All articles tagged with #ufl
The United Football League said it will move the Birmingham Stallions to a new market and relocate the Houston Gamblers for 2027, adding two replacement markets and outlining a plan to grow to 10 teams by 2028 and possibly 12 by 2030, as owners push for long-term sustainability and broader geographic reach (with Oklahoma City among the targets).
The United Football League plans to cease operations for the Birmingham Stallions, citing stadium atmosphere and a misalignment with its business model, with the league expected to relocate the franchise to a different city.
The Atlanta Falcons signed three UFL standouts—defensive end Keshawn Banks, defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell and wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr.—after their second mandatory minicamp practice to bolster depth, while releasing wide receiver Casey Washington, defensive tackle Elijah Garcia and defensive end CJ Nunnally IV. Banks logged 24 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 10 Orlando Storm games; Maxwell posted 23 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4 sacks over two UFL seasons; Wells had 25 receptions for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns in nine games for the Columbus Aviators, plus punt return value. Washington’s Atlanta tenure included 7 receptions for 108 yards; Garcia appeared in three games in 2025; Nunnally started 10 games for Purdue in 2025 with 44 tackles, 10.5 TFL, five sacks and two forced fumbles.
Louisville Kings rallied from a 0-3 start to win the United Bowl 27-20 over the D.C. Defenders, turning a season-long growth story into a city-wide celebration and proving Louisville might finally have a lasting pro football presence, driven by coach Chris Redman's culture-focused leadership, even as attendance and ownership questions remain.
Louisville's expansion UFL team overcame an 0-3 start by revamping the QB position, roster, and culture, then defeated the DC Defenders 27-20 to win the league championship in their inaugural season.
In their inaugural UFL season, the Louisville Kings defeated the DC Defenders 27-20 in Washington to win the United Bowl, overturning a halftime deficit with 20 straight points. The Kings leaned on a 181-yard rushing attack led by Ian Wheeler and James Robinson, while Chandler Rogers managed the offense; DC’s Jason Bean left with a shoulder injury and the Defenders committed three turnovers, sealing Louisville’s first league championship.
The United Bowl at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., is sold out for Saturday, with the D.C. Defenders in the game. Audi Field seats 20,000 for football, and kickoff is 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC. The UFL has moved several teams to soccer stadiums in 2026 to boost attendance.
The expansion Louisville Kings beat the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 on the road to advance to the United Bowl against the DC Defenders, one win from their first championship in their inaugural season, fueled by explosive plays (53-yard run by James Robinson, 60- and 63-yard field goals) and a pivotal 51-yard fourth-quarter TD by Ian Wheeler, supported by stout defense late in the game.
In their first UFL season, the Louisville Kings beat the St. Louis Battlehawks 29-20 to advance to the UFL Championship against the D.C. Defenders in Washington. Kicker Tanner Brown accounted for eight points with two four-point field goals (60 and 63 yards), and Steele Chambers sealed the win with an end-zone interception late; a postgame scuffle flared but was broken up as Louisville moves on to the title game led by first-year coach Chris Redman.
The D.C. Defenders upset the No. 1-seeded Orlando Storm 28-22 to advance to the UFL Championship, which will be hosted by D.C. on June 13. QB Jason Bean threw for 233 yards and a TD, while four running backs combined for 172 rushing yards led by Abram Smith (57 yards). DC sealed the win with a 61-yard field goal by Matt McCrane, worth four points under the league rule for 60-yard-plus kicks. The Defenders will host the winner of Louisville Kings vs. St. Louis Battlehawks in the title game.
Chris Payton-Jones, a former NFL cornerback who also played in the XFL and UFL, died at 30 following a car accident. Undrafted in 2018 from Nebraska, he appeared in 29 NFL games (6 starts) for the Cardinals, Lions, Vikings and Titans, later played for the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in 2023 and the St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL) in 2024–25, and had retired in January. The UFL issued condolences to his family and teammates.
The UFL is testing sweeping 2026 rule changes—four-point field goals, banning the tush push, punts from inside opponent territory except the last two minutes, and multiple conversion options from different distances—for potential NFL adoption, with officials and NFL collaborators involved.
The United Football League (UFL) is expanding for the 2026 season by adding three new teams in Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando, aiming to enhance fan engagement and stadium attendance, while also rebranding existing teams to play in soccer stadiums. The league plans to grow from 8 to 16 teams over the next decade.
The United Football League is shifting to smaller stadiums in new cities like Orlando, Columbus, and Louisville, aiming to create a more authentic and engaging fan experience, with plans to expand to 16 teams by the mid-2030s and position itself as a developmental league for the NFL.
The UFL is reportedly planning to relocate several teams to new markets including Birmingham, Michigan, Houston, and Memphis, with official statements remaining non-committal, suggesting a strategic move to bolster league survival in non-NFL markets amid declining attendance and viewership.