Deion Sanders comeback story (Getty Images)
Deion Sanders walked away from the NFL in July 2001 after one season with Washington. On September 1, 2004, the Baltimore Ravens signed him at age 37 to play nickelback. He intercepted three passes that season and two more in 2005, five in all for Baltimore. From 2001 to 2003 he worked as a CBS analyst, so he stayed close to the game without taking hits in it. His best moment of the return came in Week 7 of 2004 against Buffalo, when he took an interception back for a touchdown. It was his ninth career pick-six, which tied him with Ken Houston and Aeneas Williams for second all time, behind Rod Woodson’s 12.
Because his old number 21 already belonged to Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister, he picked jersey number 37, matching his age,. The Ravens signed him to a one-year deal.
It was a small joke that told you he knew what people were thinking. Most people thought that was the end. One of those returns went for a touchdown. The Ravens never reached the playoffs with him, but the comeback still deserves a closer look. He had not been gone from football entirely. Judged only by team results, the return looks like a footnote. But look at what he was asked to do. He was a part-time defender on a team that struggled to score, and he still made game-changing plays. Most players who leave for three years and return at that age do not get a touchdown, let alone five interceptions.
Sanders had played well in Washington in 2000, finishing with four interceptions. Then he announced his retirement in July 2001. Their offense was among the league’s weakest in 2004, and running back Jamal Lewis missed two games with a suspension.
He showed up and told the team he was done. Nine games was all he managed in that first season. Still, a player who had sat out three full years found the end zone once. The exit was messy. He had tried baseball again, and Washington insisted he report to camp. The Ravens’ need was real. A defense-first team was looking for any extra edge, and Sanders offered ball skills and a level of confidence few players could match.