The season keeps getting worse for Colorado’s football program. In the middle of that storm, Deion Sanders made major changes to his coaching staff. The biggest casualty is former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmu. Who was demoted from offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach after a string of disappointing results.
The move came right after the 53-7 blowout loss to Utah on October 25, a defeat that exposed the team’s offensive shortcomings. According to USA Today, Sanders decided to strip Shurmur of his play-calling duties. He handed that responsibility to Brett Bartolone, the current passing game coordinator and tight ends coach.
An inevitable change amid chaos
According to New York Post report, during Tuesday’s press conference, Sanders hinted at the shift without directly confirming the internal reshuffle. “I might have already changed it, and you don’t even know it… I don’t blow whistles or make big announcements,” he said.
Colorado declined to comment to @On3sports on the offensive play-calling situation.https://t.co/c1ApHLxSzP pic.twitter.com/DTk58LkHhm
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) November 5, 2025
Shurmur, 60, had taken over play-calling in 2023 after Sanders removed that role from then-offensive coordinator Sean Lewis. Ironically, Lewis is now thriving as the head coach at San Diego State, boasting a 7-1 record and leading the Mountain West Conference.
Shurmur’s recent career has been unstable. After coaching the Giants between 2018 and 2019—with 5-11 and 4-12 records—he was fired following Daniel Jones’s rookie season. Later, he spent two years as the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, but again failed to produce consistent results.
For Sanders, the challenge at Colorado has grown since losing his son, Shedeur Sanders, and star receiver Travis Hunter to the 2025 NFL Draft. The team stands at a disappointing 3-6, ranking 14th out of 16 in the Big 12, with just one conference win.
With pressure mounting, Sanders has moved to protect his locker room. After two consecutive losses, he banned his players from speaking to the media. The Buffaloes have three games left to salvage some pride: West Virginia, Arizona State, and Kansas State.
