Quick Bio of Jerry Neuheisel
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Gerald Neuheisel III (Jerry Neuheisel) |
| Birth Year | 1992 |
| Profession | College Football Coach |
| Current Role (2026) | Quarterbacks Coach, Northwestern Wildcats |
| Previous Role | Offensive Coordinator/Playcaller, UCLA Bruins (2025) |
| Playing Career | UCLA Quarterback (2012-2015) |
| Father | Rick Neuheisel (Former UCLA QB & Head Coach) |
| Mother | Susan Neuheisel |
| Siblings | Brothers Jack (SMU WR) and Joe |
| Wife | Nicole Knox Neuheisel |
| Marriage Date | June 16, 2020 |
| Wedding Location | Yosemite Valley, California |
| Children | None publicly confirmed as of 2026 |
| Notable Moment | Sideline celebration hug with wife after UCLA’s 42-37 upset of No. 7 Penn State (Oct. 4, 2025) |
| Current Residence | Recently relocated to Evanston, Illinois (Northwestern) |
Introduction
Jerry Neuheisel wife is Nicole Knox (often referred to as Nicole Knox Neuheisel), a photographer and travel enthusiast who has stood by his side throughout his coaching journey. The couple tied the knot in a beautiful Yosemite Valley ceremony on June 16, 2020, and their partnership captured national attention in October 2025 when Jerry—then UCLA’s interim offensive coordinator—led the previously winless Bruins to a stunning 42-37 upset over No. 7 Penn State at the Rose Bowl. As confetti fell and Gatorade showers commenced, Jerry sprinted to the sideline and swept Nicole into an emotional, airborne embrace that instantly went viral across sports media platforms.
For college football fans, Jerry Neuheisel carries a recognizable surname. As the eldest son of legendary UCLA quarterback and head coach Rick Neuheisel, Jerry grew up immersed in the sport’s culture and pressure. After playing quarterback for the Bruins from 2012 to 2015, he transitioned seamlessly into coaching—first as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 2017, then returning to Westwood in 2018. His steady climb through UCLA’s staff (wide receivers coach 2021-2023, tight ends coach/assistant head coach 2024) culminated in his unexpected promotion to offensive playcaller four games into the tumultuous 2025 season.
The Penn State victory wasn’t just a turning point for UCLA’s season—it showcased the human side of coaching. While cameras focused on Jerry’s tactical brilliance against James Franklin’s Nittany Lions, the postgame celebration revealed something deeper: a supportive marriage thriving amid football’s relentless demands. Nicole, with her 159,000+ Instagram following as a travel and landscape photographer (@nicolexknox), maintains a relatively low public profile but has become an endearing figure among Bruins faithful.
As Jerry begins a new chapter in 2026 as Northwestern’s quarterbacks coach under Chip Kelly—a reunion after their UCLA years—Nicole’s supportive presence continues to define their partnership. This article explores their marriage timeline, Nicole’s creative background, the unforgettable Penn State moment, and how football legacy shapes their family life.
Table of Contents
Who Is Jerry Neuheisel? Career Overview
Richard Gerald “Jerry” Neuheisel III carved his own path while carrying the weight of a famous football surname. Born in 1992 to Rick and Susan Neuheisel, Jerry chose UCLA—his father’s alma mater and former coaching home—not out of obligation, but genuine passion for the program.
As a walk-on quarterback in 2012, Jerry earned respect through grit rather than glamour. He appeared in 17 games over four seasons, famously leading UCLA to a 2013 upset victory over Nebraska when starter Brett Hundley was injured—a performance that endeared him to Bruins fans. Though never a full-time starter, his football IQ and leadership impressed coaches enough to offer him an immediate graduate assistant position upon graduation.
