“Coach Prime” Transitions to Scripted Comedy: Deion Sanders Teams Up with SMAC and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat
Deion Sanders, the iconic NFL legend who has left an indelible mark on college football and revitalized the Colorado Buffaloes, is poised to make a primetime return, reminiscent of his “primetime” nickname.
The football icon, known as Coach Prime, is teaming up with Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat and SMAC Productions, led by former NFL star Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini, to develop an entertaining comedy series based on his life.
This half-hour comedy will revolve around the journey of a Pro Football Hall of Famer-turned-rookie head coach as he navigates the challenges of managing his celebrity status and thriving personal brand, all while striving to secure his legacy with a championship. The concept has been described as a fusion of the popular series “Entourage” and the exhilarating world of gridiron football.
Ali LeRoi, co-creator of “Everybody Hates Chris,” will assume the role of writer and executive producer for this project. Sanders, Strahan, and Schwartz-Morini will also serve as executive producers alongside Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, and Mike Stein.
Schwartz-Morini, CEO and co-founder of SMAC Productions/Entertainment, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting how it leverages the extraordinary lives and passions of their clients. She also emphasized the invaluable partnership between SMAC, Hartbeat, and Ali LeRoi.
Sanders took over the Colorado Buffaloes, and their dramatic turnaround in the 2023 season garnered considerable attention. The team, which had previously struggled with a 1-11 record, won their first three games in a spectacular fashion. While they faced losses in their subsequent two games against Oregon and USC, the impact of Sanders’ leadership was evident. Notably, the school’s online team-store merchandise sales saw a remarkable 892% increase year-to-date over 2022, according to a report by Time. Their nationally televised game against Oregon attracted a staggering 10 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched college games of the year.
Additionally, Sanders stars in the docuseries “Coach Prime,” which premiered on Amazon’s Prime Video in December and has already been renewed for a second season.
During his illustrious sports career, Sanders made waves not only in the NFL but also in MLB, playing for teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington, and the Baltimore Ravens. He also spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball, with stints on the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves, among others.