BREAKING NEWS: Joshua Dobbs Hits With Groundbreaking Return to Tennessee Volunteers as Special Coach – Officially Announced by Josh Heupel
Knoxville, TN – June 20, 2025
In a move that has electrified the Tennessee Volunteers fan base and sent shockwaves through the college football world, head coach Josh Heupel officially announced today that former Tennessee quarterback and NFL standout Joshua Dobbs is returning to Rocky Top — this time as a Special Developmental Coach for the Volunteers.
During a press conference at the Anderson Training Center, Heupel introduced Dobbs with a wide smile, calling him “the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a Tennessee Volunteer — on and off the field.”
Dobbs, who starred for the Vols from 2013 to 2016 and went on to play for multiple NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, will take on a hybrid coaching role focusing on quarterback development, leadership cultivation, and STEM-driven performance analytics — a nod to his aerospace engineering background.
“This is more than just coming home,” Dobbs said to a packed room of media and players. “It’s about giving back to the program that shaped me. My goal is simple: build better quarterbacks, smarter leaders, and a championship mindset.”
The announcement follows months of quiet discussions between Dobbs and the Tennessee athletic department. Sources say the deal was finalized just days after Dobbs completed a mini-camp stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he offered to transition into a developmental mentor role if not re-signed to the active roster.
“Josh didn’t just bring game-changing plays to Tennessee,” Heupel said. “He brought integrity, intelligence, and toughness. That’s exactly what we want embedded in the next generation of Volunteers.”
Dobbs will work closely with quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle, serving as a bridge between film room strategy and real-game execution. His presence is expected to make an immediate impact on redshirt sophomore Nico Iamaleava, the Vols’ current starting quarterback and former five-star recruit.
“I grew up watching Dobbs light it up at Neyland,” Iamaleava said. “Now I get to learn from him every day. That’s insane. He’s already teaching us how to think faster and lead better.”
But Dobbs’ role won’t stop at quarterbacks. He’s also expected to head a new program within Tennessee Football titled “Vols Beyond the Helmet,” an initiative aimed at helping student-athletes balance athletics with academics and life preparation. Drawing from his time as an intern at NASA and his engineering background, Dobbs is crafting a curriculum that fuses leadership, science, and sport.
“This is the future of college football,” Dobbs said. “Athletes who win games and graduate with purpose.”
Reactions from alumni and fans were immediate and thunderous. Former teammate Alvin Kamara tweeted, “They let the Rocket Scientist back in the lab? Game over.” Neyland Stadium’s digital scoreboard lit up later in the evening with “WELCOME BACK JOSHUA DOBBS” flashing over the Knoxville skyline.
Though Dobbs insists he’s “done taking snaps,” his presence may be the most important addition to Tennessee Football since the arrival of Josh Heupel himself. For a program hungry to return to national prominence, the return of one of its brightest stars might be the ignition it needs.
With Dobbs on the sidelines, Tennessee’s future looks smarter, sharper, and more dangerous than ever.
