Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur stripped of play-calling duties
- Xavier Michnewicz
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Colorado Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sanders stripped play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur after the Buffaloes’ blowout loss to the Utah Utes on Oct. 25, USA Today reported Tuesday.
Shurmur was demoted to quarterbacks coach before Colorado lost to the Arizona Wildcats in a similar lopsided fashion. Colorado tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone has since called plays.
Bartolone was the offensive coordinator for Sanders during his tenure with Jackson State. He took Shurmur’s place against Arizona, where the Buffaloes lost 52-17.
The Buffs have suffered back-to-back demoralizing defeats, and with three games remaining in the season, they hold a record of 3-6 with one conference win. “Coach Prime” hinted at potential changes in his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
“I might have already changed it, and you don't know,” Sanders said. “I don't make major announcements. I don't do that kind of stuff, and I let you guys still take shots, even though you may be shooting at the wrong target, because there is information you are not privy to.”
This isn’t the first time Sanders has made changes in his three years with CU. In 2023, he promoted Shurmur to play-caller and co-offensive coordinator, while taking away play-calling from then-offensive coordinator Sean Lewis.
Shurmur joined Sanders’ staff in 2023 as an analyst after a long career in the NFL. He was head coach of the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns before taking an offensive coordinator job with the Denver Broncos.
He served as Colorado’s offensive coordinator and play-caller in 2024, helping lead the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and the Big 12’s best passing offense. But after the losses of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and many other offensive talents, Shurmur's play-calling and scheme have fallen under intense scrutiny.