Richard Rodgers

Biography

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. Prior to his move to D.C., Rodgers coached in numerous capacities over eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers from 2012-19. 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. Before his jump to the NFL, Rodgers spent 23 years coaching college football across five institutions. 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 and was special teams captain for three seasons. He called 'The Play' in the huddle to defeat Stanford in the iconic finish in 1982 and was the second and fou

Career Path