The UFL and Mike Repole are serious about changing the business of Spring football. Over the last few weeks, the UFL has undergone a series of changes to its teams and football operations, which have been announced. First, the Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers, and San Antonio Brahmas were chosen as teams to relocate to new UFL markets in Orlando, Louisville, and Columbus, Ohio.
Next, Repole and UFL CEO and President announced that they were making changes to the UFL Football Operations department. This included relieving all general managers in the UFL and replacing them with a centralized personnel management model. The new personnel model is being overseen by Doug Whaley and Russ Giglio.
The next big move from the newly restructured UFL has been to name the UFL CEO and President as the new Director of Football Operations. That move left questions about the future role of Daryl “Moose” Johnston in the UFL. Since Mike Repole has joined the UFL, Johnston has not appeared in press releases or media events. Today, we learned that Johnston’s absence is due to the UFL choosing not to renew his contract, according to an announcement by UFL Insider James Larsen.
Removing Daryl “Moose” Johnston from the UFL is a surprising move, given Johnston’s close relationship with FOX and his extensive history in the modern leagues of spring football. This move emphasizes that Repole and the UFL are seeking to transform their business approach. While the decision not to renew Johnston’s contract starts a new future for the UFL, it does leave questions about what Johnston will do next and what Johnston will be known for helping create the UFL.
Daryl “Moose” Johnston’s Relationship with Spring Football
Johnston began his association with spring football leagues in 2019 when he accepted the role of General Manager of the San Antonio Commanders in the Alliance of American Football. In 2020, Johnston accepted a Director of Player Personnel position with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL, where he worked under head coach Bob Stoops. In 2021, Johnston assumed the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations with the USFL. Then, in 2022, Johnston became the President of Football Operations for the USFL after Brian Woods stepped aside from the USFL.
When the decision was made to merge the USFL and XFL to create the UFL, it seemed like a natural fit for Johnston to step into the role as Executive Vice President of Football Operations. That placed Johnston in a decision-making role as the two leagues went through a unification process involving the re-drafting of players from the USFL and XFL. Since that merger, the UFL has played two complete seasons in 2024 and 2025.
Johnston’s Spring Football Legacy
There is no denying that Johnston has been the most stable part of the unstable world of spring professional football leagues. While the failures of the AAF, XFL, and USFL are not directly attributed to any decisions made by Johnston, there is still a potential dark cloud that hangs over the work he did with those leagues. In addition, the merger process to combine the USFL and XFL was relatively successful, but it has not come without its own challenges.
The most public of those challenges was the labor dispute during the pre-season of the 2025 UFL season. That dispute started with the league’s quarterbacks demanding higher pay and better benefits. For a few weeks, it was unclear whether the UFL would survive the dispute. However, Johnston and the UFL teams continued to march forward, and during the season, the players’ union and UFL management reached a mutual agreement on new contracts that included better pay for players, improved insurance coverage, and the establishment of a free-agent system for the UFL.
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2 Comments
by Brian
The area where he failed was not recognizing the need for smaller venues. The entire UFL leadership was at fault in this regard and had they continued in the same vein I’m not sure the league would have survived. As good as the product might have been on the field (and it wasn’t always that good) if the folks at home were too turned off to tune in, it would have only been a matter of time before plugs were pulled and we’d be saying goodbye to another failed attempt at spring ball.
by Ken Granito
To be honest this likely could be a good thing for Daryl Johnston. I mentioned long ago how I didn’t like the USFL & XFL coming together to become the UFL. The USFL was so much better put together. It’s funny how people kept saying the UFL, USFL and XFL needed more marketing, well they are pretty much mostly marketing, now. I know that sounds pretty negative, but I actually think the league is going to be pretty good this year as there won’t be much change, other than all the marketing venues. However, with Mike Repole self proclaimed commissioner, owner and boss, there is only the fans to keep him in line. Remember the person taking over Moose’s job, Russ Brandon was a baseball executive before he was a football one. He was also hockey. You may ask yourself well maybe he is so smart that he knows all equally well.
Well in his tenure with the Bills, they were 156-208. Something a Jets fan would be happy with these days, but not knocking the doors off, especially after the run with Marv Levy at the helm. Maybe its not all bad. The coaches that were there while he was there are Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, Dick Jauron, Chan Gailey, Doug Marrone, Rex Ryan and finally Sean Mcdermott. I am not sure if he was responsible for any or all of them as I don’t know, but he did act as general manager, was the president and CEO so he had to have some say. His quarterbacks in his tenure were Doug Flutie, Rob Johnson, Alex Van Pelt, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb, PJ Losman, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, EJ Manuel, Kyle Orton, Tyrod Taylor and finally Josh Allen. Again, I don’t know which ones he was responsible, but it really doesn’t look good. His #1 draft picks Antoine Winfield, Erik Flowers, Nate Clements, Mike Williams (Tackle) Willis McGahee, Lee Evans, JP Losman, Donte Whitner, John McCargo, Marshawn Lynch (finally someone), Leodis McKelvin, Aaron Maybin, Eric Wood, CJ Spiller, Marcell Dareus, Stephone Gilmore (yay!- he still left to sign with the Pats), EJ Manuel, Sammy Watkins, Shaq Lawson, Tre’Davious White, Josh Allen & Tremaine Edmunds. Again not sure when and he was there, I think for Josh Allen Y Tre’Davious White, but I really think the fact that he is responsible for UFL football operations is dubious at best. Oh wait! He has been responsible for drafting UFL talent in the first round of the NFL draft for decades. He should excel. Why was I worried about the UFL? I still think there are opportunities for Daryl Johnston and I still think there is room for another league.