In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Colorado football legend Chad Brown expressed his reservations regarding the University of Colorado's decision to retire the jersey numbers of current players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. The school announced this move earlier this month as a tribute to the players' outstanding contributions on the football field, but Brown finds the rapid decision to be rather surprising and premature.

Brown, who played for the Buffaloes and left the program in 1993, acknowledged the talent and skill of both Sanders and Hunter, stating that they are indeed deserving of recognition. However, he also emphasized that there are many other former players who have waited much longer for similar honors. If we were a program that handed these things out all the time, he remarked, I think myself and a lot of other former alumni would look at this through a very, very different lens.

He further elaborated on his feelings by noting the schools traditionally conservative approach towards retiring jersey numbers and how it feels contradictory to suddenly retire two numbers for players who are still actively participating in the program. Considering how incredibly conservative we have been, and now to do it to two guys, who are both on campus stilltheir graduating class hasnt even left campus yetit feels a bit odd, Brown explained.

Brown's concerns seem to resonate with a wider group of alumni. He has spoken with over a dozen former Buffaloes, and he shared that most feel the same way that I do. This growing sentiment of unease among alumni regarding the decision reflects a deeper conversation about how honors are distributed within sports programs.

The situation escalated to the point where Coach Deion Sanders, who is also the father of Shedeur Sanders, felt compelled to address the backlash publicly. During a press conference on Thursday, Coach Sanders responded to the criticisms, dissecting the reasoning behind the decision and defending his sons achievements.

Brown also took the opportunity to voice his preference for honoring another former player, Deon Figures, who wore the number 2 jersey before Shedeur Sanders. For another No. 2 to get in before him, he said, Im not saying that Shedeur is not deserving or worthy of that kind of conversationbut if Im going to honor a No. 2, itd be Deon Figures first. This statement highlights the complexities and emotional charge surrounding the recognition of past and present players within the universitys football program.