2025, December 18th: McCarron Returns to Alabama to Become Head Coach of Birmingham Stallions

This will require some processing time. 

BIRMINGHAM, AL – The United Football League today announced that former Alabama Crimson Tide three-time national champion and former St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron has been named head football coach of the Birmingham Stallions. The announcement was made by UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon. McCarron replaces Skip Holtz, who this week announced that he was stepping away from the team after four years as head coach of the team.

“AJ McCarron is a part of the fabric of winning football that is woven throughout the state of Alabama,” said Brandon. “It is only appropriate that a winner like AJ takes over the reins of the three-time champion Birmingham Stallions as they embark upon a new era.”

A native of Mobile, Alabama, McCarron was most recently the signal caller for the St. Louis Battlehawks (2023-24), leading the team to an appearance in the 2024 UFL Playoffs. During the team’s XFL Legacy era in 2023, he led the league in passing touchdowns (24), completion percentage (68.8%), and passer rating (108.4). 

McCarron is best known for being a part of three national championship teams at the University of Alabama under legendary Head Coach Nick Saban (2009, 2011, 2012). For his outstanding performance on the field in 2013, he received the Maxwell Trophy, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and the Kellen Moore Award. A first-team All-American in 2013 and a two-time All-SEC second team selection in 2012 and 2013, McCarron went on to an eight-year NFL career beginning in 2014 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texas, and Atlanta Falcons.  

“I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” said McCarron. “This game has given me so much as a player, and now I am ready to give back as a coach. It's even more special that I get to do that while representing my home state – a state that has supported me throughout my career. Our team will build upon the amazing legacy of Skip Holtz. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Holtz, what he has done for the league and for the Stallions. I am ready to put in the work that will continue producing championship wins for the city of Birmingham.” 

“We are so excited to welcome AJ as the new Head Coach of the Birmingham Stallions,” said David Dykeman, UFL Senior Vice President of Football Operations & Chief of Staff. “His success on the field has been achieved at every level and we know that it will continue as he becomes the leader of the Stallions. It is a great day for the Stallions and the State of Alabama.”

I understand that a developmental league can develop coaches as well as it can players. And McCarron's marketability is undeniable. 

But hiring someone with no experience to lead the league's most successful franchise is...a choice. Were there no young coordinators or position coaches waiting for their shot? 

McCarron was interviewed this morning on the McElroy and Cubelic show. The chat starts at about the 22:00  mark below. 

2025, December 16th: Skip Holtz to Step Away From UFL After Historic Championship Run

The Mike Repole-led UFL has been rather...chaotic...to this point. The Stallions, led by Head Coach Skip Holtz, appeared to have become a stable spot in a league still finding its way, but unfortunately that has turned out to not be the case. 

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Skip Holtz, head coach of the Birmingham Stallions, announced today that he will be stepping away from his role in the United Football League (UFL) to evaluate other opportunities following an extraordinary four-year run highlighted by three consecutive championships (2022-23 USFL; 2024 UFL). He leaves the UFL with a 33–7 regular-season record and 6–1 postseason mark. 

Statement from Heat Coach Skip Holtz

Coaching the Stallions has been one of the great honors of my career. I’m grateful for the players, staff, the City of Birmingham, and our passionate fans who helped create such a special and winning culture. What we accomplished together is something I’ll always treasure. 

I am not retiring. This is simply the right moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. I’m excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I look forward to seeing where this path leads. 


Statement from UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon

Head Coach Skip Holtz can be summed up in one word – Champion. When they write the first chapter of the history of the United Football League, Skip and his three-time champion Birmingham Stallions will be the first names to jump off the page. He leaves the UFL with the respect and gratitude of our owners, executives, coaches, players, and, especially myself. We wish Skip, his wife Jennifer, and their entire family the best of luck.

Before his championship run in the UFL, Holtz built an accomplished résumé across major college football. A former Notre Dame player who later served as an assistant and offensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish, Holtz went on to lead programs at UConn, East Carolina, USF and Louisiana Tech – winning 152 games overall with 12 bowl appearances (and eight bowl wins) in 17 FBS seasons and eight conference or divisional titles.   

After Holtz’s initial season at ECU, Holtz put together a run of four-consecutive bowl games with back-to-back Conference USA championships and a Conference USA Coach of the Year award.  Likewise at Louisiana Tech, after the initial season, he took the program on a run of 7-consecutive bowl appearances (winning six straight bowl games) including three consecutive nine-win seasons along with the program’s first 10-win season in 35 years.