Kevin Sumlin is stepping back into the head coaching spotlight, as the Houston Gamblers announced Wednesday that he’ll return to lead the team in the USFL. After a year away from the sideline, Sumlin is getting a second shot with the franchise that let him go just a couple of seasons ago.
Sumlin’s coaching resume is as layered as it is recognizable. His rise began at Houston, where he posted a 35-17 record from 2008 to 2011, including a standout 12-1 campaign in 2011 that put him on the national radar.
That success earned him the head job at Texas A&M, where he made an immediate impact. In 2012, Sumlin helped guide freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel to a Heisman Trophy and steered the Aggies to an 11-2 finish in their first season in the SEC.
Even though Sumlin never had a losing season during his six-year run in College Station, Texas A&M parted ways with him after a 7-5 season in 2017 - a move that underscored the high expectations in SEC football more than any glaring failure on his part.
His next stop was Arizona, but that chapter didn’t unfold the way anyone hoped. The Wildcats couldn’t find their footing under Sumlin, finishing 5-7 in 2018, 4-8 in 2019, and starting 0-5 in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. That stretch included a brutal 70-7 loss to rival Arizona State, which ultimately marked the end of his tenure in Tucson.
Sumlin first joined the Houston Gamblers in 2022, but his debut season in the USFL was a tough one. The team finished 3-7, and he was let go at the end of the year.
From there, he moved back to the college ranks, joining Maryland’s staff as associate head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach. But his time in College Park came to an abrupt end after the 2024 season, following an off-field incident that led to a DUI charge and his dismissal.
Now, Sumlin returns to the Gamblers with unfinished business and a chance to reset his coaching career. The USFL has become a proving ground for coaches and players alike, and for Sumlin, it’s an opportunity to reestablish himself in a league that’s still carving out its identity.
There’s no denying Sumlin’s offensive acumen or his ability to develop talent - he’s done it at the highest levels of college football. The question now is whether he can translate that experience into success in his second go-around with the Gamblers. One thing’s for sure: Sumlin’s return brings a familiar face and a seasoned football mind back to the USFL sidelines.