ARLINGTON, TX – October 14, 2026 – Twenty-eight years after leaving Colorado, Rick Neuheisel is heading back to Colorado. The longtime college football head coach, former quarterback, CBS Sports Network analyst, and former Dallas Renegades head coach will lead the UFL’s newest franchise in Colorado, bringing a wealth of experience, victories, and a familiar roster to the state.
A Madison, Wisconsin, native, Neuheisel played quarterback at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he helped author one of the most memorable turnarounds in program history.
Named the Bruins’ starting quarterback as a senior in 1983, Neuheisel helped UCLA rebound from an 0-3-1 start to finish 6-4-1. The turnaround included a signature victory over rival USC, propelling the Bruins to a Rose Bowl berth. There, Neuheisel threw four touchdown passes in a dominant 45-9 win over fourth-ranked Illinois, earning Rose Bowl MVP honors.
Following his collegiate career, Neuheisel joined the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League (USFL), playing two seasons in the spring league. He also spent time with the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 before turning his attention to coaching.
Neuheisel returned to UCLA as a graduate assistant before becoming a full-time assistant in 1988. He remained with his alma mater until 1994, when he joined the University of Colorado coaching staff.
After one season as an assistant, Neuheisel was named Colorado’s head coach at age 34. His first season at the helm proved to be his best, as the Buffaloes finished 10-2 and captured a Cotton Bowl victory. Across four seasons in Boulder, Neuheisel compiled a 33-14 record and went undefeated in three bowl game appearances.
In 1999, Neuheisel was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and accepted the head coaching position at the University of Washington.
His most successful season with the Huskies came in 2000. Washington captured the Pac-10 title before defeating Purdue and quarterback Drew Brees in the Rose Bowl. The victory made Neuheisel the first person to win Rose Bowl MVP honors as a player and later coach a Rose Bowl-winning team.
In 2005, Neuheisel transitioned to the NFL, joining the Baltimore Ravens as an assistant quarterbacks coach. Following Baltimore’s 13-3 campaign in 2006, which included an AFC North title, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. He spent three seasons with the Ravens before returning to the college ranks at UCLA.
Neuheisel made an immediate impact in his return to Westwood, leading the Bruins to an overtime victory over 18th-ranked Tennessee in 2008. The following year, UCLA secured the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class, and Neuheisel continued to build his coaching résumé with another bowl appearance.
After four seasons back at UCLA, Neuheisel joined CBS Sports Network as a college football analyst in 2011. He continues to contribute to College Football Today, Inside College Football, and the network’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage.
His next coaching opportunity came in 2019 with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Neuheisel viewed the experience as a success, helping players extend their careers while guiding the team to a winning record.
He returned to the sidelines last season as head coach of the Dallas Renegades this past spring. Dallas opened the campaign 3-0 before injuries took their toll and the team was ultimately eliminated during the regular season. Despite the setbacks, Neuheisel helped quarterback Austin Reed set a league record with 21 passing touchdowns, while wide receiver Tyler Vaughns earned All-UFL recognition.
Now, Neuheisel is preparing for another chapter in Colorado, and he will not be making the move alone.
“I have so many fond memories of my time in Colorado. Colorado is a wonderful place with wonderful people,” said Neuheisel. “And the great news is that I can keep my team, and I’m looking forward to bringing an exciting brand of football to Colorado.”
Neuheisel will bring back the core of the roster he coached in Dallas, with changes possible due to retirements, NFL contracts, and other offseason moves. The opportunity reunites him with a familiar group as he looks to establish the UFL’s newest franchise.
The UFL announced that Colorado will host its inaugural home game at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs on Sunday, April 11, 2027, at 1 p.m. MT on ABC. Fans will get their first look at the franchise’s name, colors, logos, and overall brand identity during a public unveiling event at Weidner Field on October 25, 2026.
For Neuheisel, the return to Colorado represents more than another coaching opportunity. It is a chance to revisit a defining chapter of his career, reunite with a team he knows well, and help introduce professional spring football to a new market.