Deion Sanders had two toes on his left foot due to blood clots stemming from a previous surgery.
The Jackson State coach and NFL Hall of Famer revealed the severity of his leg injury in an episode of his "Coach Prime" documentary series that aired Tuesday night on Barstool Sports.
Sanders was hospitalized for about a month in the middle of last season. The Tigers finished 11-2.
His toe was dislocated along with the swollen vein. His initial procedure took place in September and he later returned to the field to practice using a golf cart and crutches. He roamed the shore for a game with the help of a push scooter.
As he recovered, his toes began to darken under the bandages.
"They were talking about amputation of the toes," Sanders said. "Then they were talking about cutting my leg below the knee. Then, they were trying to make sure I had life."
Sanders, 54, had multiple surgeries. He developed a femoral artery blood clot. He also had compartment syndrome, which meant his leg was swollen, and doctors had to open his leg to drain the fluid. Sanders later amputated the big toe of his left foot and the other toe.