AJ McCarron Takes the Reins in Birmingham: A Familiar Face, a Fresh Era for the Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions are entering a new chapter-and it’s one led by a name Alabama football fans know all too well. AJ McCarron, the former Crimson Tide star and Mobile native, is officially the new head coach of the United Football League’s most successful franchise. And while he joked that he might “rip off the headset and put on a helmet” if the team runs out of quarterbacks, make no mistake-McCarron is serious about continuing the Stallions’ championship pedigree and expanding their reach across the state.
“I want this team to be Alabama’s team,” McCarron said, making it clear that his vision goes beyond Birmingham city limits. He’s aiming to build something that resonates from the Magic City all the way down to his hometown on the Gulf Coast. And with the league’s new leadership pushing for deeper community ties, McCarron’s Alabama roots make him a natural fit.
A New Era, Same Expectations
McCarron steps into big shoes, taking over for Skip Holtz, who coached the Stallions through four dominant seasons. Under Holtz, Birmingham racked up a 33-7 regular-season record, went 6-1 in the playoffs, and claimed three league titles-including the first-ever UFL championship in 2024 after the USFL-XFL merger. The 2025 campaign fell just short, with a loss to the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship Game, but the Stallions remain the league’s gold standard.
That’s the legacy McCarron inherits, and he’s embracing it head-on.
“This team has had success on the field, but we need to get people in the stands,” McCarron said. “It’s a business at the end of the day.”
That’s a sentiment the UFL’s new ownership group shares. League co-owner and business director Mike Repole opted to keep the Stallions in Birmingham while relocating the Michigan, Memphis, and San Antonio franchises. In 2026, the league will welcome new teams in Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando, part of a broader push to strengthen local ties and build sustainable fanbases.
Built for This Moment
If you’re looking for someone who embodies Alabama football, McCarron is your guy. A two-sport All-State athlete at St.
Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, he led his high school team to a state title in 2007. Then came his legendary run at Alabama, where he was part of three BCS national championship teams and started under center for the 2011 and 2012 title squads.
He capped his college career by winning the Maxwell Award and finishing as the Heisman runner-up in 2013.
That kind of résumé doesn’t just look good on paper-it sets a tone. Stallions fans are used to winning, and McCarron’s background is steeped in it.
Though he’s never held a formal coaching position before, McCarron’s been absorbing the game at a high level for years. He credits early mentors like Tyler Siskey, his high school offensive coordinator, for teaching him how to break down film.
And, of course, there’s the Nick Saban factor-along with the offensive minds of Jim McElwain and Doug Nussmeier during his Alabama days. Add in nine NFL seasons and a successful run with the St.
Louis Battlehawks in the spring leagues, and McCarron’s football IQ is anything but in question.
From the Field to the Sideline
McCarron’s transition from quarterback to head coach isn’t just about Xs and Os. It’s about impact.
“I think it helps knowing how the league is built… I’ve seen what works and what it takes to win,” he said. “But I also played.
I know a lot of the players myself. This is an opportunity and a chance to impact guys’ lives and help them find a way to their ultimate goal, which is the NFL.”
That’s not just talk. McCarron’s own spring league experience helped him earn another NFL opportunity with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. Now, he’s looking to help others use the UFL as a launching pad, just like he did.
Interestingly, McCarron had other options on the table. He’d received coaching offers before but turned them down to focus on family-he’s a husband and father of three.
He even dropped out of a potential run for lieutenant governor of Alabama to take the Stallions job. That’s how much this opportunity meant to him.
Looking Ahead
The UFL’s 2026 season kicks off on March 27, and all eyes will be on Birmingham to see how McCarron handles his first year on the sideline. The Stallions have the talent, the tradition, and now a hometown hero at the helm.
Whether he’s drawing up plays or (jokingly) suiting up under center, AJ McCarron is all in on building something special-not just for Birmingham, but for all of Alabama.
And if his track record tells us anything, he’s not showing up just to coach. He’s here to win.