubs to help pay the bills and took her sons with her. She said she made $4.35 an hour at one point but came up with enough cash to pay his $25 fee to play youth football.

"I balled up the money and threw it on the floor and said, 'Now we're not going to have lights or food," Marion's mother said.

In his first game, he scored five touchdowns, as she remembers it.

"We brought in a man that has shown he's creative, innovative, knowledgeable, smart and understands today's players," Sanders said in a statement Dec. 5. "He has made a difference on the field and off everywhere he's been."

'Dream come true'

Marion, who couldn't be reached for comment, went on to play at DeAnza and Tulsa, where he showed pro potential but injured his knee in his final college game in 2008, putting him on course to coach the game he loved instead of continuing to play it. He's since been a rising star in the profession with a creative, run-heavy offense that gives lesser talented rosters a better chance. As head coach at Sacramento State, his team improved to 7-5 in his only season in 2025, compared to 3-9 the season before he arrived in late 2024.

His mom is known as "Mama Marion" and is a lifelong football fan. She helped make it possible. Having an idol like Sanders helped, too.

"We got the receipts of it all," his mom said. "Him getting his (Sanders) jersey, him getting his gloves, the whole nine yards. I mean, this is probably a dream come true for him to be part of his staff and work with him."

In a statement released by Colorado Dec. 5, Marion summed it up like this:

"Humbled to be sought out by the best to ever do it in football," he said.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer . Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why it's 'insane' that Deion Sanders hired this man to revive Colorado

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