Football
Richard Rodgers
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
- Alma Mater:
- California, '92
- Year at UCLA:
- 1st in 2026
Richard Rodgers enters his first season as special assistant to the head coach for the UCLA football program in 2026. He brings 36 years of coaching experience, including 25 as a college assistant and 12 at the NFL ranks.
Most recently, Rodgers served on head coach Bob Chesney’s 2025 staff at James Madison as associate head coach where he helped the Dukes win the Sun Belt Championship and earn a College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
Rodgers spent four seasons coaching the secondary in DMV area with the Washington Commanders from 2020-23 before joining James Madison. He was an assistant defensive backs coach for the first three seasons before being promoted to senior defensive assistant and safeties coach for his final campaign in 2023. In his first season, the Commanders, then known as the Washington Football Team, won the NFC East Division, advancing the 2020 Wild Card round.
Prior to his move to D.C., Rodgers coached in numerous capacities over eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2012-19. After beginning as assistant special teams coach, he was promoted to special teams coordinator during his first season, holding the role through 2014. Rodgers also coached in the secondary, primarily with the safeties over his final five years in Charlotte. He was part of four playoff teams, which was highlighted by the 2015 season in which the Panthers went 15-1 and advanced to Super Bowl 50 for the franchise’s second trip to the Super Bowl. The Panthers won three straight NFC South Division titles and three playoff wins from 2013-15 with Rodgers on staff.
Before his jump to the NFL, Rodgers spent 23 years coaching college football across five institutions: Holy Cross (2005-11), New Mexico State (2001-04), Portland State (1997-2000), San Jose State (1995-96) and Diablo Valley Community College (1989-94). Rodgers was Holy Cross’ defensive coordinator over the final six seasons of his seven-year stint in addition to coaching the secondary. That Crusaders defensive backs unit featured current UCLA safeties coach Anthony DiMichele. His Holy Cross defense developed into one of the top defenses in the Patriot League, highlighted by a 2009 season in which the Crusaders won the Patriot League Championship. It was the program’s first conference title in 18 years and just its second berth in the FCS Playoffs.
Prior to Holy Cross, Rodgers was a secondary coach at New Mexico State for four seasons. The Aggies registered 45 total interceptions during his time in Las Cruces and the defensive unit improved from 87th nationally to 40th in total defense.
He also coached for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1998 and was a coaching intern with the Oakland Raiders in 1996.
Rodgers graduated from the University of California with a bachelor’s degree in political science and government. He was a two-time All-Pac 10 Second Team selection for the Golden Bears between 1980-84. Rodgers was special teams captain for three seasons and called “The Play” in the huddle to defeat Stanford in the iconic finish in 1982. During “The Play,” Rodgers was the second and fourth player to handle the ball on the famed five-lateral, last-play touchdown return.
After his college playing days, Rodgers played professionally both in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League (AFL). That included a career playing for the Chicago Bruisers, Denver Dynamite, Los Angeles Cobras and the Sacramento Attack of the AFL between 1987 and 1992. He caught 43 passes for 475 yards and 10 touchdowns during his AFL career.
Rodgers has five children: Kayla, Richard, Christopher, Noah and Evan. His son Richard, a former NFL tight end, caught the 61-yard, hail mary pass from Aaron Rodgers on Dec. 3, 2015, to help the Green Bay Packers defeat the Detroit Lions, 27-23, a play known as the “Miracle in Motown.”
Rodgers’ Coaching Experience
1989-94 – Assistant Coach, Diablo Valley (NJCAA)
1995, 1996 – Assistant Secondary/Special Teams Coach, San Jose State
1997-2000 – Secondary/Special Teams Coach, Portland State (FCS)
2001-04 – Secondary Coach, New Mexico State
2005 – Secondary Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2006-11 – Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2012 – Assistant Special Teams Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
2013, 2014 – Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
2015-17 – Assistant Defensive Backs/Safeties Coach, Carolina Panthers
2018 – Secondary Coach, Carolina Panthers
2019 – Safeties Coach, Carolina Panthers
2020-22 – Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, Washington Commanders
2023 – Senior Defensive Assistant/Safeties, Washington Commanders
2025 – Associate Head Coach, James Madison
2026 – Special Assistant to the Head Coach, UCLA
Most recently, Rodgers served on head coach Bob Chesney’s 2025 staff at James Madison as associate head coach where he helped the Dukes win the Sun Belt Championship and earn a College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
Rodgers spent four seasons coaching the secondary in DMV area with the Washington Commanders from 2020-23 before joining James Madison. He was an assistant defensive backs coach for the first three seasons before being promoted to senior defensive assistant and safeties coach for his final campaign in 2023. In his first season, the Commanders, then known as the Washington Football Team, won the NFC East Division, advancing the 2020 Wild Card round.
