Deion Sanders sets recruiting sights on sophomore son of NFL Hall of Famer with first scholarship offer
If real recognizes real, then there's no doubt as to why Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was the first coach to make a scholarship offer to Brayden Bailey. Bailey, entering his sophomore season as a class of 2028 cornerback, is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Champ Bailey. Sanders and Champ Bailey played together […]
If real recognizes real, then there's no doubt as to why Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was the first coach to make a scholarship offer to Brayden Bailey. Bailey, entering his sophomore season as a class of 2028 cornerback, is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Champ Bailey.
Sanders and Champ Bailey played together on the 2000 Washington Redskins team that spent about $100 million to assemble a legendary spending spree in free agency. They're arguably the two best cornerbacks of all time, and each played on offense and defense at varying parts of their collegiate and NFL careers.
Colorado hosted its pro day last week, and Champ Bailey spoke with the Buffaloes staff. Later on Saturday, Brayden announced that he had earned his first FBS opportunity.
Brayden has also received interest from Georgia and Georgia Tech this offseason.
"Everything I've heard since I walked in that door is about as real as it gets," Bailey told the Colorado cornerback room. "One thing that always sticks out to me, definitely your moments, that does matter, like practice. When I learned how Prime practiced when he was in Dallas, I learned that from my brother. My brother came to training camp and all he talked about was how they practice. You (Sanders) and Michael Irvin, how y'all battled. I always worked hard, but it was always something I loved to do — play ball. For me, I realized the way I got good was how I practice."
Champ Bailey is recognized as one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. He had a remarkable 15-season career characterized by exceptional coverage skills, athletic ability, and reliability.
Selected seventh overall by the Washington Redskins in the 1999 NFL Draft, he made a significant impression from the start. During his five years in Washington (1999–2003), he accumulated 18 interceptions, 312 total tackles, and 71 pass deflections, earning Pro Bowl selections in four of those seasons.
In 2004, Bailey was traded to the Denver Broncos in a high-profile deal that included running back Clinton Portis. His time in Denver (2004–2013) cemented his legacy as a Hall of Fame player. Across his 10 seasons with the Broncos, he totaled 34 interceptions, 495 tackles, and 133 pass deflections. In 2006, he led the NFL with 10 interceptions and received first-team All-Pro honors. Renowned for his knack for neutralizing the opposing team's top receivers, Bailey revolutionized the cornerback role with his technique, smarts, and stamina.
Bailey's career achievements highlight his remarkable dominance on the field. He was selected to 12 Pro Bowls—setting an NFL record for cornerbacks—and garnered three First-Team All-Pro distinctions. Throughout his career, he recorded 52 interceptions, 203 pass deflections, 908 combined tackles, and forced four fumbles across 215 games.
After hanging up his cleats in 2014, Bailey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, during his first year of eligibility. He is widely regarded as one of the all-time great defensive backs.
