Kevin Sumlin and his team is leaving Houston to take over the Dallas Renegades for the 2027 season. The UFL announced the move on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, and Sumlin spoke about it that morning.
The league announced three coaching assignments at once: AJ McCarron to Rhode Island, Rick Neuheisel to Colorado and Sumlin to Dallas, with the Houston roster following Sumlin up I-45.
"I couldn't be more excited to be in Dallas, in the Metroplex, an area where I've spent a lot of time. ... I've spent the better part of 15 years in that region, and even in college recruiting, 20-some years in that region. I know a lot of people. I know a lot of the players," Sumlin said.
Houston's Closure, and Texas Roots
Asked about Houston shutting down and about landing in Dallas rather than one of the league's new expansion markets, Sumlin said:
"From my opening statement and from what I've said, everybody's disappointed at the beginning, right, with Houston being shut down. But I couldn't be happier because to be still in the state of Texas and be, like I said, I've got a lot of friends, a lot of relationships, family that live in the state. For me, I couldn't be more excited," Sumlin said.
He said the change lands harder on supporters than on his roster. "The reality is, we're in Arlington anyway, right, all working there. So for our players, it's not a great transition. It's the fans. And we understand that. We're sensitive to that," he said.
Roster Continuity and NFL Proof of Concept
Asked what last year's roster turnover means heading into 2027, Sumlin described a team that looked nothing at the end of the season like the one that opened it.
"We're a very different team personnel-wise at the end of the year than we were when we got basically blown out in the first game," Sumlin said. "We've got 3 of our 5 linemen coming back... None of those guys were playing in the first game, which is kind of crazy, right?"
He said the roster was built late and filled in during the year, including cornerback Ameer Speed, who later signed with the Dallas Cowboys on June 18, 2026.
Sumlin credited the team's scouting operation with building a roster that has earned credibility with NFL evaluators, and contrasted his pitch to players with an NFL futures deal that carries no guaranteed money and produces no tape.
"What we provide is, all right, here's a chance for you to get better, to get better video, to play and play well, and then you have evidence that you can get into camp," Sumlin said.
Building in Dallas-Fort Worth
On the next few months, Sumlin pointed to visibility: Friday night high school venues, ties with assistants and head coaches at TCU and SMU, and a region that keeps growing, citing expansion at McKinney's airport.
Asked how Renegades fans will react to their team effectively being replaced by an in-state rival, Sumlin said he did not know.
"I'm not sure, it can be either way at a certain point, right? But I think as our fans get to know these players and they understand why we're doing this, because of the continuity of the team, the coaches know the players, the players know those coaches. The fans are going to get to know these guys," Sumlin said.
He compared it to conference realignment, where long-running rivalries have disappeared. "That's part of growth," he said. "It's our job also to bring the fans to us and for them to get to know us."
Coaching Staff and the Bigger Picture
On his staff, Sumlin said the "majority of our coaches will be back," and that personnel decisions come first. He described the job as developmental for coaches as well as players, not a retirement landing spot.
Asked about the league's expansion plans, Sumlin credited co-owner Mike Repole, who has authority over UFL business operations, with a clear vision for a league that once had no guarantee of finishing a season.
"I think if you look at the landscape of football in general... that change has created more excitement," Sumlin said. "I think Mike Repole is that catalyst because of his vision, and what he's trying to do."
Rhode Island and Colorado begin play in 2027, and Utah and Oklahoma join in 2028, taking the league to 10 teams. Team names, logos and colors for Rhode Island and Colorado are still to come.