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prominent Bengals quarterback is transitioning into coaching. On Thursday, Dec. 18, former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron was named the next head coach of the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, marking his first ever job in the coaching world. Last playing a football game in 2024 while a member of the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, McCarron ended his playing career after he was released by team at the end of the season and will now take over the Stallions in time for the 2026 spring season.
McCarron takes over for longtime college football coach, Skip Holtz. Holtz, the Stallions head coach from 2022-25, announced his resignation earlier in the week– ending his stint as the team’s head coach with two USFL titles and a UFL title in 2024.
McCarron Takes Over in Birmingham
A former star quarterback at Alabama, McCarron’s professional career saw him spend a majority of it as a backup but during the entirety of his time in the NFL, it was clear that McCarron had a high football IQ and played in pivotal role in the Bengals finding success early in his career. And while this is his first coaching job, McCarron is excited for the challenge and eager to bring his expertise to the sidelines in order to bring championships to Birmingham.
“I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” McCarron said via a press release. “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. Our team will build upon the amazing legacy of Skip Holtz. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Holtz, what he has done for the league and for the Stallions. I am ready to put in the work that will continue producing championship wins for the city of Birmingham.”
A three-time national champion at Alabama, McCarron was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Bengals. Playing for the franchise from 2014-17, McCarron spent most of his career there as the backup to Andy Dalton, but got a substantial amount of action in the 2015 season when Dalton was hurt. Playing in seven games (starting three), McCarron threw for 854 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. After bouncing around the league for a few seasons, McCarron rejoined the Bengals in 2023– spending most of the year as the backup quarterback to Jake Browning, who was filling in for an injured Joe Burrow.
Stallions Last Few Seasons at a Glance
Coming off of their fourth straight playoff appearance, McCarron’s job will be the keep the run of success going in Birmingham. Since becoming a team in 2022, the Stallions have been one of the USFL/UFL’s best teams, making the playoff every year of their existence. Going 9-1 in 2022 with a USFL title, the Stallions then finished 8-2 in 2023 and went on to beat the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL championship.
Following the UFL-XFL merger, the Stallions played in the USFL conference and won the conference in 2023 while also taking home the inaugural UFL title under the new format. Losing the USFL conference championship in 2025, McCarron will look to bring the team back to the top.
Ex-Bengals Quarterback Named Head Coach of the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions