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Colorado Buffaloes Linebacker Dramatic Fight With WWE Hall of Fame Dad, Bill Goldberg

Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Gage Goldberg accompanied his WWE Hall of Fame father, Bill Goldberg, to his final match this past weekend. However, the dramatic title bout against the ring general, Gunther, took an unexpected turn when Gage found himself face to face with the reigning champion.
Ben Armendariz|
Former Georgia defensive tackle, Bill Goldberg, and WWE wrestling hall of famer, speaks during the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Luncheon and induction ceremony Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. This year’s inductees included Georgia’s Bill Goldberg and Mike Fisher, and Florida’s Fred Weary and Mike Peterson.
Former Georgia defensive tackle, Bill Goldberg, and WWE wrestling hall of famer, speaks during the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Luncheon and induction ceremony Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. This year’s inductees included Georgia’s Bill Goldberg and Mike Fisher, and Florida’s Fred Weary and Mike Peterson. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Goldberg! Goldberg! Goldberg!

The familiar chant echoed through State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, as WWE Hall of Fame legend Bill Goldberg made his final walk to the ring.

But this time, he wasn’t alone. Flanking him as he made the final walk was his son, Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Gage Goldberg.

Former Georgia defensive tackle, Bill Goldberg, and WWE wrestling hall of famer, looks on during the Florida-Georgia Hall of
Former Georgia defensive tackle, Bill Goldberg, and WWE wrestling hall of famer, looks on during the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. This year’s inductees included Georgia’s Bill Goldberg and Mike Fisher, and Florida’s Fred Weary and Mike Peterson. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For Colorado football fans, it was a surreal crossover moment.

One of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling was stepping into the ring for the final time, and right there with him was his son, Gage Goldberg, a rising linebacker under Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

Colorado fans who also grew up watching professional wrestling have likely noticed the elder Goldberg around Folsom Field. The former WWE world champion is a familiar figure on the Buffaloes’ sidelines, thanks in large part to his decades-long friendship with "Coach Prime."

The two first crossed paths in the early 1990s while teammates on the Atlanta Falcons. It was Sanders who, according to Goldberg himself, encouraged the former defensive tackle to give wrestling a try once his NFL career ended.

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

That playful locker room rivalry would spark a genuine friendship and mutual respect that has stood the test of time.

"I guess I have to give him 100% credit for me being a professional wrestler because I never would've done it," Goldberg responded.

Though slightly tongue-in-cheek, their time in Atlanta together set the foundation for a friendship that would come full circle decades later when Goldberg's son Gage would join "Coach Prime" and the Buffaloes.

But over the weekend, it was Gage who found himself in the middle of the action.

At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Goldberg stepped into the ring one last time in a highly anticipated title match against the reigning WWE World Champion, Gunther. Taking place in Goldberg’s home state of Georgia, the match had all the trappings of a classic sendoff.

What followed, however, was a brief but unforgettable moment that no one saw coming.

As Goldberg lay recovering mid-match, Gunther stepped out of the ring and began taunting Gage at ringside. After a few heated words, the World Champion shoved the younger Goldberg, prompting Gage to leap the barrier and square up in defense of his father.

WWE officials quickly stepped in to defuse the confrontation, but the distraction gave Goldberg just enough time to recover and deliver a punishing spear to the World Champion, drawing a thunderous response from the crowd.

Although the match ended with Goldberg falling short against Gunther, the scene inside the State Farm Arena was less about winning and losing and more about legacy.

For Goldberg, it was a fitting farewell in his home state in front of friends and family.

For Gage, it was a symbolic passing of the torch moment and a chance to share the spotlight with the man who inspired his grit and toughness on the field.

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After the event, WWE legend and Chief Content Officer Triple H commented on Gage’s future, saying, “He probably won’t be the last Goldberg in the business. I can see this sparkle in Gage’s eyes, and he’s been very clear about it – if the NFL doesn’t work out, here he comes.”

For now, Gage Goldberg is still focused on proving himself on the gridiron.

Aug 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Gage Goldberg (55) before the game against the North Dako
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

Now more than ever, Buffaloes fans will be watching closely to see how Gage continues to develop under "Coach Prime" and linebackers coach Andre Hart this season.

While Gage saw limited game action in 2024, he is known for his physicality and toughness in practice, traits that clearly run in the family.

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Ben Armendariz
BEN ARMENDARIZ

Ben Armendariz is a reporter for Colorado Buffaloes on SI, part of the Sports Illustrated Network. While earning his bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Sports Media from the University of Colorado, he contributed to Buffs coverage through CUBuffs.com and Sko Buff Sports. He’s also covered professional combat sports as a contributor for FloCombat. A lifelong sports fan, Ben is now pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management at Texas A&M University, with plans to build a long-term career in sports media. His passion for storytelling, in-depth analysis, and unique perspectives on sports marketing and sponsorships set his work apart. Outside of reporting and school, he enjoys attending Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets games and running his online vintage retail business.

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