Deion Sanders explains viral moment that looked like he was speaking in tongues after Colorado win

Deion Sanders explains why he appeared to be speaking in tongues after Colorado’s win over Weber State, calling the moment a spontaneous prayer.

Deion Sanders has offered a straightforward explanation for the unusual moment that caught attention after Colorado’s win over Weber State, saying the chant that sounded like speaking in tongues was part of a spontaneous prayer rather than a performance for cameras.

Sanders addressed the moment himself during his weekly news conference Tuesday, Sept. 15, bringing it up before reporters could ask about the viral footage.

The Colorado coach had just watched his team defeat Weber State 52-21 on Sept. 12, but the emphatic score did not mean he was satisfied with everything he saw. According to USA TODAY, Sanders said he had just finished addressing his players and needed to settle himself after being particularly hard on the team.

“I had just come from addressing the team, and I lit them up, so I had to calm down,” Sanders said.

He then explained what happened next.

“And the only way I know how to calm down is to pray in the spirit,” Sanders said. “So, you know, it’s not a gimmick. There’s not a ‘look at me.’ No. No. That’s real.”

The explanation came after video from Sanders’ postgame news conference circulated online, showing him vocalizing in a way some viewers interpreted as speaking in tongues before taking questions.

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Rather than distancing himself from the moment, Sanders made clear that this form of prayer is familiar to him and predates his coaching career at Colorado.

“That’s what I do,” he said. “And I’ve done that everywhere I’ve been.”

Sanders also pointed to moments outside football when he has relied on the same practice, including periods surrounding medical procedures. His comments are consistent with previous public statements in which he has spoken openly about prayer and described having a designated place on Colorado’s campus where he prays and reflects before games.

The coach also rejected the idea that the display was calculated to attract attention.

“I love the Lord with all my heart, and I’m not scared to speak it in front of anybody, anywhere, at any time,” Sanders said. “But it’s not a planned type of thing.”

Colorado entered the Weber State matchup after opening the season with a 14-13 road victory at Georgia Tech. The Buffaloes improved to 2-0 with the Weber State win and are scheduled to face Northwestern on Sept. 19.

Sanders’ explanation leaves little ambiguity about how he viewed the viral moment. It was a personal expression of faith that happened immediately after an emotionally charged game, not something staged for the cameras.