The United Football League has selected a familiar face to head its new Colorado franchise, announcing the head coach assignments for its 2027 expansion teams and naming Rick Neuheisel to lead the Colorado squad. The announcement adds a professional football presence to the region as the league continues to grow.
Neuheisel, a former head coach at the University of Colorado, will take the reins of the new Colorado franchise after leading the Dallas Renegades in 2026, and the UFL says he will bring the team's roster with him to Colorado. The league confirmed that the full 2026 Dallas Renegades roster will join Neuheisel for the team's inaugural Colorado season.
Neuheisel's ties to Colorado run deep. He began his coaching career at the University of Colorado, compiling a 33-14 record from 1995 to 1998, and in his first season led the Buffaloes to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. Colorado again went 10-2 in 1996, finished No. 4 in the nation, and defeated No. 12 Oregon, 38-6, in the Cotton Bowl.
Before coaching, Neuheisel was a starting quarterback at UCLA and later played professionally with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL and the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
Colorado Springs figures specifically into Neuheisel's connection to the state. In a statement, he said, "Colorado has always held a special place in my heart," adding that Colorado Springs "has always meant a lot to me" and that he has brought his staff there in the past. "Now getting to call it home makes this even more meaningful," he said, describing the city as "a great place to build a team."
The UFL has not yet announced the Colorado franchise's official team name, home venue, or ticketing details, all of which remain outstanding ahead of the 2027 season opener.