Deion Sanders is celebrating another milestone in a health journey that has stretched across several years. The Colorado Buffaloes head football coach recently received two custom prosthetic toes for his left foot. The prosthetics replace toes amputated after Sanders developed life-threatening blood clots.
His son, Deion Sanders Jr., shared footage of the fitting on social media this week. Sanders kept his trademark humor throughout the appointment. After seeing the prosthetics, Sanders complimented their toenails and skin-tone match.
Once they were in place, the Pro Football Hall of Famer celebrated the moment.
“I’m 10 toes down again!” Sanders said.
The prosthetics replace Sanders’ big toe and second toe on his left foot. Both were amputated during a serious medical ordeal in 2021.
Sanders Gets Back Into His Shoes
For Sanders, the new toes offer more than a cosmetic change. The coach has dealt with mobility issues and discomfort since the amputations. Earlier this year, Sanders began the process of receiving custom silicone prosthetics.
During a fitting consultation, he explained one of his simplest goals.
“I need toes,” Sanders said. “I want to fit my shoes properly.”
The finished prosthetics should help support Sanders’ foot and improve how his weight is distributed while standing and walking. Sanders was particularly excited about returning to his normal size 11.5 shoes.
Still, getting accustomed to the prosthetics may take some time. Sanders said the toes initially felt tight. He joked that his new additions had not yet bonded with his remaining toes.
“They gotta spend more time with each other cause right now, they’re not together. This one’s mad cause they’ve been alone,” Sanders joked.
The lighthearted moment comes after years of serious health complications for Sanders.
A Long Road Back
Sanders’ foot problems became severe while he was coaching at Jackson State University. He initially underwent surgery in September 2021 for a dislocated toe and an inflamed nerve. However, his recovery became complicated when doctors discovered dangerous blood clots.
Sanders eventually developed a femoral arterial blood clot and compartment syndrome. The condition caused dangerous swelling in his leg. Doctors ultimately amputated his left big toe and second toe.
At one point, Sanders faced the possibility of losing considerably more than two toes.
“They were talking about the amputation of toes,” Sanders previously said. “Then they were talking about the amputation of my leg from the knee down. Then, they were trying to ensure I had life.”
His vascular problems did not end with the amputations. Sanders later underwent additional procedures involving blood clots in his legs. In 2025, he underwent an aspiration thrombectomy involving arteries behind his left knee and lower leg.
The former NFL and MLB star has also faced other significant health challenges in recent years.
Sanders revealed in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He underwent surgery as part of his treatment and later said he was cancer-free.
Through those challenges, Sanders has continued coaching Colorado and speaking publicly about his recovery.
Receiving his prosthetic toes marks another step forward.
Sanders thanked the people who helped make the fitting possible and celebrated being “10 toes down again.”
“It’s a blessing,” he said.