Colorado's Football to WWE Pipeline Could Be Growing Stronger

A pair of Colorado Football players have futures in the wrestling business upon the conclusion of their football days.

Sep 27, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have become known for the amount of talent they’ve sent to the NFL in the Coach Prime era. The new life that has come upon the program in that time has been visible, but the program is building futures in more ways than one.

In 2026, Colorado became a pseudo-hotbed for WWE talent. Two current Buffs players, safety Ben Finneseth and linebacker Gage Goldberg, already have a foot in the door of the wrestling industry. Their days in Boulder have prepared them for the next level, whether that be on the gridiron or in the squared circle.

How the Colorado Buffaloes Prepared Ben Finneseth for WWE

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos safety Ben Finneseth (28) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Finneseth received his first WWE opportunity in January, as the company flew him out to its Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, for a tryout. Finneseth documented his experience on Instagram and YouTube.

One of the immediate challenges he faced was developing his in-ring character. Finneseth is one of the most charismatic players on Colorado’s roster, something he’s developed since the program gave him an opportunity as a walk-on in 2021. He grappled with the idea of being himself in the ring or fabricating a character to stand out more.

But he ultimately decided to simply present himself as the man Colorado had turned him into.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos safety Ben Finneseth (28) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On the first day of his tryout, he was given a 60-second promo segment, which is time on the microphone in which wrestlers promote themselves and display their character to audiences. With evaluators and peers watching, he spoke about what Colorado had done for him.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Finneseth said that he spoke about the journey he took to secure his position at Colorado. His story caught the attention of his WWE coaches, but they advised him to let the less serious side of himself out while on the microphone.

WWE’s trainers encouraged Finneseth to allow even more of his personality to be on display, showing that the man he has grown to be in Colorado is perfect for a WWE stage.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos safety Ben Finneseth (28) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Coach Prime offered Finneseth some words of encouragement after the safety informed him of how well his tryout was going. Sanders told him in a phone call that he's "going to be the next big thing."

Finneseth elected to return to Colorado for the 2026 season, but the door is likely still open to him in WWE following the season.

How the Colorado Buffaloes Prepared Gage Goldberg for WWE

Aug 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Gage Goldberg (55) before the game against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Unlike Finneseth, Goldberg has yet to receive a WWE tryout. However, Goldberg’s family lineage and in-ring experience already well surpass those of his teammate.

Goldberg’s father, Bill, is a WWE Hall of Famer who wrestled under the name ‘Goldberg’ from 1997 to 2025. He had a similar path to the wrestling business, starting as a defensive tackle with the Georgia Bulldogs from 1987 to 1990. He was also teammates with Coach Prime on the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL from 1992 to 1993.

Dec 30, 1989; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Bill Goldberg (95) in action against the Syracuse Orange at the 1989 Peach Bowl with Syracuse Orange victory 19-18. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-Imagn Images | RVR Photos-Imagn Images

Gage has been with the Buffaloes since 2024 and has contributed primarily on special teams. He is expected to take a leap into a larger role in 2026, being one of the few members of the 2025 defense to return to Colorado and entering his redshirt sophomore season. While WWE is in his blood, Goldberg has focused on his development at Colorado above all else.

Goldberg told Sportskeeda that football's his main priority, but WWE remains an option as a backup plan.

Coach Prime has developed similar tenacity and ferociousness in Goldberg to what he helped develop in his father in their days as teammates.

"We had wrestling matches every Friday in the middle of the locker room," Coach Prime said in a video posted by Well Off Media on YouTube. "I used to always say, 'Who wants Goldberg?!' And everybody put their head down. Nobody wanted him." 

Aug 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Goldberg (black trunks) with son Gage (street clothes) faces Bobby Lashley (black pants) with MVP (suit) for the WWE World Heavy Championship at SummerSlam 2021 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Bill Goldberg replied by talking about how much those moments did to inspire him to pursue the WWE path, saying he had to give his son "100 percent credit" for his own journey to be a professional wrestler.

During the late stages of Goldberg’s WWE career, Gage Goldberg started to see his first involvement in the squared circle. This included getting involved in a match between his father and Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship at Summerslam in 2021. Gage Goldberg was put in a submission hold, which caused a distraction amid his father’s loss.

Aug 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Goldberg (black trunks) with son Gage (street clothes) faces Bobby Lashley (black pants) with MVP (suit) for the WWE World Heavy Championship at SummerSlam 2021 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Although Goldberg is committed to his continued development at Colorado, Coach Prime’s program has helped give him the platform to choose his athletic future. But his father has set the stage for WWE fans to anticipate the next of kin in the Goldberg bloodline.

“There isn’t ever going to be another God dang Goldberg, except for this boy right here,” said Bill Goldberg as he wrapped his arm around his son following his 2025 retirement match.

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