Alabama’s only professional football team, the Birmingham Stallions, is gearing up for the start of the United Football League (UFL) season this week as the Stallions look for a fourth straight league championship. 

The Stallions won USFL Championships in each of the first two seasons of that league and then won the UFL Championship when the USFL and XFL merged last season. Birmingham defeated the San Antonio Brahmas in a dominant win in the UFL Championship last season. 

Head coach Skip Holtz returns to lead the Stallions this season, holding a career head coaching record of 26-4 with three league championships during his tenure with Birmingham. Also returning is former USFL MVP Alex McGough. 

McGough guided the Stallions to the 2023 USFL Championship in 2023, winning league MVP honors after throwing for 2,105 yards and 20 touchdowns with 403 yards and five more scores on the ground. Following the season, McGough was signed by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and moved to receiver. McGough was released from the Packers following the 2024 season and re-signed with the Stallions in a return to quarterback. 

Last season, quarterbacks Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral split time as starters until Martinez began to take over and eventually won UFL MVP honors. Following the season, Martinez signed with the New York Jets and remains with the organization. 

Joining McGough on the the 2025 Stallions roster at quarterback is Corral and former Philadelphia Stars and Memphis Showboats starter Case Cookus. Cookus threw for 2,295 yards and 15 touchdowns for Philadelphia in 2023 and passed for 989 yards and seven scores for Memphis last season. Corral threw for 494 yards and two touchdowns for Birmingham last season and also spent the 2024 NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings. 

The Birmingham offense also returns a veteran backfield that includes returners CJ Marable, Ricky Person Jr. and Larry Rountree III. Marable rushed for 294 yards and four touchdowns last season, while Person tallied 297 yards and six touchdowns. 

The receivers and tight ends group that Birmingham boasts may be the envy of the league, however. Deon Cain and Mobile native Marlon Williams return from last season’s unit. Cain caught 33 passes for 436 yards and three scores, while Williams caught 26 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Starting tight end Jace Sternberger is back after catching 25 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns last season. The group also features returners like Amari Rodgers from las last year’s team. 

The unit features new/old faces like Davion Davis and Austin Watkins Jr., who played for Birmingham in past seasons. Davis caught 39 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns for Birmingham in 2023, while Watkins caught 16 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown for the Stallions that same year. Davis played for Washington in the NFL last season, while Watkins was on the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Stallions also return three starters on the offensive line, including center Cole Schneider and tackles Christian DiLauro and Armani Taylor-Prioleau. All-UFL guard Zack Johnson is now on the roster of the San Francisco 49ers, however. 

Former Alabama All-SEC lineman Deonte Brown is in his second season in the UFL after three years in the NFL and the 6-foot-3-inch, 344-pound Alabama native is expected to hold down one of the guard spots. Brown actually started the season opener at left guard for Birmingham last season before an injury caused him to miss the rest of the season. Former Texas A&M guard Keaton Sutherland and Nebraska guard Lachavious Simmons – a Selma native – are expected to compete for the other guard spot.

Birmingham has consistently boasted one of the best defenses in the UFL/USFL in its first three years and the 2025 Stallions are loaded once again. 

All-UFL defensive tackle Carlos Davis returns to anchor the Birmingham defensive line alongside returning starters Marvin Wilson and Willie Yarbary. Davis had eight sacks in just 11 games last season to lead the league. Birmingham also signed former NFL fourth round draft pick Perrion Winfrey this offseason. 

Birmingham must replace the entire group of defensive ends/edge rushers from last year’s stellar unit but may be even better this season. Both Ronnie Perkins and Myjai Sanders were former third round draft picks in the NFL and both bring NFL playing experience to the Stallions. Former Utah All-American Bradlee Anae and former Missouri All-SEC end DJ Coleman have also joined the stallions roster. 

The heart of the Stallion defense last season was linebackers Kyahva Tezino and DeMarquis Gates, both return this season. Tezino recorded 74 tackles last season and Gates recorded 37 tackles. Both he and Tezino are former All-USFL selections. 

Back in the secondary is All-UFL safety AJ Thomas, who intercepted three passes last season. Thomas stepped in after starter JoJo Tillery went down with an injury last season, and Tillery is also back. Kenny Robinson Jr. also started every game last season at safety and is back after tallying 44 tackles in 2024. 

While Birmingham returns two veterans at cornerback, the rest of the faces there are all new. Madre Harper and Daniel Isom both started six games last season and are back, while former Alabama star Shyheim Carter has also joined the team. 

Carter started 23 games at Alabama and recorded 101 tackles, six tackles-for-loss and three interceptions, helping Alabama win a national championship during his career. Carter has played for the Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and two seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with Birmingham. 

Former Marshall standout Steven Gilmore, the brother of Stephon Gilmore, has also joined the team along with former Oklahoma star Rachad Wildgoose, who brings starting experience with the Washington Commanders to the Stallions. 

The Stallions also return punter Colby Wadman and long snapper Ryan Langan, while former Missouri All-American Harrison Mevis takes over as kicker. Rodgers was Birmingham’s primary punt returner and Cain is the leading returning kickoff returner. Gary Jennings Jr., who was Birmingham’s top kickoff returner last season, is now with the St. Louis Battlehawks. 

Birmingham opens the season this Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. against the DC Defenders on the road in a game that will air nationally on ESPN. Birmingham is also on the road next Friday, April 4, at the Michigan Panthers at 7 p.m. Birmingham finally opens up at home at Protective Stadium on April 11 at 7 p.m. on FOX against the Arlington Renegades.