Deion Sanders to have four-hour surgery after NFL legend's worrying health update in wake of cancer battle

NFL legend Deion Sanders revealed he will undergo a four-hour operation on Tuesday as be battles blood clots - but the Colorado coach still hopes to be at practice on Wednesday.

The Hall of Famer - and father of Shedeur Sanders - last week revealed that he is still battling health problems after beating an aggressive form of bladder cancer. 'I'm hurting like crazy,' he admitted.

Sanders dealt with blood clot issues while at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two toes on his left foot. Two years later, he had a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

Earlier this year, the 58-year-old required surgery to treat cancer and he now faces another operation on his leg.  But the coach wants to be on the sideline for this weekend's game against Iowa State, insisting: 'I cannot wait to get past this hurdle'   

Sanders said: 'I trust God with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind... I'm going to go in there (surgery), and I'm going to get some of the best sleep in the world for, I think, four hours, the surgery is going to be.

'I've never been high a day in my life. I've never drank, smoked or anything. But when I get those surgeries, I am there on time.' Sanders said his medical issues were hereditary and have 'nothing to do with me working at the level I´m trying to compete at.'

The 58-year-old coach was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU last Saturday, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. He didn't wear a shoe on his left foot in the second half.

'I'm going to be all right,' said Sanders, whose Buffaloes host No 22 Iowa State on Saturday. 'Prayerfully, I'll be right back (on Wednesday) because I don't miss practice. I don't plan on doing such.'

He continued: 'I've got a lot of well-wishes, people talking about: "You need to slow down. You need to take a break..." there's nothing that I could've done to stop what's transpiring. Nothing that I could've taken or something that I'm just not abiding by. It is what it is.'

Sanders spent time away from the team over the summer after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. He revealed details of his treatment, which involved doctors reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder. 

He frequently needs to use the restroom so the school introduced a portable sideline bathroom for him during games.