Chad Brown Slams CU’s Odd Sanders & Hunter Jersey Retirement
Quick thought: CU’s move to retire Sanders’ and Hunter’s jerseys is a plot twist Chad Brown didn’t ask for. On April 18, 2025, the University of Colorado Buffs quietly announced they’d retire running back Marcus Sanders’ No. 27 and defensive end Tariq Hunter’s No. 92, citing their “exceptional contributions” from 2015–19 (official release, CUBuffs.com). But Buffs legend Chad Brown wasn’t exactly RSVPing to that party. In an April 19 post on X, Brown—who starred at CU before a ten‑year NFL career—called the timing and criteria “a bit odd,” pointing to both players’ solid-but-not-legendary stats.
Brown’s exact words: “I respect their hustle, but when you retire a number, you’re talking hall‑of‑fame type credentials,” he wrote (X, 4/19). He noted Sanders’ 2,300 career rushing yards and Hunter’s 23 sacks rank well in school history but fall short of the 3,000‑yard and 30‑sack milestones typically associated with retired jerseys (ESPN.com analysis, 4/20). Brown’s critique has sparked a social‑media firestorm, with fans debating whether CU’s bar is shifting or if this is just another attempt to honor recent stars.
ESPN’s breakdown highlights that the Buffs have retired only five numbers in program history—Boettcher’s No. 38, Kicker Matheson’s No. 6 and a few others who went on to the College Football Hall of Fame. Sanders and Hunter aren’t yet in that exclusive club. Meanwhile, CU Athletics Director Stephanie White told The Coloradoan that the decision came after a “two‑year review by former players, coaches and faculty” aimed at celebrating “influencers on and off the field.”
Still, Brown argues that “influencers” shouldn’t redefine the red‑and‑gold legacy. His stance is bolstered by tweet responses from two former Buffs teammates—All‑America OL Adrian Clarke and DB Michelle Thompson—both questioning the process. Clarke wondered if this sets a precedent for every 1,000‑yard rusher, while Thompson tweeted, “It’s cool, but where do you draw the line?” (Twitter threads, 4/19).
For CU fans and college‑football purists, the debate isn’t just about numbers: it’s about institutional memory and keeping the Buffs’ pantheon exclusive. Will CU stick to its guns or tweak the policy if backlash grows? Either way, Brown’s spotlight on the oddity guarantees this story won’t retire anytime soon. Anyway, that’s the tea. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and – CU Buffs Official Site (CUBuffs.com)
– X (formerly Twitter) posts by Chad Brown
– ESPN.com analysis
– The Coloradoan interview with Stephanie White
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
