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McBride, Jefferson Named 2025 Utah Football Ring of Honor Inductees
6/30/2025 3:00 PM | Football
Ute legends to be inducted at Sept. 6 home opener vs. Cal Poly
SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson have been named the 2025 inductees to the Utah Football Ring of Honor, with the pair set to be honored at the home opener vs. Cal Poly on Sept. 6 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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Utah Football, a historic and storied program, has produced conference players of the year, All-Americans, hall-of-famers, and Super Bowl Champions throughout its 131 years of existence.
The Ring of Honor includes players and coaches alike who have achieved the highest honors in college football, the pros and in the community. Alex Smith was the inaugural inductee in 2024, and Utah Athletics will add two new members to the Ring of Honor each year going forward.
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Ron McBride
Utah Head Coach, 1990-2002
Utah Offensive Coordinator, 1977-82
Utah OL Coach, 1985-86
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Ron McBride was announced as a Ring of Honor inductee this past Friday, during an event hosted by the Ron McBride Foundation.
When Ron McBride was named head coach of Utah Football prior to the 1990 season, he was taking over a program that had not played in a bowl game in 25 years and had only eight winning seasons in that stretch.
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The third time was the charm for McBride, who had previously served as Utah's offensive coordinator from 1977-82 as well as offensive line coach in 1985 and '86. After his second stint, he went to Arizona as assistant head coach and offensive line coach from 1987-89.
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Upon returning to Salt Lake City as head coach, he brought with him an acronym coined at Arizona: MAFU, which stood for mental toughness, aggressiveness, fanatical effort and unity. That would materialize rather quickly: the Utes went 7-5 in 1991 before punching tickets to the Copper Bowl in '92 and Freedom Bowl in '93.
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In 1994, "Coach Mac" coached one of the top teams in Utah history as his squad went 10-2, beating No. 15-ranked Arizona in the Freedom Bowl to clinch the school's first 10-win season in history and finish with a top 10 national ranking. The '94 team won its first eight games of the season—including a road triumph over Oregon—then took down BYU in a classic to finish off the regular season.
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The 1995 Utes won a share of the WAC Championship in a season that included the team's third straight win over BYU. Fan interest was rapidly picking up and paved the way for a rebuilt Rice-Eccles Stadium to open in 1998. A year later, Utah won a share of the 1999 Mountain West title and defeated Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Utes were back at the Las Vegas Bowl in 2001, knocking off USC and the next year's Heisman Trophy winner—Carson Palmer.
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In his 13 seasons at the helm of Utah, McBride amassed an 88-63 record, six bowl appearances and 21 NFL draft selections. He went on to coach the linebackers at Kentucky for two years, returning to the region and serving as Weber State's head coach from 2005-11. McBride also coached three seasons of arena football.
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He was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and Weber State Hall of Fame in 2021. McBride was the recipient of the All-American Football Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and was honored by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 for "outstanding contributions to amateur football."
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He also launched the Ron McBride Foundation, which supports schools, youth serving agencies, and programs that meet the needs of Utah's most vulnerable children. McBride's other accolades include MS Society Sportsperson of the Year and the YMCA Man of the Year. He also has been honored by Prevent Child Abuse with its "Legacy of Hope" award and by the Boy Scouts of America.
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McBride played collegiately at San Jose State from 1959-62, serving as a team captain his senior year and later beginning his coaching career with the Spartans. He met his wife, Vicky, while at SJSU and they have four children.
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Roy Jefferson
Utah Wide Receiver, 1962-64
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Roy Jefferson was a first-team all-American as a senior in 1964, a three-year letterman, and one of the standout wide receivers in Utah history. Jefferson was a three-time All-WAC selection and served as alternate captain in his final year, when the Utes defeated West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl.
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For his career, Jefferson averaged 16.66 yards per catch; it was a school record at the time and remains in the top eight at Utah more than 60 years later. He was the team's leading receiver in both 1962 and '63, with the latter season seeing Jefferson make 29 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns.
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Playing under late head coach Ray Nagel, the versatile Jefferson also contributed as a cornerback, kick and punt returner as well as a place kicker. He made two field goals during the 1964 Liberty Bowl win.
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"[Roy is] the finest all-around performer I have ever coached," said Nagel. "He could play almost anywhere and would be a fine back if we chose to use him in that capacity."
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Jefferson and the Utes went 9-2 during the 1964 season on the way to the bowl win over West Virginia. It was played at the Atlantic City Convention Hall in New Jersey, becoming the first major college football game ever played indoors. The Utes were a tri-champion that year in the Western Athletic Conference and the team's nine wins stood as the school record until 1994.
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Jefferson was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and his 1964 Liberty Bowl Team was enshrined in 2014.