Jerry’s coaching trajectory accelerated quickly:
- 2017: Offensive quality control coach at Texas A&M under Jimbo Fisher
- 2018-2020: Graduate assistant at UCLA under Chip Kelly
- 2021-2023: Wide receivers coach (promoted after Jimmie Dougherty’s departure)
- 2024: Tight ends coach plus assistant head coach title added in December
- 2025 (Games 5-12): Interim offensive coordinator/playcaller after DeShaun Foster assumed head coaching duties following Chip Kelly’s midseason departure to Ohio State
- January 2026: Hired as quarterbacks coach at Northwestern under Chip Kelly’s new offensive staff
The 2025 Penn State game represented Jerry’s offensive coordinator debut—a high-wire act made more dramatic by the fact he’d never practiced with a headset before kickoff. Yet his creative play designs and clock management stunned a Penn State defense that had dominated opponents early in the season. The 42-37 victory snapped UCLA’s nine-game losing streak dating back to November 2024 and instantly transformed Jerry from under-the-radar assistant to coaching storyline of the season.
Meet Jerry Neuheisel’s Wife: Nicole Knox – Background and Life
Nicole Knox brings a creative counterbalance to Jerry’s football-centric world. A professional photographer specializing in landscape, travel, and outdoor adventure imagery, she has cultivated an impressive social media presence with nearly 160,000 Instagram followers who follow her journeys to mountain ranges, coastal trails, and international destinations.
Her Instagram handle @nicolexknox features captions like “capturing pretty things in pretty places 🏔️ ✨ ☀️,” reflecting a lifestyle centered on natural beauty and mindful exploration. Unlike many coaching spouses who maintain private lives, Nicole has built her own brand through visual storytelling—though she carefully separates her professional identity from Jerry’s football career. Her website nicolexknox.com showcases photography portfolios and a curated shop section, demonstrating entrepreneurial initiative beyond the sidelines.
While specific details about Nicole’s upbringing, education, or hometown remain private (she maintains appropriate boundaries around personal information), her public persona reveals someone who embraces mobility—a valuable trait for a coach’s spouse. College football demands frequent relocations, irregular hours, and emotional resilience during losing seasons. Nicole’s documented travels across California’s Sierra Nevada, Pacific Coast Highway road trips, and international adventures suggest adaptability that serves her well in coaching life.
Notably, Nicole isn’t a football novice. Having married into the Neuheisel family—a dynasty in West Coast football circles—she’s developed genuine appreciation for the sport’s nuances. During the 2025 season, she attended home games at the Rose Bowl consistently, often positioned near the tunnel where players enter the field. Her calm presence contrasted with the sideline intensity, offering Jerry emotional grounding during UCLA’s challenging campaign.
Jerry and Nicole Neuheisel: Marriage Timeline and Wedding
Jerry and Nicole’s love story culminated in an intimate Yosemite Valley wedding on June 16, 2020—a date preserved on their wedding website that remains publicly accessible. The ceremony occurred during the pandemic’s early months, suggesting the couple prioritized their commitment despite logistical challenges.
Jerry announced their marriage on Instagram on June 26, 2020, posting a photo with the caption: “Just married! And we couldn’t be happier!”—a simple declaration that garnered over 2,200 likes from friends, family, and UCLA football supporters. The Yosemite setting aligned perfectly with Nicole’s documented love of mountain landscapes and outdoor aesthetics.
How the couple met remains unconfirmed in public records or interviews. Neither Jerry nor Nicole has shared details about their courtship timeline, first date, or engagement story—choices that reflect their preference for privacy around relationship milestones. This discretion stands in contrast to some coaching families who share extensive personal content; the Neuheisels appear to intentionally separate their private life from Jerry’s public coaching persona.
As of early 2026, no children have been publicly announced or referenced in official bios, social media posts, or media interviews. The couple’s focus appears centered on navigating Jerry’s coaching career trajectory together—a demanding path that recently required relocating from Los Angeles to Evanston, Illinois when Jerry accepted Northwestern’s quarterbacks coach position in January 2026.
Viral Moments: The 2025 Penn State Upset Hug
October 4, 2025, will forever be etched in UCLA football lore—and in the Neuheisel family album. With the Bruins winless through four games and national pundits predicting a blowout against seventh-ranked Penn State, Jerry Neuheisel made his debut as offensive playcaller under extraordinary pressure.
