EXCLUSIVE: Deion Sanders' bond with Adam "Pacman" Jones goes beyond football

Deion Sanders and Adam "Pacman" Jones never played with each other, but sometimes it's the most unlikely situations that bring former players together. Football is family, and the NFL is nothing more than a fraternity of gridiron warriors.

Fifteen years ago, Sanders took Jones under his wing as a mentor. But it was a profane rant from the former Bengals star in 2016 that forged a deeper relationship. It was also a moment Jones probably wished he could bury. However, he took time to reflect on his life and the path he was headed down because of a text message from Coach Prime.

Jones was a free agent at the time, and his NFL career was hanging on by threads after numerous incidents. Sanders, a newly enshrined hall of famer, reminded his soon-to-be adopted son of how fragile building your reputation can be and how the slightest bit of doubt could be costly. "I texted Pacman and said," Take that junk down on your Instagram. You are a free agent, man," Sanders was noted to have said at the time.

From that moment, the two former defensive backs opened up a bond that still carries on today. Jones made a trip to Colorado to see Sanders and his family while he was hospitalized with blood clots. Pacman welcomed a return to the spotlight. A one-time polarizing figure for his off-the-field activity, but a tremendously gifted athlete with a stunning highlight reel.

.@DeionSanders and @REALPACMAN24 shared a special moment with @Peter_King at #SBLVII. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HGHlGn8qVO
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 9, 2023

The love for Prime and Pacman is real. It’s not often you see a relationship with two former players who hadn't shared the field like this. It's pretty special to watch and be in awe of how it's all turned around. But that didn't come overnight for Jones and was a process within itself.

"Deion means everything to me, Jones told BuffsBeat. "He’s like a father figure, and I’ve never looked up to anybody besides him. When it comes to looking up to a man, not until I met him."

One of the most underrated stories and a testament to Jones' character is how he adopted his former teammate Chris Henry's sons. The Bengals wide receiver tragically passed away in 2009 at the age of 26. Jones vowed to raise the boys and navigate their journey through life.