Former Colorado Coach Seeks Saudi Help for NIL

Trevor Reilly, a former special teams coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes football team, has resigned due to disagreements with the administration regarding its name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy. Reilly's resignation letter, shared with Sports Illustrated, reveals his efforts to secure funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is known for its involvement in various sports ventures, including LIV Golf. He expressed frustration over the lack of support for his initiatives, stating that his outreach efforts, including trips to Saudi Arabia and Jordan, were ultimately unproductive. In his resignation, Reilly detailed the extensive work he undertook to raise NIL funds, including significant personal investment of time and money. He recounted spending the holiday season in a Turkish bathhouse in Amman, Jordan, while meeting with the Jordanian government to discuss potential partnerships. Reilly lamented that his efforts, which involved leveraging contacts within his Mormon community, were met with silence, leaving him unable to secure the promised support. Reilly also criticized Blueprint Sports, the organization managing Colorado’s NIL collective, 5430 Alliance, claiming they lack an understanding of football culture and its unique demands. His comments highlight a broader concern within college athletics regarding the integration of NIL strategies and traditional sports operations. A former NFL linebacker, Reilly played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Jets in 2014, contributing to teams like the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots during his professional career.