UFL 2025: Groups, logos, coaches, stadiums, key gamers
We’re lower than every week away from the second season of the United Soccer League. Beginning with the March 28 matchup between the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks, eight groups will play a 10-game season that culminates in a championship sport on June 14 on ABC and ESPN+.
Earlier than we get to that, this is a useful cheat sheet on the UFL fundamentals, full with logos, stadiums, coaches and key gamers.
Arlington Renegades
Stadium: Choctaw Stadium
Coach: Bob Stoops
Key gamers: QB Luis Perez, TE Sal Cannella, WR Tyler Vaughns
The Renegades as soon as once more are led by Stoops, who received 191 video games and the 2000 BCS nationwide championship in 18 seasons on the College of Oklahoma.
Perez is a spring soccer icon, as he quarterbacked Arlington to the final title within the XFL. He additionally has his high targets returning in Cannella (53 receptions, 496 yards, 6 TDs) and Vaughns (45 receptions, 502 yards, 3 TDs).
Birmingham Stallions
Stadium: Protecting Stadium
Coach: Skip Holtz
Key gamers: QB Matt Corral, QB Alex McGough, WR Deon Cain, TE Jace Sternberger, NT Carlos Davis, S A.J. Thomas
Holtz, the son of Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame coach Lou Holtz, has excelled in spring soccer, main the Stallions to a 32-4 document (together with playoffs) and three consecutive titles (USFL in 2022-23 and the UFL final yr). Previous to Birmingham, Holtz received 152 video games over 22 seasons of faculty soccer.
Corral, the previous Ole Miss signal-caller, will battle McGough, the 2023 USFL MVP, to start out after 2024 UFL MVP Adrian Martinez signed with the New York Jets. Whoever wins could have returnees Cain and Sternberger as high targets.
The protection is led by All-UFL picks Davis and Thomas.
DC Defenders
Stadium: Audi Discipline
Coach: Reggie Barlow
Key gamers: QB Jordan Ta’amu, CB DeAndre Baker, WR/RET Chris Rowland
Barlow returns to the Defenders after main them to 4-6 mark in 2024. Previous to DC, Barlow compiled an 83-58 document as a coach at Alabama State and Virginia State over 13 seasons.
Ta’amu is again after beginning all 10 video games and rating second within the UFL in passing yards. Rowland, an All-UFL selection as a returner, added 20 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Baker, a 2019 NFL first-round choose, additionally was All-UFL.
Houston Roughnecks
Stadium: College of Houston TDECU Stadium
Coach: Curtis Johnson
Key gamers: QB Nolan Henderson, RB Kirk Merritt, MLB Christopher Allen
Johnson, a longtime NFL and school assistant, returns regardless of a 1-9 mark in his first season with the Roughnecks.
Henderson returns after showing in 5 video games final season. Merritt was harm within the Roughnecks’ second sport, however there’s hope he can put some life into the operating sport. Allen joined Houston midseason and confirmed promise.
Memphis Showboats
Stadium: Simmons Financial institution Liberty Stadium
Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
Key gamers: QB Jason Bean, WR Daewood Davis, WR Joseph Scates, DE Jaylon Allen
Whisenhunt now holds the excellence of serving as head coach for 2 skilled soccer franchises in Tennessee. He joined the Showboats in September 2024 and coached the NFL’s Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2015. He additionally spent six seasons as the pinnacle coach of the Arizona Cardinals (2007-12).
Bean, a former Kansas quarterback, was the highest choose of the UFL draft. Davis was an All-UFL choose after posting 41 receptions for 446 yards and 5 TDs. Scates and Allen are former College of Memphis standouts.
Michigan Panthers
Stadium: Ford Discipline
Coach: Mike Nolan
Key gamers: QB Danny Etling, WR Marcus Simms, S Kai Nacua
Nolan brings greater than 4 many years of teaching expertise, the latest being a 7-3 document with the Panthers final yr. Nolan spent three-plus seasons as the pinnacle coach of the San Francisco 49ers and served as a defensive coordinator for eight NFL groups.
Etling appeared in seven video games and handed for 786 yards and three TDs. Simms was All-UFL after posting 23 receptions for 426 yards and three TDs. Nacua, one other All-UFL choose, anchors the protection after tying for the league lead in interceptions (three) and move breakups (eight) and main the workforce in complete tackles (47).
San Antonio Brahmas
Stadium: The Alamodome
Coach: Wade Phillips
Key gamers: QB Kellen Mond, WR Jontre Kirklin, LB Tavante Beckett
Phillips moved to the Brahmas after a profitable stint with the Roughnecks within the XFL in 2023 and promptly led them to the UFL title sport. The 77-year-old was an NFL fixture for almost 50 years as a defensive coordinator and head coach, compiling a 90-73 document (together with playoffs) in nine-plus seasons as a head coach.
Mond, who performed at Texas A&M and is a San Antonio native, may emerge because the starter after signing with the UFL in October. He has one of many league’s greatest receivers in Kirklin, who had 56 receptions for 615 yards and three TDs final season. Beckett, an All-UFL choice, led the protection in tackles (67) and tackles for loss (9).
St. Louis Battlehawks
Stadium: The Dome at America’s Heart
Coach: Anthony Becht
Key gamers: RB Jacob Saylors, WR Hakeem Butler, LB Willie Harvey Jr.
Becht returns for his third season teaching the Battlehawks after main St. Louis to a 7-3 document final yr. He spent 11 seasons as a decent finish within the NFL with 5 groups after being chosen by the Jets within the first spherical of the 2000 NFL draft.
Saylors led all UFL operating backs in dashing with 460 yards final season. Butler led the UFL in receiving yards with 652. Every was named to the All-UFL workforce, as had been offensive linemen Jaryd Jones-Smith and Mike Panasiuk. All 4 return for the Battlehawks, which ought to assist because the workforce searches for a brand new quarterback.
