Marshall Faulk on why he joined CU's coaching staff

Flashback: Faulk played 12 seasons in the NFL, was league MVP, three-time Offensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams, who played in St. Louis at the time.

What they're saying: Axios spoke with Faulk, one of 30 NFL legends who represented their former team at Verizon's fan fest event — a Super Bowl LIX watch event at all the NFL stadiums.

(Note: Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.)

Why did you decide to coach at Colorado?

• "Deion, being a good friend of mine, presented an opportunity to me and painted a picture for me of what [coaching] would look like and then challenged me to make a difference in preparing some young men and showing them the way and making their path easier and giving them an opportunity to grow whether they go into the NFL or grow in life."

What wisdom do you hope to pass to players?

• "Just a better understanding about life. Football is a microcosm of life. You know you're going to get knocked down. All we do is ask you to get back up and ask for the ball again."
• "If they cheat in football, they're gonna cheat in life. If they take a shortcut in football, gonna take a shortcut in life. If they understand that, take care of their money, become financially literate and make some good decisions, then this game could be something that sets them up for the rest of their lives."

What to watch: The Buffaloes open their 2025 season hosting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Aug. 30.