The NFL has continued to lean on the services of backup quarterbacks and unfortunately, the UFL hasn’t been able to answer the call. Unfortunately, this problem became more apparent after the loss of Daniel Jones, and possibly Riley Leonard for the Indianapolis Colts the team opted to not sign a developmental option to backup Brett Rypien, but a 44 year-old future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers.
The UFL has had plenty of success of the last two seasons with the league sending over 100 players to NFL contracts, with several earning income on practice squads and NFL active rosters collectively earning 20.3 million dollars over the first two seasons of their existence. The success of spring football goes even deeper dating back to 2019, where players with spring football ties have earned over $300 million dollars seeing 473 contracts earned collectively since the AAF.
While players like Jake Bates (UFL 24′), KaVontae Turpin (USFL 22′), Dondrea Tillman (USFL 24), Brandon Aubrey (USFL 23′), LaCale London (XFL 23′), Younghoe Koo (AAF 19′), and Nick Moore (XFL 20′), all earn plenty of money while making a name for themselves the absence of quarterbacks have been few and far between with only “pockets” of success.
It’s clear that the UFL is still looking for its Kurt Warner. The AAF had a taste with Garrett Gilbert, and John Wolford. The XFL (2020) had a taste with P.J. Walker, Taylor Henicke, and Josh Johnson, however since 2020 only A.J. McCarron (XFL 23′), and Adrian Martinez (UFL 24′) have appeared in a game since their spring football exodus’. While McCarron did appear several games for the Bengals in the “modern” reboots since 2022 there hasn’t been a feel-good story under center, and right now with the recent release of Adrian Martinez from the 49ers even his story in the NFL may be coming to a close.
While the UFL (2024-present) has/is doing a great job in giving player opportunities to showcase their skillsets there is still a need for another “star” to continue to give credence to the league. A late-season emergence (like from Heinicke in 2020) would do wonders for the UFL in not only a public relations avenue but also attracting talent to the league. With the lack of imprint from the UFL specifically at quarterback the league may not be the best destination spot for “fringe” NFL quarterbacks who are looking to expand their skillset by playing 10 games in the spring.
While Alex McGough, Ben DiNucci, and Adrian Martinez have managed to extend their NFL careers and earn almost 500k, post their spring football seasons for every quarterback getting back into the NFL, there is a UFL quarterback whose played their way off the waiver wire (Anthony Brown, Brett Hundley, Kellen Mond).
Right now, with multiple signings, injuries, and workouts taking place throughout the NFL, the UFL imprint at the quarterback position remains minimum so much so that a QB needy team is opting for Brett Rypien and Philip Rivers (5 years removed from the league), to backup/play for their team at this time. While fans may hope for a UFL QB to emerge in the 2025 season it seems that right now that ship has sailed.
For new owner Mike Repole, while he may love seeing Jalen Redmond, Dondrea Tillman, and Jake Bates contribute on Sunday’s as UFL alumni, for the league to really be taken seriously as a true developmental pathway it may come down to finding a diamond in rough under center to allow the league to really take off.
3 Comments
by Brian
Why does it have to be a development league? why can the UFL not just exist on it’s own as a spring football league? The NFL has no interest in a ‘minor league’, yes they’ve had a few dalliances with the concept but by and large have said ‘We’d rather not thank you very much’ I just don’t see the drive to make the UFL into something that doesn’t really appeal to the big boys.
Hundreds of US football players who did not fit the NFL ideal have had and are having great careers in the CFL. Jeff Garcia and Warren Moon before him tore it up in the CFL then had very successful years playing in the NFL neither of them ever got to an SB by the way.
My point is why can’t the UFL be like the CFL? as an alternative to the NFL? More effort should be put into building the UFL without trying to manufacture tenuous kinks to the NFL.
The US public loves football and if the quality is good people will fill the stands and the networks will want to broadcast it, that’s typically how a product is sold, it’s all about the quality.
by King Bomp
It’s surprising that out of a couple dozen quarterbacks who are slightly not good enough to make an NFL practice roster, zero play in the UFL.
If the UFL truly aspires to be a developmental league for the NFL, they would limit the quarterback age to 27 or less. No more of these lifelong spring league quarterbacks taking up roster spots.
by Johnny the Angry Fuzzball
I hate that idea.
The under-27s are not the players who are getting call-ups. The ones that are are the ones who the coaches are familiar with. That’s why we had a 44-year-old Philip Rivers starting for the Colts yesterday. That’s why AJ McCarron got a comeback with Cincinnati: the UFL kept him fresh but it was his NFL experience that got him back. The NFL does not want unknown talent when it comes to quarterbacks, even (especially) when they need one in an emergency.
If the UFL wants to get its QBs playing in the NFL, it has to get its coaches into the NFL assistant ranks. That way, when this happens, those coaches can call someone they recognize, and that makes it more likely a UFL QB is one of those recognized names.
Luis Perez did not stop Holton Ahlers from getting opportunities. The Renegades having no alumni on NFL coaching staffs stopped Ahlers AND Perez from getting opportunities.