What followed defied expectations: a 42-37 Bruins victory featuring creative play designs, timely fourth-down conversions, and a clock-killing final drive that sealed the upset. As the Rose Bowl crowd roared and UCLA players mobbed their coaches, cameras captured Jerry—drenched in celebratory Gatorade—sprinting toward the sideline where Nicole waited.
The resulting embrace became an instant viral sensation. Jerry lifted Nicole completely off the ground in a joyful, spinning hug that radiated pure elation—a raw, unscripted moment contrasting sharply with football’s typically stoic sideline culture. Sports Illustrated described it as “an incredible hug for the ages,” while The Spun highlighted how Nicole “stunned” viewers with her radiant reaction amid the chaotic celebration.
The moment resonated beyond sports because it humanized coaching. While analysts dissected Jerry’s brilliant playcalling against Penn State’s elite defense, millions of viewers connected with the simpler narrative: a husband sharing his career-defining triumph with his biggest supporter. Social media exploded with comments praising their visible partnership—#NeuheiselHug trended regionally on X (Twitter) for hours postgame.
Even Rick Neuheisel, watching from the broadcast booth as a CBS Sports analyst, fought back tears describing his son’s achievement—a multi-generational UCLA moment made more poignant by Jerry immediately seeking out Nicole in the celebration chaos.
Family Background – Son of Rick Neuheisel
Jerry Neuheisel’s identity is inextricably linked to his father’s legacy, yet he has worked deliberately to establish his own coaching reputation. Rick Neuheisel—a Rose Bowl-winning UCLA quarterback (1984) who later coached the Bruins from 1996-1998—remains one of college football’s most recognizable figures through his broadcasting career and four-team head coaching resume (Colorado, Washington, UCLA, Maryland).
Jerry is the eldest of Rick and Susan Neuheisel’s three sons:
- Jerry (born 1992): Current Northwestern quarterbacks coach; former UCLA QB
- Jack (born 1994): Played wide receiver at SMU (2013-2016)
- Joe (born 1997): Least publicly visible brother; limited football involvement documented
Growing up in a football household provided Jerry unique advantages: film study sessions at the dinner table, access to coaching mentors, and innate understanding of quarterback mechanics. Yet it also created expectations he’s addressed thoughtfully in interviews. Rather than trading on his father’s name, Jerry earned every promotion through demonstrated competence—from walk-on QB to graduate assistant to position coach.
The Penn State victory carried special weight because Rick was calling the game for CBS Sports. Footage circulated of Rick’s emotional reaction—hands over his face, voice cracking with pride—as his son outmaneuvered a top-10 opponent. Postgame, Rick embraced Jerry on the field before Jerry located Nicole, creating a powerful three-generation UCLA moment (Rick played/coached there; Jerry played/coached there).
Susan Neuheisel, often less visible publicly than her husband, has been described by family friends as the emotional anchor of the Neuheisel household—traits Jerry appears to value in his own marriage with Nicole. The supportive spouse role that Susan modeled for decades now finds reflection in Nicole’s steady presence amid coaching’s volatility.
Nicole Knox on Social Media & Public Presence
Nicole maintains an intentional digital footprint that balances visibility with privacy. Her Instagram account (@nicolexknox) functions primarily as a photography portfolio rather than a coaching spouse chronicle. Scrolling her feed reveals:
- Mountain landscapes from California’s Eastern Sierra
- Pacific coastline sunsets
- Travel moments from Italy, Greece, and domestic road trips
- Minimal football content (no sideline selfies, locker room access shots, or game commentary)
This approach distinguishes her from spouses who build brands around coaching life. Instead, Nicole cultivates identity through artistry—a choice that likely provides emotional balance when football consumes Jerry’s schedule for 10+ months annually.
She rarely comments on Jerry’s coaching moves publicly. When UCLA announced his interim OC promotion in September 2025, Nicole didn’t post celebratory content. Similarly, when Northwestern hired him in January 2026, her feed continued featuring landscape photography rather than relocation announcements. This discretion suggests a partnership built on private support rather than public performance.
