Deion Sanders attacked by anti-religion group for Colorado team chaplain – legal expert says he can have one

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt is back with Colin Cowherd to discuss whether Texas is a National Championship contender or not, along if USC can win the Big Ten. He then breaks down why Colorado and Deion Sanders are under heavy pressure against Colorado ...

Colorado football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders came under fire by an anti-religion group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), over his use of a team chaplain. Sanders had Pastor Dewey Smith pray over the football team after its win against Baylor University on Sept. 22.

The FFRF released a scathing four-page letter condemning Sanders, making claims that having Smith do the prayer counted as "unconstitutional religious activities," as he leads a football team at a public university. 

"Coach Sanders’ team is full of young and impressionable student athletes who would not risk giving up their scholarship, giving up playing time, or losing a good recommendation from the coach by speaking out or voluntarily opting out of his unconstitutional religious activities – even if they strongly disagree with his beliefs," the letter read. 

"Coaches exert great influence and power over student athletes and those athletes will follow the lead of their coach. Using a coaching position to promote Christianity amounts to unconstitutional religious coercion."

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Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field. (Ron Chenoy-USA Today Sports)

It isn't the first time the FFRF has targeted Sanders for his displays of honoring and practicing Christianity. 

When Sanders first became the head coach at Colorado in 2023, the FFRF raised concerns about his previous