Former NFL star and powerhouse football coach Deion Sanders recently revealed that he suffered blood clot-related complications following a foot surgery he had last year, and two of his toes resultingly had to be amputated.

Sanders, affectionally referred to as “Coach Prime,” news broke early yesterday morning on Instagram, despite the amputation having taken place late last year. He uploaded a preview clip from ahead of the latest episode of his Barstool Sports docuseries, which aired in full later that same day.

The news is swift in his upload, as the “very emotional” nature of the amputation, which claimed Sanders‘ left big toe and second toe, is immediately dived into.

“The hardest thing of it all was to look down there and see that and understand ‘Once upon a time, you were this type of athlete, and now you don’t even know if you gon’ walk.’ Because all you feel is pain, and you just wanna get out of this hospital,” the 54-year-old Jackson State coach says in the clip.

While the upload itself is somber and emotional, Sanders was sure to try and lighten the mood with a thankful and optimistic Instagram caption.

“I told y’all we were gonna show it all in this documentary and that’s what this is. I got to warn ya This ain’t a pretty sight! I may have lost a couple soldiers in the battle but I never lost my faith in God! I endured a lot while I was in the hospital during our historic season but I am so thankful for GOD being there to help pull me through,” Sanders wrote.

“I am so thankful for those who sent messages of faith and those who visited me during this troubling time. This episode of Coach Prime is an emotional one and you all deserve to know what went down so that’s exactly what we gon show you! I Love y’all and am elated to be on my way back,” he continued.

The amputation came after 8 other surgeries were performed on the 54-year-old icon, and it was accompanied by a lengthy hospital stay—during which he lost about 35 lbs.

While Sanders’ amputation has barely been publicly revealed, the entire matter unfolded behind closed doors as Jackson State University was still enjoying its successful football season. Notably, this would’ve been right around the time Sanders was named the Coach of the Year by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Since breaking the news, Sanders has been openly sharing the wisdom he’s picked up throughout this journey.

“Everyone has something that they’re going thru & dealing with that’s causing them stress & discomfort. Be careful with people & try love & compassion 1st. If that don’t work pray & then walk away peacefully. Just know everything ain’t what u think it is everytime,” he tweeted earlier today.

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