Deion Sanders' Parents Had a Failed Marriage – Where Are Connie Knight & Mims Sanders Now?

Deion Sanders' parents, Connie Knight and Mims Sanders, left an indelible mark on their son's life. The former football star still carries and honors the valuable lessons he grasped from their example.

In January 2019, Deion Sanders penned a letter to his seven-year-old self, an age when he realized his true calling and made a promise to his mother. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was born in 1967 to Connie Knight and her ex-husband, Mims Sanders.

The former couple separated when Deion Sanders was young, and Connie Knight remarried the university football coach's stepfather, Willie Knight. All three parental figures set an enduring example influencing how the former football star navigated his life.

Connie Knight Taught Deion Sanders How to Groom Himself before He Was 10

Connie worked long hours as a custodian at a hospital. She would leave in the early morning hours, having laid out her son's clothes for the day with the house key on top. Every weekday day at 7 a.m., she would call to wake him up so he could start getting ready for school.

After work, she would return and make dinner. Deion saw his mother's efforts to smooth his livelihood and vowed, "Mama … one day I'm gonna be rich. I'm gonna make a lot of money, so you don't ever have to work another day in your life."

Connie raised Deion alongside his stepfather, Willie, after separating from his biological dad, Mims. Beyond her willingness to provide, Deion appreciated his mother's kindness and inherited her work ethic and "tenacity" to "accomplish incredible things."

Deion Sanders Remains Protective of His Mother

In September 2023, Deion addressed comments by Jay Norvell that he felt implied his mother hadn't "raised him right." The coach was giving his team a pep talk before a game when he stated he didn't get upset much unless someone spoke negatively of his team or his mother.

"See, back where I come from, when someone says something about your momma, you put one foot back, and you was ready to get down (sic)," Deion said. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who shares a close bond with his mom, Ata Johnson, was also present at the meeting.

When Deion handed the mic to Connie, she proudly declared, "I raised him right." The famous mom added that she always told her son to be himself and that "If you have to kick [expletive], kick [expletive]!"

Deion Sanders' Fathers Both Battled Addiction

Deion's biological father struggled with drug addiction while his stepfather battled alcoholism. Although he considered them two of the most influential men in his life and had nothing but love for Willie and Mims, their spiral in substance abuse encouraged him to abstain.

Mims' drug addiction landed him on the streets and once in jail, even after his son had achieved remarkable success. Although Deion had honored his promise to provide for his mother, his father was homeless.

Yet, whenever Connie knew Deion was visiting her in Florida, she would try to find Mims and help him clean up. She knew Deion still loved his father and would be devastated to see how homelessness had affected him.

Mims eventually sobered up at some point and tried taking his life back. He was a skilled dancer, and he even got a gig as the opening act for MC Hammer. Unfortunately, he died of a brain tumor in 1994.

Willie remained at Deion's side afterward and traveled with the family. Deion gave his fathers five grandchildren, his eldest two from his first marriage to Carolyne Chambers and his younger three from his second marriage to Pilar Sanders.