Deion Sanders’ Colorado football program reportedly went to extreme lengths to pursue name, image and likeness partnerships this offseason.
According to Jason Jones of Sports Illustrated, the Buffaloes former special teams coordinator Trevor Reilly, who resigned on August 1st revealed in a letter to Colorado athletic director Rick George and Sanders that he spent time int he Middle East discussing potential NIL funding from Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
“I even went to Saudi Arabia and got a meeting with the Saudis, who were interested in pursuing business,” he wrote. “I have email receipts to prove it, and you guys let it fall flat on its face.”
The former coach told Sports Illustrated that he acted on is own and “did nothing illegal” and “was trying to help Colorado the best way I knew how.”
Colorado confirmed Reilly’s statement, telling A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports he “acted on his own accord and is no longer an employee of the university.”
The Saudi PIF is the primary funder of the LIV Golf tour, has a partnership with Formula One and is the majority owner of Newcastle United and has a stake in Chelsea FC. A partnership between Saudi Arabia and a college football program would surely draw some heavy criticism for the public.
Sanders’ first season at Colorado didn’t go as planned as he finished 4-8 on the season. The Buffaloes open the 2024-25 season against North Dakota State on August 29th.
