Deion Sanders pays touching tribute to Bobby Bowden on Instagram

After the death of Bobby Bowden, Deion Sanders paid a touching tribute to his college coach.

Early Sunday morning, news came that legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden passed away at the age of 91. He had acknowledged his dire health situation recently, but the news still hit hard and reactions came from far and wide.

Deion Sanders was arguably the best cover corner in the NFL during his prime, and he’s a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He is also one the best players who ever played for Bowden at Florida State over the coach’s long and successful run there (1976-2009).

The roots of Sanders’ “Prime Time” persona were in Tallahassee. He won the Jim Thorpe Award (given to the country’s best defensive back) in 1988, Bowden’s 13th season as Seminoles’ coach as the team went 11-1 and won the Sugar Bowl. That paved the way for him to be the No. 5 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Deion Sanders posts nice tribute to Bobby Bowden

On Sunday, Sanders went to Instagram to post a touching tribute to his college coach who was clearly more than that to him.

“My prayers goes out to the entire Bowden Family,Friend,Loved ones,Staff and All former Players,” Sanders wrote Sunday. “I’ve lost one of the BEST COACHES I’ve ever had, a man of God and a true Father Figure when most young men arrived on college campuses without the love, affection and correction of a father. Love you 4Ever Coach Bowden.”

Sanders eventually went into coaching himself, initially at the high school level as an assistant for several years around his duties in the media. He’s now heading into his second season as head coach at Jackson State (4-3 record in his first season), as he looks to be a driving force for putting HBCUs on the national map.