Former Alabama QB AJ McCarron Named HC of UFL's Stallions Ahead of 2026 Season

Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron is returning to the UFL, but this time it will be as a head coach.

The Birmingham Stallions announced on Thursday that McCarron has been named their new head coach ahead of the 2026 season.

The Stallions' job opened up on Tuesday when Skip Holtz, who had been with the team since their inaugural season in 2022, announced he was stepping down.

"I am not retiring. This is simply the right moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead," Holtz said. "I'm excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I look forward to seeing where this path leads."

Holtz's four-year tenure in Birmingham was incredibly successful. He led the team to a 33-7 record and four postseason appearances.

The Stallions won three straight championships from 2022 to '24. They advanced to the conference finals last season before losing to the Michigan Panthers.

McCarron is a legendary figure in Alabama from his four-year run with the Crimson Tide from 2010 to '13. He was the starting quarterback on back-to-back national title teams in 2011 and 2012.

During his senior year in 2013, McCarron won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player and finished second in Heisman voting to Jameis Winston.

Following the end of his college career, McCarron spent nine seasons in the NFL. He most recently played in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2024.

The 2026 UFL regular season will begin on March 27.