Karrueche Tran Shocks Hollywood with Unexpected New Project—Everything We Know So Far

Actress-model Karrueche Tran is back in the spotlight after being photographed in a sleek black leather ensemble while accompanying NFL legend and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders through a reported four-hour surgery in Colorado Springs, instantly reigniting talk that the pair are more than friends. Eyewitnesses at Memorial Hospital say Tran, 37, never left Sanders’ side as doctors worked to remove lingering blood clots in the coach’s left leg—his 16th procedure since 2021, according to staff quoted by Pro Football Network. While Sanders, 58, recuperated, a quick corridor photo of Tran’s all-leather look went viral on X (formerly Twitter), spawning more than 25,000 reposts in six hours and pushing her name into this week’s most-searched topics. The renewed buzz follows Tran’s recent airport interview where she declared that “older men are the way to go,” a sound bite tabloids took as a playful acknowledgment of the duo’s 21-year age gap. Days later, People magazine reported she has “seemingly confirmed” a relationship with the two-time Super Bowl champion, citing insiders who spotted the pair holding hands at a Denver steakhouse. Timeline watchers note the flirtation kicked off in early September when Tran posted a courtside video cheering on Colorado’s upset win over USC. Social media detectives matched her diamond-studded Cartier bracelet to one Sanders has worn since his Jackson State days, fueling “soft-launch” theories among fans. For Tran—an Emmy-winning actress for her role on “The Bay” and former star of TNT’s “Claws”—the romance chatter doubles as timely publicity ahead of her December Netflix holiday film “Snowed In.” For Sanders, whose undefeated Buffaloes have rocketed to No. 8 in the AP Poll, the pairing further cements his pop-culture resurgence after his celebrated turn on Amazon’s “Coach Prime.” Neither camp has issued an on-record confirmation, but insiders tell E! News that Tran plans to attend Colorado’s homecoming game versus Arizona State on Oct. 19, where she’ll reportedly be seated with Sanders’ family. Should the appearance happen, expect another spike in search interest—and possibly the hard launch fans have been waiting for.