NFL
By Keith Richards
We’re now less than three days away from the Colorado Rapids season opener in Seattle. As the Rapids complete their final preparations for the first match of the Matt Wells Era, I had the opportunity to have a sit-down with their star goalkeeper, Zack Steffen. Steffen enters his third season with Colorado and remains hungry for success.
Zack Steffen’s time with the Rapids has had its ups and downs. With Chris Armas at the helm, Zack and Colorado have seen both thrilling success and bitter defeat. After the disappointing end to the 2025 season, Steffen and the club are ready to move forward and start fresh. At the end of the day, the goal for Zack Steffen and the Colorado Rapids remains the same: Win the MLS Cup.
How do they plan to accomplish their goals? What are Zack’s thoughts on last season? What are Zack Steffen’s goals as he continues his career? How important is it to have the World Cup here in North America? Zack answered those questions and many others as we spoke on Friday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Let’s dive into it!
Before the hard-hitting questions, I asked Zack how he was doing and how his offseason was. Steffen stated, “Yeah, I’m good. The offseason was great. Just a lot of family time and traveling and getting away from the game, which was good. So, healthy. Ready to go.” With a two-year-old daughter at home, Zack Steffen is enjoying fatherhood. He states that the little one’s personality is coming through, and he is enjoying it.
After catching up on the offseason and his family, we dig into the 2025 season. The Colorado Rapids ended the season in 11th place in the Western Conference, two spots out of the play-in. It was a season that started off with high hopes. However, even after numerous improvements in Armas’ first season, Colorado would fall short. I asked Steffen what his general thoughts were on the 2025 season.
Zack stated, “It was tough, man. Obviously, not making the playoffs, it’s just not acceptable. But, of course, it happens. You really got to look at yourself in the mirror and see what areas you need to grow in and what transpired to make it not such a successful year. I think I was able to do that in the offseason. I definitely had plenty of time to do that.”
Steffen continued, “Yeah, did some thinking and some analyzing, and I think it just wasn’t good enough all over. Clearly, we didn’t get the results, we didn’t get the goals, we let in too many goals. We were just too loose all over, and it showed.” One of the hot topics of the offseason is the grueling preseason regimen of new head coach Matt Wells.
I asked Zack about what that’s been like from a goalkeeper’s perspective. He stated, “It’s been really good. It’s exactly what we needed at this club. It’s detailed, it’s organized, it’s intense, it’s urgent, it’s confident, and you got to be a big player. You got to be a big man on the field and be brave and courageous and calm. I’ve really enjoyed the time since Matt has been here.”
While Zack agrees with the other players that Coach Wells is tough, he also acknowledges the squad’s improvement. Steffen says it’s been difficult, but they’re growing. He sees real cohesiveness in the group as they continue to improve. Zack Steffern echoes the belief in Matt Wells that we’ve heard from players like Rob Holding and Jackson Travis.
With Steffen now coming into the 11th season of his senior career, I asked what some of his goals were. Unsurprisingly, this first response was that he wants to lift a trophy. In addition, he stated, “This year, get into the World Cup team and play in the World Cup. That would just be a dream come true. Really, just dominate. The first year under Chris [Armas], we had a good run. Last year, it was a lot tougher. I just want to win games. I just want to win games and lift trophies.”
In his time with Premier League’s Manchester City, Zack Steffen lifted some trophies. So, I asked Zack what’s something he hasn’t accomplished that he’d still like to. He stated, “I would love to play in the World Cup. I would love to lift the MLS trophy. Other than that, I don’t really have too many other goals.”
On the topic of the World Cup, I was curious whether Zack knew his standing with the USMNT and head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Steffen states that the relationship is fine. He believes everything depends on how he plays over the next couple of months. Heading into the Gold Cup last year, many thought Zack was the number one keeper, but injuries derailed him. Steffen still has hope he can make that World Cup roster. He’s hoping to start 2026 off with a bang to improve his chances.
When Matt Wells was hired as coach, he brought a few of his own assistants with him. One of those assistants is Rob Burch. While Chris Sharpe remains the goalkeeper coach, Burch will serve as the set-piece coach. I asked Zack how that new dynamic has been. Steffen stated, “It’s been good. We put more emphasis on set pieces and more demand on set pieces. More creativity and just two brains. So, extra eyes on set pieces, which is good.”
He continued, “Last year defending, we were very good, very strong, and we’re looking to carry that over to this year and be even better. Then, attacking, we want to score goals. We want to be dangerous and be dominant attacking as well.” Outside of set pieces and the attacking third, Colorado will look to be more dominant on defense as well. That will look a little different with the departure of center back Andreas Maxso.
I asked Zack Steffen how things have gone with the addition of Miguel Navarro and Lucas Herrington. He stated, “It’s been good. We’re young, but there’s a lot of urgency. There’s a lot of hunger in doing the right things, keeping the sheet clean, and making sure we block crosses and block shots. We get pressure on the ball, and it’s been fun.” Specifically, he states that Herrington is a great young player with great talent who just needs experience.
Zack has been adjusting well to the new style of play under Matt Wells. He says he’s had it before and is excited to be back in that system. Steffen believes that what is asked of him now is a big strength of his. However, there are still growing pains. Zack believes they just need to focus their energy and commitment on the system. Every day training, they look and feel good. Now, it’s just time to prove it on the pitch.
With the World Cup here in a few months, I asked Steffen how important that is for North American football. Zack stated, “Anytime you get a World Cup in America, especially with the league being so young…just to get that exposure over here is incredible. So, I’m really interested, like everybody, I’m really interested to see how the soccer world comes over here and celebrates the game and what feeds off of it in the next five to 10 years.”
As the interview wound down, I asked Zack a question I knew the fans would want to hear. My question to him was simple: If there is one thing that’s better about the Rapids going into this season that would make fans feel better than last season, what would that be? Steffen’s answer was simple. Mentality.
Zack stated, “I think mentality. That’s what the gaffer has been preaching ever since he got here. We’re much stronger mentally and physically.” It seems like Steffen, like others, is all-in on Matt Wells. Zack admits that Wells may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, he has them playing at the highest level, and they need that intensity. “We need to be at our best every single day, and that’s what he brings. That’s what he demands every single day. So, it just raises a level, each and every day.”
Yes, Zack Steffen is feeling very confident heading into this season. They immediately face a stiff test with their first match against the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. It’s not a place that has been kind to the Rapids. Yet it’s a challenge the team welcomes. Steffen states, “It’s a new year. It’s a new game, a new season. There’s tons of new. The past is the past. You can’t change it. You can’t harp on it, you don’t want to look back at it, you can learn from it, and that’s exactly what we plan to do. We’re going to bring this new energy into Seattle, and we’re excited.”
Who knows how the Rapids’ season will end? I picked them to end 9th in the Western Conference. After speaking with Zack Steffen, I believe they can do that and possibly be better.
