Deion Sanders was overcome with emotion as he delivered a poignant eulogy for his fallen player.
The Colorado Buffaloes head coach held back tears while speaking at the funeral of sophomore quarterback Dominiq Ponder, who tragically died last Sunday in a single-car accident.
He was just 23 years old.
Sanders, 58, began his brief address by admitting that it “didn’t feel right” speaking directly after Ponder’s family members, but underscored how “inspired” he was by them.
“We always ask questions about why this happened… ‘God, why this and why that?” Sanders said.
“When we’re successful, we’re excelling, and overcoming adversity, we never ask God ‘why’ then. Only in our demise and sadness of life, we challenge and ask God, ‘why.’ I think I’ve got the solution.
“As I look right there, and look at a young man so full of life — so full of respect, hustle, hard work, and integrity… I ask God, ‘for real?’ And he whispered: ‘Dom was chosen.’
“Dom was chosen to unite y’all… to bring you all together,” he added. “Dom was chosen.”
Continuing his eulogy, Sanders spoke directly to Ponder’s family, offering heartfelt anecdotes and applauding the “leader” they raised.
“The only darn thing I have regret for is that when you sent us a boy,” he paused as he became increasingly choked up. “I wanted to send you back a man.”
Ponder joined Colorado as a walk-on quarterback in Sanders’ first season at the helm, and he appeared in two games for the Buffaloes in 2025.
Ahead of the ceremony, Ponder’s family expressed their “heartfelt gratitude” for the ongoing support they’ve received over the last week.
They issued a separate statement thanking Sanders, individually, commending the coach for his “unwavering generosity, support, and love shown to our family.”
Upon learning of Ponder’s devastating passing, Sanders — whose own sons, Shedeur and Shilo, previously played for the Buffaloes — called an emergency meeting to console his heartbroken team.
In a harrowing scene shared on social media, the NFL legend comforted his sobbing players and delivered a vulnerable address, honoring Ponder and “the good man that he was.”
“His character, humor, work ethic, and tenacity,” Sanders said. “It’s something that I want us to remember.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ponder’s grieving family, and all proceeds will go toward funeral expenses and additional support during this gut-wrenching time.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
