Deion Sanders subpoenaed for son Shilo's bankruptcy trial days before Colorado opener

Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders was subpoenaed to testify as a witness at his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial, according to reports. The news was first reported by USA TODAY Sports' reporter Brent Schrotenboer. The trial starts in Denver days before Coach Prime and the Buffs open the 2026 college football season at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3. This was a concern for Judge Michael E. Romero, who brought up the conflict at a pretrial conference on Friday. “I noticed Deion (Sanders) was subpoenaed,” Judge Romero said. The trial is expected to last a week or longer and would overlap after the Aug. 31 start. “I’m also concerned there’s a game — CU’s first game is that same week,” Judge Romero said on the Zoom conference via USA TODAY Sports. “So I can see that coming. I am not a CU alum (and) I have no ties to CU. So I don’t care. But I’m just recognizing that is a potential issue.” Deion Sanders recently expressed his frustration about the case. “They’ve got to stop this man,” Sanders said in a Well Off Media video on June 29. “You can’t be in court for 15 years. It’s not possible. Shilo has a baby, they gonna serve the baby, ‘You have a court date.” As it turns out, Sanders will get his day in court after 11 years of being tied up in the legal system. This time it might interfere with his job at the worst time. Sanders is coming off the worst season in his coaching career with a 3-9 record. He enters his fourth season at Colorado at 16-21 overall, including a five-game losing streak to end the 2025 season. The program is only two years removed from Travis Hunter's historic Heisman Trophy season in Boulder. However, Sanders would need nine wins this year to be .500 overall. Read More:Deion Sanders sends clear message to reporters as Colorado prepares for Georgia Tech Meanwhile, Shilo Sanders prepares for a critical moment in his life. The former Colorado defensive back, who was part of his father's famed "Louis Luggage" transfer portal haul for the Buffs in 2023, owes $11.89 million dollars after an alleged assault on a former high school security guard, John Darjean. The incident between Sanders and Darjean occurred in 2015 at Triple A Academy in Dallas, Texas, when Shilo was 15 years old. Darjean claimed Sanders assaulted him after trying to confiscate his phone at the request of Deion Sanders. The history of the case, which includes Darjean suffering permanent injuries, is detailed and has gone through many court proceedings in both Texas and Colorado. Darjean sued Sanders and his parents, but both Deion and Pilar were eventually removed from the lawsuit after Shilo Sanders became an adult. An eight-figure default judgment was waged against Shilo in Texas in 2022 after he didn't show up for court. Sanders is in the midst of trying to wipe out the debt in bankruptcy court. However, the process isn't going to be easy. If Judge Romero determines the assault was “willful and malicious,” Sanders will remain on the hook for the entire $11.89 million. On the other hand, if Sanders and his attorneys can prove self-defense, which is part of his pre-trial framework, Shilo will be relieved of the debt. Deion Sanders' role in all of this is also detailed. His actions after his son returned to school after being banned from campus will also be questioned. Sanders had a phone conversation with Darjean prior to the incident, according to court documents. Deion also took Shilo to a juvenile detention center after a separate incident one day after Darjean was hospitalized. Shilo Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 to discharge the debt. He wants a “fresh start" and there will soon be a conclusion to the decade-long fight. Deion Sanders previously said Darjean was a “grifter,” and questioned his motives in the case. The bankruptcy trial for Shilo Sanders starts Aug. 31 in Denver. More Colorado Buffaloes News:  Deion Sanders says EA Sports wasn't paying enough for College Football 27 Where Colorado ranks in latest college football program valuations Projecting Colorado football's 2026 season using ESPN's FPI Deion Sanders hires ex-NFL players to staff making less than previous ones