Sports Icon Deion Sanders Opens up about Hitting ‘Rock Bottom' That Led to Suicide Attempt

Deion Sanders recently opened up about going through some dark times during the height of his public success and surviving a suicide attempt as a result.

Sanders, 51, no doubt enjoyed a robust NFL career spanning 14 seasons, becoming the only athlete to play in both the Super Bowl and the World Series. Amidst the fame and fortune, however, the legend nicknamed “Prime Time” was constantly hitting rock bottom.

HIDDEN PAINS

Laying his struggles bare on Paula Faris' “Journeys of Faith” podcast, Sanders explained just how low he went at a time many openly envied his lifestyle.

"Rock bottom for me was just being in the midst of a game when everybody's screaming when they don't know your middle name. Rock bottom for me was having hundreds of suits and not covering the pain. Rock bottom for me was having hundreds of pairs of shoes but couldn't take a step in the right direction. Rock bottom for me was having 10 cars and wasn't going nowhere. Rock bottom for me was having a 14,000-square-foot house but never feeling at home."

RELATIONSHIPS DID NOT WORK

Besides fame and material possessions, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, who has been married twice, also failed to find peace in his relationships with several women.

"Rock bottom for me was laying between two and three women at a time, but you get up unsatisfied," he added. "Laying right beside the person who said they love you, but she didn't even know you was in pain. That was rock bottom for me."

NO ONE SAW THE REAL SANDERS

Sanders admitted trying to show people the struggles he was facing, but no one saw his true self.

"I was crying out to people. But, they couldn't hear you because they saw Prime,” he shared. “They saw my character. The character I created, not the character of a man."

SUICIDE ATTEMPT & REDEMPTION

Sanders’ inner turmoil led him to drive his car over a cliff in 1997, but after falling 40 feet and surviving the attempt, he knew it was time to make a change.

That was when the NFL sports analyst rededicated his life to Jesus and is now looking forward to tying the knot with his TV producer fiancée, Tracey Edmonds.

NEW BEGINNING: SHE SAID "YES!"

Edmonds, 52, confirmed news of their engagement last month in a Valentine’s Day Instagram post. Alongside a loved-up photo of the pair, she wrote:

“Sending LOVE to MY LOVE/MY FIANCÉ @deionsanders! God is SO GOOD! We’re 8 years in, made it through the storms TOGETHER, and will be spending the rest of our lives TOGETHER!”

Sanders has five children from two previous marriages while Edmonds has two sons from her marriage to R&B singer, Babyface.