The Penn State hug represented a rare exception—Nicole’s visible emotion breaking through her typical reserve. That authenticity likely fueled the moment’s virality; viewers sensed genuine partnership rather than staged content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who is Jerry Neuheisel’s wife?
A: Jerry Neuheisel’s wife is Nicole Knox (Nicole Knox Neuheisel), a professional photographer and travel content creator with nearly 160,000 Instagram followers.
Q: When did Jerry Neuheisel marry Nicole Knox?
A: Jerry and Nicole married on June 16, 2020, in a ceremony held in Yosemite Valley, California.
Q: What is Nicole Knox’s profession?
A: Nicole is a photographer specializing in landscape, travel, and outdoor adventure imagery. She maintains an active Instagram presence (@nicolexknox) and operates a photography website.
Q: Did Jerry Neuheisel and his wife go viral in 2025?
A: Yes. After Jerry led UCLA to a 42-37 upset over No. 7 Penn State on October 4, 2025, he swept Nicole into an emotional airborne hug on the Rose Bowl sideline that went viral across sports media.
Q: Who are Jerry Neuheisel’s parents?
A: Jerry is the son of Rick Neuheisel (former UCLA quarterback and head coach, now CBS Sports analyst) and Susan Neuheisel.
Q: Does Jerry Neuheisel have children?
A: As of early 2026, Jerry and Nicole have not publicly announced any children.
Q: What is Jerry Neuheisel’s current coaching position?
A: Jerry joined Northwestern University as quarterbacks coach in January 2026 under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Q: Did Jerry Neuheisel play college football?
A: Yes. Jerry played quarterback at UCLA from 2012 to 2015, appearing in 17 games including a memorable relief performance against Nebraska in 2013.
Q: How many brothers does Jerry Neuheisel have?
A: Jerry has two younger brothers: Jack (played WR at SMU) and Joe.
Q: Where did Jerry and Nicole Neuheisel get married?
A: They married in Yosemite Valley, California—a location reflecting Nicole’s documented love of mountain landscapes.
Q: Was Jerry Neuheisel UCLA’s head coach in 2025?
A: No. Jerry served as interim offensive coordinator/playcaller for UCLA’s final eight games of the 2025 season after DeShaun Foster became head coach.
Q: Does Nicole Knox attend Jerry’s games?
A: Yes. Nicole has been consistently present at UCLA home games, typically positioned near the player tunnel at the Rose Bowl.
Q: What made the Penn State game special for Jerry Neuheisel?
A: It was Jerry’s offensive coordinator debut—made more dramatic by UCLA entering 0-4 and Penn State being ranked No. 7 nationally. His creative playcalling produced a stunning upset.
Q: Is Jerry Neuheisel related to Rick Neuheisel?
A: Yes. Jerry is Rick Neuheisel’s eldest son.
Q: Where do Jerry and Nicole Neuheisel live now?
A: Following Jerry’s January 2026 hiring at Northwestern, the couple relocated to the Chicago/Evanston area.
Conclusion
Jerry Neuheisel’s journey—from UCLA walk-on quarterback to Northwestern quarterbacks coach—has been defined by resilience, football intelligence, and the steady support of his wife, Nicole Knox. Their marriage, formalized in Yosemite’s majestic setting in 2020, represents a partnership that thrives amid coaching’s inherent instability. The viral Penn State hug wasn’t manufactured content; it was authentic joy shared between spouses who understand football’s emotional extremes.
As Jerry reunites with Chip Kelly in Evanston for the 2026 season, Nicole’s adaptable spirit—evident in her travel photography career—will serve them well during this Midwest transition. Their story resonates because it balances legacy with individuality: Jerry honors his father’s UCLA roots while forging his own coaching identity, and Nicole maintains creative independence while embracing coaching life’s demands.
For Bruins and Wildcats fans tracking Jerry’s development, or Rick Neuheisel followers nostalgic for 90s and 2000s UCLA football glory, the Neuheisel family narrative continues evolving. Their sideline embrace after the Penn State upset remains a perfect snapshot: in football’s pressure cooker, love remains the ultimate touchdown.
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