Deion Sanders has had a year of very good decisions. Since signing on as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, he’s become college football’s gravitational center, transforming a once-dormant program into the talk of the sports world and a pop culture phenomenon. The NFL legend has monetized a rival coach’s diss into a pair of hot-selling sunglasses. He keeps saying words that go mega-viral, and has had the foresight to file trademarks for several of them. But his latest excellent choice doesn’t involve him saying anything at all: it’s written all over his face, via his gloriously gray beard.
Coach Prime emerged from the 4-3 Buffaloes’ bye week on Tuesday to attend the Denver Nuggets’ home opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, looking more hirsute than usual. Sitting courtside with his son Sheduer, Sanders debuted a salt and pepper beard beneath his signature trucker hat and shades, bringing some distinguished ruggedness to his ever-stylish and iconic appearance. The 56-year-old’s grizzled facial fuzz—which seemed to come in faster than an Amazon Prime delivery — looked impressively full and damn near mesmerizing with its contrasting tones. It’s been lighting up comment sections ever since, with users both amazed and perplexed, ranging from “sexy AF” to “yall got bro grayin like hell.”
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We’re used to seeing a clean-shaven Sanders; save for the occasional stache, he’s been baby-butt smooth since his Jheri-curl-and-giant-cell-phone days. But this isn’t the first time the former defensive back has rocked a jaw mane. His peak-of-the-pandemic beard was a majestic storm of gray whiskers, prompting some social media trolls to dub him “Father Time” (instead of Prime Time, get it?). Still, Sanders stood firmly by his seasoned look. “My Beard looks really good on me and I refuse to color it black and live the lie a multitude of men are living like we don’t know yo pillow case is black now!” he declared in an Instagram caption at the time.
And you know what? We applaud him. Growing back his ashen bristles is exactly the grooming power move Deion Sanders should be making at this audacious stage of his career. He’s got no reason to hide the fact that he’s getting older, and every reason to embrace who he is right now: Football’s great disruptor. The man who, 31 years after becoming the only athlete to play in a World Series and a Super Bowl, is still shaking up the sports world like an Etch A Sketch. Not only has he earned his grays, they’re a reflection of his enduring journey and the respect he commands to this day. Besides, in the silver fox power rankings, dude could actually give Clooney and Keanu a run for their money.
“Championship teams don’t let bull junk slide,” a still-bearded Sanders told the Buffaloes at practice this week ahead of their showdown with the UCLA Bruins on Saturday. Neither do they let Just For Men slip into their stubble. It’s all about embracing your natural talents.
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10 products you need to embrace your newfound silver fox status.
