The United Football League’s (UFL) Birmingham Stallions have appointed former Alabama Crimson Tide and NFL quarterback AJ McCarron as their new head coach. The announcement, made today, marks McCarron’s first coaching role at any level and comes just days after longtime coach Skip Holtz stepped down following a remarkable run of success and rumors that the league will be paying it’s coaches less money.
McCarron, a Mobile native and three-time national champion with Alabama (2009, 2011, and 2012), expressed enthusiasm about returning to his home state in a leadership capacity. “I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” McCarron said in a statement. “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.”
UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon highlighted McCarron’s deep ties to Alabama football. “AJ McCarron is a part of the fabric of winning football that is woven throughout the state of Alabama,” Brandon said. “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.”
McCarron’s playing career is steeped in success. At Alabama, he started from 2011 to 2013, leading the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS national titles in his first two seasons as the starter. He finished his college tenure with 9,019 passing yards, 77 touchdowns, and individual honors including the Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2013.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron spent time with several teams, including the Bengals, Raiders, Texans, Falcons, and Bills. Most recently, he excelled in spring football, playing for the XFL/USFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks (which merged into the UFL), where he led the league in touchdown passes (24) and passer rating (108.4) in 2023.
The hiring caps a whirlwind week for McCarron, who on Wednesday withdrew from the Republican race for Alabama Lieutenant Governor—a campaign he launched just two months prior. In his withdrawal statement, he cited a demanding new football opportunity requiring his full commitment, hinting at the coaching role that was revealed today.
David Dykeman, UFL Senior Vice President of Football Operations & Chief of Staff, welcomed the addition: “We are so excited to welcome AJ as the new head coach of the Birmingham Stallions. 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.”
At 35, McCarron becomes one of the youngest head coaches in professional football. While he lacks prior coaching experience, his leadership as a quarterback and intimate knowledge of the UFL—from his time as a rival player—position him uniquely to build on the Stallions’ dynasty.
The Stallions, playing at Protective Stadium, will aim for a fourth straight title when the UFL season kicks off in spring 2026. With McCarron at the helm, the franchise enters an exciting new chapter rooted in Alabama pride and proven winning pedigree.
