by Per the UFL
ARLINGTON, TX (September 30, 2026) – The United Football League today announced updated head coaching assignments for the 2027 season, with AJ McCarron set to lead the league’s new Rhode Island team, Rick Neuheisel returning to Colorado to lead its new franchise, and Kevin Sumlin taking over as head coach of the Dallas Renegades.
Coinciding with the coaching assignments, the UFL will carry forward established player rosters from the 2026 season into the 2027 markets, with the 2026 Birmingham Stallions roster moving with Head Coach McCarron to Rhode Island, the 2026 Dallas Renegades roster moving with Head Coach Neuheisel to Colorado, and the 2026 Houston Gamblers roster moving with Head Coach Sumlin to Dallas. The roster realignment is designed to provide continuity for players and coaches while allowing the UFL to establish its new franchises with experienced football personnel heading into the 2027 season.
“The UFL’s growth is about more than adding teams – it’s about building football communities that fans can connect with from day one,” said UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon. “AJ, Rick, and Kevin each bring tremendous football experience and a unique connection to the markets they will lead. Pairing them with the returning talent from 2026 rosters, we’re giving fans in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Dallas a strong foundation to support as we continue building professional spring football.”
The announcements come as the UFL builds on a 2026 season that generated increased viewership, including numerous games surpassing one million viewers, increased overall ticket sales and a sold-out United Bowl. The league also continued to strengthen its position as an important pathway to the NFL, with 118 former UFL players participating in NFL Training Camps and 46 ultimately earning spots on NFL active rosters or practice squads.
Fans in Rhode Island and Colorado will get their first opportunity to meet their new coaches and teams next month. The UFL will unveil the Rhode Island team’s name, colors, logos and brand identity on Sunday, October 18, at Centreville Bank Stadium. One week later, the Colorado team’s name, colors, logo and brand identity will be unveiled Sunday, October 25, at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
Both events will be open to the public and will feature opportunities for fans to experience their new teams, with season ticket deposits for the 2027 season available at the events.
AJ McCarron | Rhode Island
McCarron enters his second season as a UFL head coach after leading the Birmingham Stallions in 2026. A three-time national champion at the University of Alabama, McCarron went on to an eight-year NFL career before becoming one of the UFL’s most accomplished quarterbacks with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, McCarron led the Battlehawks to the 2024 UFL Playoffs and, during the team’s XFL Legacy season in 2023, led the league in passing touchdowns (24), completion percentage (68.8%) and passer rating (108.4%).
McCarron was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and went on to play eight NFL seasons with the Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. At Alabama, he won national championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and earned first-team All-America honors in 2013, when he received the Maxwell Trophy, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Kellen Moore Award.
“New England fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of sports, and that passion is something I’m really excited to experience firsthand,” said McCarron. “Rhode Island has a proud sports culture and a fan base that appreciates teams that give everything they have every time they step on the field. I’m excited to bring this group to Rhode Island, rally this community around its new team and give these fans a team they can be proud to call their own.”
The 2026 Birmingham Stallions roster will join McCarron in Rhode Island for the team’s inaugural season.
Rick Neuheisel | Colorado
Neuheisel returns to Colorado after leading the Dallas Renegades in 2026 and brings with him a roster familiar to UFL fans.
Neuheisel began his head coaching career at the University of Colorado, where he compiled a 33-14 record from 1995-98. In his first season, he 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.
A member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Neuheisel was the starting quarterback at UCLA and led the Bruins to the 1983 Pac-10 championship and a 45-8 victory over Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl. He later played professionally with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL and the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL before beginning his coaching career.
Neuheisel also served as head coach at Washington and UCLA, compiling an 87-59 record at the collegiate level. He has worked as a college football analyst for CBS Sports since 2015.
“Colorado has always held a special place in my heart,” said Neuheisel. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the football culture and the people of this state, and I’m excited to return. Colorado Springs has always meant a lot to me—I’ve brought my staff here in the past, and now getting to call it home makes this even more meaningful. It’s a great place to build a team, and I’m looking forward to becoming part of this community, connecting with fans across Colorado and creating new memories together.”
The 2026 Dallas Renegades roster will join Neuheisel in Colorado for the team’s inaugural season.
Kevin Sumlin | Dallas
Sumlin enters his second season as a UFL head coach after leading the Houston Gamblers in 2026. A veteran coach with more than three decades of experience, Sumlin has spent his career coaching at some of the most prominent football programs in the country, including multiple stops in Texas.
Sumlin spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Houston, compiling a 35-17 record and leading the Cougars to three bowl appearances. He then spent six seasons at Texas A&M, where he went 51-26, led the Aggies to six consecutive bowl appearances and guided the program to an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl victory in his first season. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2012.
Sumlin also served as head coach at the University of Arizona from 2018-20. At Houston, he led the Cougars to Conference USA West Division championships in 2009 and 2011 and was named Conference USA Coach of the Year both seasons. His 2011 Houston team finished 12-1 and reached No. 6 in the AP Poll.
“To continue coaching in Texas, especially in a market like DFW, is exciting for my family and me,” said Sumlin. “This state is football country. The passion, the tradition and the way people in Texas embrace the game is unlike anywhere else. To have the opportunity to coach in the Metroplex, the home market of the UFL, is a tremendous honor. I look forward to building a program that reflects the football culture this area embraces.”
The 2026 Houston Gamblers roster will join Sumlin in Dallas for the 2027 season.
For more information on the UFL and its teams, please visit www.theufl.com.
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