Sanders's flair and athleticism put him in the spotlight right out of the gate of his career and earned him the nickname "Primetime." He was not only a great coverage and ball-hawking corner, but his kick return skills made for an exciting play every time he touched the ball. He was so electric with his hands on the ball that the Cowboys often played him on the offensive side. Sanders combined on 513 tackles, 493 solo, one sack, 53 interceptions, 10 passes defended, 10 forced fumbles, 13 fumbles recovered, nine defensive touchdowns as well as 60 receptions for 784 yards and three touchdowns, 212 punt returns for 2,199 yards and six touchdowns, 155 kick returns for 3,523 yards and three touchdowns.

After football, he went on to work for the NFL Network as a commentator on many of their shows. He has been a head coach at Jackson State and Colorado.