Former Colorado Football Staff Member Resigns Over Saudi Arabia NIL Deal Attempt

A former Colorado Buffaloes football staff member has resigned from his position over a disagreement with the administration's handling of its name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy, which included him trying to get Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to assist the program.

A former Colorado Buffaloes football staff member, Trevor Reilly, has resigned from his position as special teams coordinator over a disagreement with the administration's handling of its name, image, and likeness (NIL) strategy. In his resignation letter, Reilly claims that he attempted to raise NIL funds, including trips to Saudia Arabia and Jordan to meet with the PIF, which created LIV Golf, among other sports ventures.

The PIF has been accused of "sportswashing," an act to distract from unethical practices. Reilly's resignation letter, obtained by Sports Illustrated, states that he was paid $90,000 a year and was told to pursue NIL opportunities.

Former Colorado Football Staff Member Resigns Over Saudi Arabia NIL Deal Attempt

Reilly alleges that he reached out to his contacts in the Mormon community, which is worth about $3 trillion, but that they have now stopped returning his calls. He also claims that he met with the Saudis, who were interested in pursuing business, and that he has email receipts to prove it.

Reilly further alleges that he met with the Jordanian government and the Saudi Tourism Authority during his trips. He spent significant personal time and money, including celebrating Christmas in a Turkish bathhouse in Amman, Jordan.

Former Colorado Football Staff Member Resigns Over Saudi Arabia NIL Deal Attempt

Reilly has also expressed concerns about Blueprint Sports, the organization that operates Colorado's NIL collective, 5430 Alliance. He claims that the organization is run by "Wall Street people" who do not understand football and its unique language and culture.

Reilly played college football at Utah and was a seventh-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2014. He played sparingly over two seasons with the Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots, collecting one sack and 43 combined tackles over 37 games.

Former Colorado Football Staff Member Resigns Over Saudi Arabia NIL Deal Attempt

He originally teamed up with Deion Sanders in 2021 as a graduate assistant at Jackson State before moving with him to Boulder in 2023.

Colorado has responded to Reilly's allegations, stating that he "acted on his own accord and is no longer an employee of the university."

Reilly's resignation highlights the complex and evolving nature of NIL deals in college athletics. As schools and athletes seek to navigate the new landscape, issues such as sportswashing and potential financial conflicts of interest will likely continue to arise.