Former NFL WR Ted Ginn Jr. Named 1st HC of UFL's Aviators Ahead of Inaugural Season

Former NFL wide receiver and Ohio State standout Ted Ginn Jr. is returning to his college stomping grounds as a coach in the United Football League.

The UFL announced on Wednesday that Ginn has been named head coach of the Columbus Aviators ahead of their inaugural season in 2026.

"Ted Ginn Jr. represents everything that is great about football in the Buckeye state," said UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon. "A proven winner, Ted combines a winning performance on the field and a deep knowledge of the game with tremendous pride for his home state. We look forward to Ted  not only building the foundation of the Columbus Aviators, but also writing a new chapter in the history of Ohio football."

This will be the first head-coaching gig for Ginn, but he has been around coaches for his entire life. His father, Ted Ginn Sr., has been the head coach at Glenville High School since 1997 and was elected to the National High School Hall of Fame two years ago.

Ted Ginn Jr. has deep roots in Ohio, having been born in Cleveland in 1985. He played for his father at Glenville from 2000 to '04, then committed to play football at Ohio State University.

During his three years with the Buckeyes, Ginn had 4,068 all-purpose yards and 26 total touchdowns. He was named to the All-America first team in each of his three college seasons.

Ginn went on to have a 14-year NFL career with six different teams. He was originally drafted ninth overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2007.

The UFL announced in October that Columbus as one of three new host cities that would be replacing outgoing teams starting with the 2026 season.

While the full schedule for the 2026 campaign has yet to be announced, the season will kickoff on March 27. The Aviators will play their home games at Historic Crew Stadium.