Kevin Sumlin Named Dallas Renegades Head Coach as UFL Realigns Rosters for 2027
ARLINGTON, Texas - The United Football League is reshuffling its coaching staffs and rosters for the 2027 season, naming Kevin Sumlin head coach of the Dallas Renegades while moving the 2026 Houston Gamblers roster to Dallas.
The league announced the changes Wednesday, Sept. 30, as it prepares to add new franchises in Rhode Island and Colorado.
Sumlin, who coached the Houston Gamblers in 2026, will enter his second season as a UFL head coach. His Gamblers roster will follow him to Dallas, effectively giving the Renegades an established group of players as the league reorganizes its markets.
The UFL also named AJ McCarron head coach of its new Rhode Island franchise and Rick Neuheisel head coach of its new Colorado team.
McCarron's 2026 Birmingham Stallions roster will move to Rhode Island, while the 2026 Dallas Renegades roster will follow Neuheisel to Colorado.
The league said carrying existing rosters into the new markets is intended to maintain continuity among players and coaches rather than building the new teams entirely from scratch.
Sumlin returns to DFW football
Sumlin brings extensive ties to Texas football to the Renegades.
He spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Houston, posting a 35-17 record and taking the Cougars to three bowl games. His 2011 team finished 12-1 and climbed as high as No. 6 in the AP Poll.
Sumlin then coached Texas A&M for six seasons, compiling a 51-26 record. The Aggies reached a bowl game in each of his six seasons, including an 11-2 campaign and Cotton Bowl victory during his first season in 2012. He was named SEC Coach of the Year that year.
He later coached Arizona from 2018 through 2020 before eventually joining the UFL.
"To continue coaching in Texas, especially in a market like DFW, is exciting for my family and me," Sumlin said. "This state is football country."
Sumlin called the Metroplex the UFL's home market and said he wants to build a program that reflects the area's football culture.
Neuheisel takes Dallas roster to Colorado
Neuheisel's move to Colorado represents a return to where his college head coaching career began.
He coached the University of Colorado from 1995 through 1998, compiling a 33-14 record. Colorado went 10-2 in each of his first two seasons, winning the Cotton Bowl both years.
Neuheisel coached the Dallas Renegades during the 2026 UFL season. That roster will now move with him to the league's new Colorado franchise.
The Colorado team's name, colors and logo are scheduled to be unveiled Oct. 25 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
McCarron headed to Rhode Island
McCarron will take over the new Rhode Island franchise after coaching Birmingham in 2026.
Before becoming a coach, McCarron played quarterback for the St. Louis Battlehawks and spent eight seasons in the NFL. He also won three national championships during his college career at Alabama.
The Birmingham roster from 2026 will accompany McCarron to Rhode Island.
The UFL plans to reveal the Rhode Island team's name, colors and logo Oct. 18 at Centreville Bank Stadium.
The league said both unveiling events will be open to the public, with 2027 season-ticket deposits available.
The changes come as the UFL expands its footprint following the 2026 season. The league reported that multiple games drew audiences exceeding 1 million viewers and that the United Bowl sold out. It also said 118 former UFL players participated in NFL training camps, with 46 earning spots on active rosters or practice squads.