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The native of Compton, California, Jefferson was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (18th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft. He went on to play 12 seasons with Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, and was a member of the Baltimore Colts squad that won Super Bowl V over Dallas in 1971. He earned three All-Pro selections and three trips to the Pro Bowl, including in 1968 when Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Â
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Utah Football, a historic and storied program, has produced conference players of the year, All-Americans, hall-of-famers, and Super Bowl Champions throughout its 131 years of existence.
The Ring of Honor includes players and coaches alike who have achieved the highest honors in college football, the pros and in the community. Alex Smith was the inaugural inductee in 2024, and Utah Athletics will add two new members to the Ring of Honor each year going forward.
Â
Ron McBride
Utah Head Coach, 1990-2002
Utah Offensive Coordinator, 1977-82
Utah OL Coach, 1985-86
Â
Ron McBride was announced as a Ring of Honor inductee this past Friday, during an event hosted by the Ron McBride Foundation.
When Ron McBride was named head coach of Utah Football prior to the 1990 season, he was taking over a program that had not played in a bowl game in 25 years and had only eight winning seasons in that stretch.
Â
The third time was the charm for McBride, who had previously served as Utah's offensive coordinator from 1977-82 as well as offensive line coach in 1985 and '86. After his second stint, he went to Arizona as assistant head coach and offensive line coach from 1987-89.
Â
Upon returning to Salt Lake City as head coach, he brought with him an acronym coined at Arizona: MAFU, which stood for mental toughness, aggressiveness, fanatical effort and unity. That would materialize rather quickly: the Utes went 7-5 in 1991 before punching tickets to the Copper Bowl in '92 and Freedom Bowl in '93.
Â
In 1994, "Coach Mac" coached one of the top teams in Utah history as his squad went 10-2, beating No. 15-ranked Arizona in the Freedom Bowl to clinch the school's first 10-win season in history and finish with a top 10 national ranking. The '94 team won its first eight games of the season—including a road triumph over Oregon—then took down BYU in a classic to finish off the regular season.
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The 1995 Utes won a share of the WAC Championship in a season that included the team's third straight win over BYU. Fan interest was rapidly picking up and paved the way for a rebuilt Rice-Eccles Stadium to open in 1998. A year later, Utah won a share of the 1999 Mountain West title and defeated Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. The Utes were back at the Las Vegas Bowl in 2001, knocking off USC and the next year's Heisman Trophy winner—Carson Palmer.
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In his 13 seasons at the helm of Utah, McBride amassed an 88-63 record, six bowl appearances and 21 NFL draft selections. He went on to coach the linebackers at Kentucky for two years, returning to the region and serving as Weber State's head coach from 2005-11. McBride also coached three seasons of arena football.
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He was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and Weber State Hall of Fame in 2021. McBride was the recipient of the All-American Football Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and was honored by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 for "outstanding contributions to amateur football."
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He also launched the Ron McBride Foundation, which supports schools, youth serving agencies, and programs that meet the needs of Utah's most vulnerable children. McBride's other accolades include MS Society Sportsperson of the Year and the YMCA Man of the Year. He also has been honored by Prevent Child Abuse with its "Legacy of Hope" award and by the Boy Scouts of America.
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McBride played collegiately at San Jose State from 1959-62, serving as a team captain his senior year and later beginning his coaching career with the Spartans. He met his wife, Vicky, while at SJSU and they have four children.
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Roy Jefferson
Utah Wide Receiver, 1962-64
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Roy Jefferson was a first-team all-American as a senior in 1964, a three-year letterman, and one of the standout wide receivers in Utah history. Jefferson was a three-time All-WAC selection and served as alternate captain in his final year, when the Utes defeated West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl.
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For his career, Jefferson averaged 16.66 yards per catch; it was a school record at the time and remains in the top eight at Utah more than 60 years later. He was the team's leading receiver in both 1962 and '63, with the latter season seeing Jefferson make 29 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns.
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Playing under late head coach Ray Nagel, the versatile Jefferson also contributed as a cornerback, kick and punt returner as well as a place kicker. He made two field goals during the 1964 Liberty Bowl win.
Â
"[Roy is] the finest all-around performer I have ever coached," said Nagel. "He could play almost anywhere and would be a fine back if we chose to use him in that capacity."
Â
Jefferson and the Utes went 9-2 during the 1964 season on the way to the bowl win over West Virginia. It was played at the Atlantic City Convention Hall in New Jersey, becoming the first major college football game ever played indoors. The Utes were a tri-champion that year in the Western Athletic Conference and the team's nine wins stood as the school record until 1994.
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Jefferson was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and his 1964 Liberty Bowl Team was enshrined in 2014.
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The native of Compton, California, Jefferson was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (18th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft. He went on to play 12 seasons with Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, and was a member of the Baltimore Colts squad that won Super Bowl V over Dallas in 1971. He earned three All-Pro selections and three trips to the Pro Bowl, including in 1968 when Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Â
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Utah: 31, Wyoming: 6 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Sunday, September 14
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Ute greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 06