Friday Faceoff: Deion Sanders? Sean Payton? Jared Bednar? Which Colorado coach has the most pressure to win?

Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Answer: Avalanche coach Jared Bednar

Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Dave Hakstol, left, and head coach Jared Bednar dispute a call in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has the best team in the NHL, and anything less than the Stanley Cup will be considered a letdown.

That’s the definition of pressure for the longtime Colorado coach.

Bednar led the Avalanche to a title when Colorado defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022. But other than that run, the Avs have been disappointing in the playoffs.

Three series losses to Dallas, a loss to Vegas after going up 2-0 and a strange first-round loss to Seattle are all on Bednar’s resume. That’s tough for a team with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

The Avs have done everything right this season. Colorado is on the verge of clinching the No. 1 seed. The expectation of Bednar is the Cup. No other coach has that in the state.

Sean Payton will have expectations, but the Broncos are not even favored to win the AFC West. David Adelman has Nikola Jokic in his prime, but this season the Nuggets are set to be the No. 4 seed in the rugged Western Conference. No one knows what Deion Sanders has in Boulder.

Bednar’s seat is not really hot, but if the Avs flame out again in the playoffs, especially in the second round in a potential Dallas matchup, questions will start being asked.

The pressure on Bednar is intense.

***

Deion Sanders speaks during a press conference on Sunday at CU’s Folsom Field in Boulder. (Photo special to The Denver Gazette by Alyson McClaran)

Paul Klee, sports editor

Answer: Colorado coach Deion Sanders

As longtime Nuggets coach George Karl long ago told me: “Once the pitchforks and torches come out, you’re already done.” 

They’re not out in Boulder. But you can hear the drumbeat humming over the Flatirons.

Why does Coach Prime’s 2026 season with the Buffaloes carry more pressure than championship-or-bust coaches David Adelman, Jared Bednar and Sean Payton? Follow the money. Always.

Last week was the one-year anniversary of CU gifting Sanders a five-year, $54 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid coach in the Big 12 Conference. He then delivered one Big 12 win, a return on investment that would make Colorado’s government proud. Anyone else tired of state institutions burning through cash with no repercussions when it fails? 

From Mike MacIntyre ($7.2 million) to Karl Dorrell ($8.7 million), CU Boulder is CU Buyout. But the buyout on a Prime-sized contract is prohibitive. And CU’s academics have been at odds with athletics since Ralphie I was running wild.

With Aaron Gordon breaking down and Nikola Jokic at the height of his powers, you can argue Adelman has the most pressure around here — even in his first year as Nuggets coach. I’d buy it. Payton’s combative personality won’t calm the critics if Bo Nix and the Broncos turn south. Bednar is about to enter the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Avalanche as the odds-on favorite.

But this is the Haves vs. Have-Nots era of college athletics.

The Buffs made a $54 million bet on a coach who’s never won big at this level of college ball. And they have not seen evidence it’s heading that direction.