Deion Sanders handing play-calling duties to ex-Giants coach Pat Shurmur backfired for Colorado

Despite a dismal day for the offense, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders didn’t regret his decision to hand over the play-calling reins to former Giants coach Pat Schumer.

Schumer was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and given the play-calling role ahead of Saturday night’s 26-19 loss to No. 16 Oregon State.

Colorado managed just 78 yards and three points on offense through three quarters and the team trailed 23-5 early in the fourth before putting up empty yards.

Sean Lewis had been charged with the responsibility through the first eight games of the season before Sanders made the change. 

“We’re not going to demean Sean Lewis; we’re not going to take that tone,” Sanders told reporters, according to ESPN. “Sean is a good man; I think he is a good play-caller. We just needed change at the time. We needed to try something else at the time, and that’s what we did. I don’t look back on it. I don’t second-guess myself whatsoever, because there’s more to it than what you may know. 

“Let’s just trust the process.”

The decision came after Colorado had started the season 3-0 before dropping four of their next five going into Saturday’s game with Oregon State.

The loss on Saturday pushed the Buffaloes to 4-5 and under .500 for the first time with Sanders as head coach. 

Sanders kept his reasoning as to why he changed things up under wraps. 

“I’m not going to disclose all my thoughts, man — my thoughts are my thoughts,” Sanders said. “Just know that I made the decision and I don’t stumble or stutter on it, and I’m not looking back. It is what it is, and that’s what it’s going to be. I make a decision to help this team win. You guys don’t know all the intangibles yet. You’re just looking from the outside of the crib, looking in.

“I got tinted windows and you can’t even see in the house, but you’re making conclusions on what I should and should not do.”

The last time Schumer, 58, had been in a play-calling position was during his tenure as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2021. 

Shurmur was the Giants head coach in 2018 and ’19, putting up a combined 9-23 record before getting fired.

He was the Browns head coach in 2011 and ’12 and also had stints as an offensive coordinator with the Rams, Eagles and Vikings.

Lewis came over to Colorado to join Sanders’ staff after spending five years as the head coach at Kent State. He remained in the co-coordinator role and worked with the quarterbacks on Saturday. 

He also signaled in plays from the sideline.