Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter to have Colorado jersey numbers retired: Controversial or fair?

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will have their numbers retired by the program this Saturday, a decision that sparked discussion en masse online. (Photo by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes football program announced on Monday that Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders will have their numbers, No. 12 and No. 2 respectively, retired during the team’s Black and Gold Spring Game on Saturday.  

The news came as a surprise to some, given the announcement coming just a few months after the tandem played their last game on campus. Colorado also hasn’t been known to retire numbers often in its history, having done so just four times prior. 

For Hunter, the honor comes as little surprise. Winning a Heisman Trophy alone cements him among Colorado greats, making it fitting that he’ll have his number deemed “untouchable” by the school. He now has a chance to become the highest-selected Buff in the NFL draft, matching or beating running back Bo Matthews who went second overall to the San Diego Chargers in 1974. 

Hunter will join the late Rashaan Salaam (No. 19) as Buffs who both won the Heisman and have their number retired by the school. 

Sanders was a tad more controversial. It’s not that he doesn’t have the résumé to back up the selection, as you could argue he’s the best quarterback in the school’s history and led the impressive turnaround of the program. However, opposers don’t believe Sanders quite earned the worth of the honor, and it may be more of an homage to his father, coach Deion Sanders. 

Shedeur did win the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, so to say it’s entirely undeserving doesn’t seem apt. Both Sanders the coach and player have been the subject of plenty of criticism since they made the jump to Colorado, and likely won’t quiet doubters anytime soon, regardless of on-the-field success. 

It’s unknown if jersey retirements will be more heavily featured under coach Sanders’s tenure at CU. Having done so with two players so quickly does pave the way for future young stars to have their numbers in the rafters, but they’ll be following in the footsteps of two incredibly influential players.