Deion Sanders’ 1989 NFL Draft Day Outfit Inspired a New Version of His Nike Sneakers

There aren’t many athletes with a legacy as varied as dual-sport pro turned collegiate coach Deion Sanders. Coach Prime left his mark on the sport in numerous ways, bringing his charismatic swagger to sports — and sneakers. With the renewal of his Nike line in full swing, the brand will soon pay homage to Sanders’ style with a new spin on his first signature sneaker.

Official product images of an upcoming Nike Air Diamond Turf in black and gold have surfaced. According to early reports, the pair has a “Signing Day” theme inspired by Sanders’ gold chain-swathed outfit during the 1989 NFL Draft. 

The shoe features an all-black leather upper which is accented with gold on its branding, lateral and medial mesh paneling, lace tips and special embroidery on the heel, which reads “you gotta believe” in reference to one of Sanders’ famous sayings used to rally his college teams. This detail, coupled with the sneaker’s black-and-gold color scheme, makes it fitting for Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes as well as his late ‘80s attire. His signature appears on the insole, seemingly confirming the draft day theme. 

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In addition to this newly surfaced pair, Nike has plenty of Coach Prime-related sneakers in the pipeline for 2025. Confirmed during Nike’s latest SNKRS Showcase preview is a retro version of Sanders’ “Falcons” Air Diamond Turf, which is expected to arrive in January. Also on the way for the model is a new “Must Be the Money” Air Diamond Turf colorway inspired by his brief rap career and a return of the sneaker’s original “Emerald” look.

Beyond the Air Diamond Turf, Nike will also continue to issue new versions of Sanders’ equally popular Air DT Max ’96 model. In November, he posted an Instagram video asking fans to pressure Nike into releasing a white-and-gold version of the sneaker.

The Nike Air Diamond Turf “Signing Day” does not currently have a confirmed release date, but the sneaker is expected to debut at retail early in ’25 for a retail price of $160.