Deion Sanders forgoing half of his salary for new Jackson State football facility

David Suggs

Deion Sanders forgoing half of his salary for new Jackson State football facility image

There's putting your money where your mouth is. Then, there's Deion Sanders.

The Hall of Famer-turned-college football coach has been pushing to transform historically black college Jackson State into a football powerhouse.

His latest act? Giving away half of his salary to speed up renovations of the Tigers' football facility.

Sanders announced his decision on Instagram Monday, posting a lengthy video of himself going around different parts of Jackson State's facilities.

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Coach Prime inked a four-year, $1.2 million deal with Jackson State back in 2020. That means Sanders is putting a cool $150,000 on the line. That's a pretty hefty fee.

In the video, Sanders discusses his intention of returning some of the money he is owed with business manager Constance Schwartz-Morini. At first, it seemed Sanders was content with giving away one-quarter of his salary — $75,000.

However, he bumped that figure up to $150,000 moments later.

“I’ll put half on it to get this done,” Sanders said. “If you don’t believe me, check me. I will send you the receipts.”

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According to the Clarion-Ledger, the hope is that the Tigers' sparkling new football HQ will be ready by Aug. 4 — one day before football camp starts up. Once the center is officially opened, it will serve as a hub for players and coaches alike, complete with state-of-the-art locker rooms and spacious player lounges.

Jackson State took a serious step in the right direction during the 2021 season, going 11-2 in the SWAC. Sanders also inked No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter last December, cementing the Mississippi school as a legitimate force in the college football landscape.

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Deion Sanders net worth

According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Neon Deion is worth $40 million. The former Super Bowl and World Series champion earned nearly $34 million as an NFL player, per Spotrac. According to Baseball Almanac, Sanders netted an additional $12.8 million during his nine-year baseball career. He was one of the most talked-about athletes in America during his career, known for his vociferous trash talk and brash persona.

Throughout his career, Sanders also ventured into the rap game (he released an album called "Prime Time" in 1994) in addition to becoming a featured athlete in commercials for Pizza Hut, Burger King and American Express, among other brands.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.