Rhode Island UFL group provides former Alabama star AJ McCarron as coach
The new Rhode Island UFL team added some championship pedigree.
Three-time nationwide champion quarterback AJ McCarron would be the membership’s head coach, the UFL introduced on Wednesday morning, Sept. 30. McCarron coached the Birmingham Stallions final 12 months and he’ll deliver the Stallions’ roster with him to Rhode Island.
Advertisement
McCarron, alongside Nick Saban, steered Alabama to titles because the beginning quarterback in 2011-2012. McCarron additionally gained a title with the Crimson Tide in 2009, however didn’t seem in any video games that season for Alabama. He was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals within the fifth spherical of the 2014 NFL Draft and went on to play eight NFL seasons with the Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons.
“New England followers are among the most passionate followers in all of sports activities, and that keenness is one thing I’m actually excited to expertise firsthand,” McCarron mentioned in an announcement. “Rhode Island has a proud sports activities tradition and a fan base that appreciates groups that give all the things they’ve each time they step on the sphere. I’m excited to deliver this group to Rhode Island, rally this group round its new group and provides these followers a group they are often proud to name their very own.”
AJ McCarron will coach the brand new UFL group in Pawtucket, the league introduced on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
McCarron additionally performed for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks and led them to the playoffs in 2024. In 2023, he paced the league in passing touchdowns, completion share and passer ranking.
Advertisement
“The UFL’s development is about greater than including groups — it is about constructing soccer communities that followers can join with from day one,” UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon mentioned. “[McCarron], [Rick Neuheisel] and [Kevin Sumlin] every deliver large soccer expertise and a novel connection to the trading floors they’ll lead. Pairing them with the returning expertise from 2026 rosters, we’re giving followers in Rhode Island, Colorado, and Dallas a robust basis to help as we proceed constructing skilled spring soccer.”
The Rhode Island group’s identify, colours, logos and model id might be revealed on Sunday, Oct. 18 at Centreville Bank Stadium, the place the group will play 5 house video games in 2027.
Moving the Birmingham group to Rhode Island is an element of a bigger growth for the league as Colorado additionally joined the UFL scene for the upcoming season. The UFL additionally introduced that Oklahoma and Utah will be part of the league in 2028 for a complete of 10 groups.
The soon-to-be-named soccer membership is to play its first house recreation at 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, on the Pawtucket stadium. The recreation might be broadcast on FOX UFL Friday, the league’s prime-time weekend slot.
This article initially appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island UFL team adds former Alabama star AJ McCarron as coach
