AJ McCarron returns to UFL as Birmingham Stallions’ next head coach
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AJ McCarron etched his name in Alabama football history by helping capture three Bowl Championship Series titles during his standout tenure in Tuscaloosa.
After being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron moved to St. Louis, now part of the United Football League (UFL). He appeared in backup roles in the NFL before signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
McCarron briefly returned to the Bengals in 2023 before rejoining the Battlehawks in 2024. Now McCarron is swapping his helmet for a coaching headset. On Thursday, the Birmingham Stallions named McCarron their head coach for the 2026 season.
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AJ Mccarron (10) of the St. Louis Battlehawks arrives at the stadium before their game against the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium on May 11, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Brandon Sumrall/UFL/Getty Images)
Mccarron will replace Skip Holtz, who resigned earlier this week after four years on the job. Holtz has been in place since the Stallions made their debut in 2022.
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“I’m not retiring. This is just the right moment to pause, reflect and look forward,” Holtz said on Tuesday when he announced he would not return as Birmingham manager next season. “I’m excited for the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I can’t wait to see where this path leads.”
AJ McCarron #10 of the St Louis Battlehawks plays against the DC Defenders during the second half of an XFL game at Audi Field on March 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Under Holtz, the Stallions compiled a 33-7 record and advanced to the playoffs in each of his four seasons on the sidelines. Holtz coached the Stallions to the 2024 UFL title and finished second in last year’s league title game.
McCarron tore his ACL in his right knee in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. In his second appearance with the Bengals in 2023, he appeared in just two games in 2023.
Atlanta Falcons’ AJ McCarron (5) looks to throw a pass against the Miami Dolphins during a preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The 2026 UFL season starts on March 27.
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