8 Key Insights Into Anti-Religion Group’s Claims Against Deion Sanders
By: Michael Neal
November 1, 2024
TheBigLead.com is learning that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is challenging University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders over the presence of a team chaplain. FFRF claimed the setup violates the separation of church and state as stated in the Constitution. In its recent letter to the university, FFRF warned of potential legal action. They argued that “using a coaching position to promote Christianity amounts to unconstitutional religious coercion.” In this photo gallery, we explore Sanders’ actions as head coach and the FFRF’s recent complaint. FFRF expressed concerns about the influence of coaches on student athletes, noting that they are “young and impressionable.” The organization asserted that athletes may feel pressured to interact with the chaplain, impacting their educational experience. “Coaches exert great influence and power over student athletes, and those athletes will follow the lead of their coach,” the FFRF letter stated. This is not the first time FFRF has scrutinized Sanders. After his hiring in 2023, the organization criticized his public expressions of faith, claiming they could be seen as coercive. In response, the University of Colorado stated that Sanders was required to comply with nondiscrimination policies and established clause requirements during his hiring. The First Liberty Institute (FLI) countered FFRF’s claims, referencing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that protects coaches’ rights to express their religious beliefs. “FFRF’s letter is beyond inaccurate,” said Keisha Russell, a constitutional lawyer at FLI. She noted that case law supports the legality of chaplain programs in public settings. Russell pointed to a 2022 Supreme Court decision involving coach Joe Kennedy, who was allowed to pray on the field. “I think it’s pretty clear that these students are old enough to differentiate for themselves what they want to do,” Russell concluded.
