STWF Sports| ARLINGTON, Texas| September 30, 2026 — The United Football League is reshaping its coaching landscape and roster structure ahead of the 2027 season, announcing Wednesday that Kevin Sumlin will take over as head coach of the Dallas Renegades, while AJ McCarron will lead the league’s new Rhode Island franchise and Rick Neuheisel will return to Colorado to coach another expansion market.
The move is part of a broader realignment in which the UFL will carry established 2026 rosters into their new 2027 homes. The Houston Gamblers roster will move with Sumlin to Dallas, the Dallas Renegades roster will follow Neuheisel to Colorado, and the Birmingham Stallions roster will join McCarron in Rhode Island.
The league said the roster transfers are designed to give the new markets immediate continuity while keeping experienced players and coaching staffs together.
UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said the approach is about building recognizable football communities from the start.
“The UFL’s growth is about more than adding teams — it’s about building football communities that fans can connect with from day one,” Brandon said.
Kevin Sumlin Takes Charge: A New Era for Dallas
For Dallas, the biggest headline is Sumlin’s arrival.
The veteran coach enters his second UFL season after leading Houston in 2026. His résumé includes more than three decades in football, with major head-coaching stops at the University of Houston, Texas A&M and Arizona.
Sumlin went 35-17 at Houston, guiding the Cougars to three bowl appearances and Conference USA West Division titles in 2009 and 2011. His 2011 team finished 12-1 and climbed as high as No. 6 in the AP Poll.
He later went 51-26 at Texas A&M, leading the Aggies to six straight bowl appearances and an 11-2 season with a Cotton Bowl victory in his first year. He was also named SEC Coach of the Year in 2012.
Now, he returns to the Dallas-Fort Worth market with another opportunity to coach in a state where he has longstanding ties.
“This state is football country,” Sumlin said. “The passion, the tradition and the way people in Texas embrace the game is unlike anywhere else.”
The 2026 Houston roster will move with him to Dallas, giving the Renegades a roster already familiar with Sumlin’s system and expectations.
Neuheisel Heads Back to Colorado
Neuheisel returns to a state where he previously built one of the strongest stretches of his coaching career.
He served as head coach at the University of Colorado from 1995-98, compiling a 33-14 record and leading the Buffaloes to back-to-back 10-win seasons in his first two years.
The 2026 Dallas Renegades roster will move with Neuheisel to Colorado, where the league’s new franchise will be based.
The Colorado team’s branding will be revealed on Oct. 25 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
McCarron Takes Birmingham Group to Rhode Island
McCarron, meanwhile, will lead the league’s new Rhode Island team after coaching Birmingham in 2026.
The former Alabama national champion and longtime professional quarterback previously starred for the St. Louis Battlehawks before moving into coaching. His 2026 Stallions roster will relocate with him to Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island franchise will unveil its name, colors and logo on Oct. 18 at Centreville Bank Stadium.
UFL Builds on 2026 Momentum
The restructuring comes after a 2026 season in which the UFL reported growth in viewership, ticket sales and postseason interest, including a sold-out United Bowl.
The league also continued to position itself as a developmental pathway to the NFL. According to the UFL, 118 former players participated in NFL training camps, with 46 earning spots on active rosters or practice squads.
For Dallas, the 2027 season will begin with a new coach and a new roster identity, but not without continuity.
Sumlin brings a group he already knows, a strong Texas résumé and immediate familiarity with the region.
That combination gives the Renegades a clear direction as the UFL enters its next phase.