Prior to his move to D.C., Rodgers coached in numerous capacities over eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2012-19. After beginning as assistant special teams coach, he was promoted to special teams coordinator during his first season, holding the role through 2014. Rodgers also coached in the secondary, primarily with the safeties over his final five years in Charlotte. He was part of four playoff teams, which was highlighted by the 2015 season in which the Panthers went 15-1 and advanced to Super Bowl 50 for the franchise’s second trip to the Super Bowl. The Panthers won three straight NFC South Division titles and three playoff wins from 2013-15 with Rodgers on staff.
Before his jump to the NFL, Rodgers spent 23 years coaching college football across five institutions: Holy Cross (2005-11), New Mexico State (2001-04), Portland State (1997-2000), San Jose State (1995-96) and Diablo Valley Community College (1989-94). Rodgers was Holy Cross’ defensive coordinator over the final six seasons of his seven-year stint in addition to coaching the secondary. That Crusaders defensive backs unit featured current UCLA safeties coach Anthony DiMichele. His Holy Cross defense developed into one of the top defenses in the Patriot League, highlighted by a 2009 season in which the Crusaders won the Patriot League Championship. It was the program’s first conference title in 18 years and just its second berth in the FCS Playoffs.
Prior to Holy Cross, Rodgers was a secondary coach at New Mexico State for four seasons. The Aggies registered 45 total interceptions during his time in Las Cruces and the defensive unit improved from 87th nationally to 40th in total defense.
He also coached for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1998 and was a coaching intern with the Oakland Raiders in 1996.
Rodgers graduated from the University of California with a bachelor’s degree in political science and government. He was a two-time All-Pac 10 Second Team selection for the Golden Bears between 1980-84. Rodgers was special teams captain for three seasons and called “The Play” in the huddle to defeat Stanford in the iconic finish in 1982. During “The Play,” Rodgers was the second and fourth player to handle the ball on the famed five-lateral, last-play touchdown return.
After his college playing days, Rodgers played professionally both in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League (AFL). That included a career playing for the Chicago Bruisers, Denver Dynamite, Los Angeles Cobras and the Sacramento Attack of the AFL between 1987 and 1992. He caught 43 passes for 475 yards and 10 touchdowns during his AFL career.
Rodgers has five children: Kayla, Richard, Christopher, Noah and Evan. His son Richard, a former NFL tight end, caught the 61-yard, hail mary pass from Aaron Rodgers on Dec. 3, 2015, to help the Green Bay Packers defeat the Detroit Lions, 27-23, a play known as the “Miracle in Motown.”
Rodgers’ Coaching Experience
1989-94 – Assistant Coach, Diablo Valley (NJCAA)
1995, 1996 – Assistant Secondary/Special Teams Coach, San Jose State
1997-2000 – Secondary/Special Teams Coach, Portland State (FCS)
2001-04 – Secondary Coach, New Mexico State
2005 – Secondary Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2006-11 – Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2012 – Assistant Special Teams Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
2013, 2014 – Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
2015-17 – Assistant Defensive Backs/Safeties Coach, Carolina Panthers
2018 – Secondary Coach, Carolina Panthers
2019 – Safeties Coach, Carolina Panthers
2020-22 – Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, Washington Commanders
2023 – Senior Defensive Assistant/Safeties, Washington Commanders
2025 – Associate Head Coach, James Madison
2026 – Special Assistant to the Head Coach, UCLA
The First 48 Hours - Head Coach Bob Chesney Welcomed at UCLA
Friday, December 12
Bruin Insider Show - Bob Chesney (Dec. 10, 2025)
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap - UCLA Introduces Head Coach Bob Chesney (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
Bob Chesney Introductory Press Conference (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
