Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter are only five months removed from playing college football, and that’s apparently enough time passed to retire the duo’s jerseys.
On Monday, the University of Colorado announced that they’d be retiring Sanders’ No. 2 and Hunter’s No. 12 after the two football players gave their all for the program… for two years. And in those two seasons, the team boasted a combined record of 13-12, and though Hunter did win the Heisman Trophy in 2024, many thought that the Buffaloes underachieved under Head Coach Deion Sanders.
So does that kind of success really deserve a jersey retirement? Are we sure Colorado shouldn’t think this one over for a while?
Considering that only four players in the program’s history have ever had their numbers retired (Bobby Anderson’s No. 11, Rashaan Salaam’s No. 19, Byron White’s No. 24 and Joe Romig’s No. 67), it certainly seemed like having your jersey retired at Colorado was an exclusive club (I suppose it’s mostly because Colorado rarely has a great team with top tier players). There’s no question that Sanders and Hunter were incredibly impactful in the revitalization of Buffaloes football, and both will most likely be top tier picks in the NFL draft this summer, but it’s definitely reasonable to ask if having their numbers retired this quickly is deserved.
The two talented players won’t have to wait very long for the ceremony either. Colorado is taking care of the double dose of jersey retirement at the Buffaloes’ spring game at Folsom Field on April 19:
All of that being said, there has been a trend in recent years of organizations expediting the retiring of numbers – and giving former players their flowers. Many sports fans probably envision former players coming back to where they played when they are old and grey to see their jersey lifted into the rafters. That’s how things used to be, but now it seems that teams are opting to not delay their gratitude.
To me, it seems like that way of doing things really got started when the Los Angeles Lakers retired both numbers (8 and 24) that Kobe Bryant played in during his tenure with the purple and gold. Kobe played his last game in the NBA in 2016, and his jersey retirement ceremony took place the following year. As we all know, Bryant then tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020.
So there’s a situation where it was great for someone to have their jersey retirement turnaround be of short length. If you know a great athlete is going to have their jersey retired at some point anyways, why wait?
But that’s where fans of college football are having a hard time justifying the jersey retirements of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Did they do enough? Were they at Colorado long enough to really earn having their numbers become untouchable? Personally, I’d say it’s a toss up.
If you asked social media though, they’d tell you that Sanders and Hunter having their numbers immortalized is questionable at best:
13-11 Qb Record gets your jersey retired! 😂😂😂😂
— BeatinTheBookie.com®️ (@BeatinTheBookie) April 14, 2025
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in my entire life.
— Patrick W. Cutler (@PatrickWCutler) April 15, 2025
They didnt even make the playoffs 😂
— E💰 (@EMoneyMoves) April 15, 2025
Quick question – do you guys understand the typical criteria that warrants a number retirement?
— Ciroc Holmes (@ChnRstrntKng) April 15, 2025
Has to be satire
— Elias (@thegottsfather) April 15, 2025
The most impressive 13-12 in college football history. Thank you, Shedeur!
— MN Degen (@MNDegen69) April 14, 2025
These my guys but the bar for retire jersey gotten lower
— Juggin 🦅 (@Mr102ClubTife) April 15, 2025
