After nearly two decades in his dual-sport career (NFL and MLB), Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is still proving why people call him 'Coach Prime'.

The 2x Super Bowl winner recently went viral after an old 2022 gym video clip resurfaced on the internet. Making waves online in 2025, ML Football again reposted the iconic footage on Instagram on 20 July.

The video showed the NFL legend powering through a 245 lbs bench effortlessly for six reps, showing no signs of struggle even at 55.

If that wasn't impressive enough for the fans, Sanders hopped right onto the lift without even warming up, all the while wearing a hoodie, winter jacket, gold chains, a hat, and sunglasses.

The caption in the Instagram post, which revealed the details of the lift, written in all caps, followed by three 'exploding head' emojis, perfectly reflected the jaw-dropping reaction the video sparked online.

The challenge ignited in the Jackson State weight room after assistant coach Sam Malone tried 245 lbs first, getting only one rep. His son, Deion 'Bucky' Jr., went second and failed to even move the weight. Even wide receivers coach Rashad Davis could get only 4 reps.

Even past his prime, Sanders' baseline strength exceeds most people's peak. But this wasn't even the most impressive part about the lift.

What made Sanders' 245-lb bench so remarkable

The context behind the bench is everything. Only a year before, Deion Sanders underwent multiple medical setbacks, including blood clots that led to the amputation of his left big toe and second toe.

Multiple other surgeries followed, including the removal of his left calf. The operation sidelined him for 3 games. He spent 23 days in the hospital before returning in an electric wheelchair.

In fact, during his stay at the hospital, his mental health also significantly worsened, and negative thoughts crowded his mind.

"The hardest thing of all was to look down there, and see that, and understand that once upon a time, you were this type of athlete," Sanders revealed in a 2022 documentary, as published by talkSport.

He even feared never being able to walk again. Coming out of that and crushing a benching challenge within a year is not only impressive, but also a testimony to his resilience and lasting influence in the sport.

What are your thoughts on Sanders' comeback?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi