Rev. Al Sharpton stands with Deion Sanders amid the controversy that erupted when the retired NFL star unexpectedly announced last week that he’s taking his coaching talents to the University of Colorado.

"I think that a lot of us had such pride in him being at an HBCU that we forget that people make personal decisions," the civil rights activist told TMZ. “And they have the right to do that."

“Coach Prime,” as Sanders is known, announced on Dec. 3 that he’s leaving Jackson State University, a historically Black institution, before his head coaching contract was finished to take the head coach job in Colorado – a move that will cost him about $300,000 to buy out his contract.

By all accounts, Sanders had a successful tenure at JSU where his team holds a 12-0 record this season and a second SWAC title. He was contracted to lead JSU’s team through Dec. 15, 2024.

USA Today reported that some people viewed Sanders as a sellout who turned his back on an HBCU and Black people. Others said he simply did what nearly all college coaches want to do: make more money at a bigger university.

Like Sharpton, some JSU football players have also defended their former head coach.

”I don’t understand why people don’t see the positive. “Coach Prime came out of his pocket to build a great HBCU locker room… He did what he said he was going to do. He put HBCUs on the map in my opinion,” senior defensive back Isaiah Bolden told Complex.