While the Panthers have been extremely active this offseason, the team has begun to see their first bit of turnover so far. Michigan has already re-signed 24 players for the 2026 season, in addition to Kaleb Hayes as their first new player for the team in the upcoming season. While the team has begun building for the next year, they have begun to see some turnover as well. In addition to Five players earning contracts so far this UFL to NFL signing cycle, the team has seen its first player not returning for 2026.
Offensive Lineman Jacob Burton has declared his retirement ending a Five-year professional career. Burton came out of Baylor in 2021 signing with the New York Giants spending time on their practice squad. In 2022, Burton would join the Philadelphia Stars spending Two seasons with the team before the UFL’s dispersal draft. Burton would be selected by the Michigan Panthers spending Two seasons with the team while earning a contract with the Lions in 2024. Burton retires after 5 seasons in pro football (1 NFL and 4 Spring Football seasons), while also serving as one of the spring football’s more consistent figures.
The Panthers have seen Two offensive linemen depart (1 retire/1 NFL signing), with Burton and Ryan Nelson signing with the Los Angeles Chargers. The team has re-signed all their members from the 2025 squad, in addition to drafting the rights for multiple linemen over the past Two years.
In addition to Burton, Spring League Offensive Line mainstay Sean Brown, and former Michigan Panthers Defensive Lineman Vantrel McMillan have also announced their retirements. Brown recently played in the AF1 with the Albany Firebirds winning a championship this past season, while McMillan spent the past three seasons with the Panthers but was unsigned during the 2025 campaign. So far since the end of the 2025 UFL season, 19 players/former players have announced their retirement.