Former Alabama football star AJ McCarron ends statewide political bid to take UFL head coaching role

AJ McCarron etched his sanction successful Alabama shot lore erstwhile helium helped present 3 Bowl Championship Series titles during his standout stint successful Tuscaloosa.

After being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals successful the 5th circular of the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron bounced astir the NFL successful backup roles earlier signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks, a franchise that's present portion of the United Football League (UFL).

McCarron concisely returned to the Bengals successful 2023 earlier rejoining the Battlehawks successful 2024. Now, McCarron is trading his helmet for a coaching headset. On Thursday, the Birmingham Stallions named McCarron the team's caput manager for the 2026 season.

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AJ Mccarron (10) of the St. Louis Battlehawks arrives to the stadium earlier the crippled against the Birmingham Stallions astatine Protective Stadium connected May 11, 2024 successful Birmingham, Alabama. (Brandon Sumrall/UFL/Getty Images)

Mccarron volition regenerate Skip Holtz, who stepped down earlier this week aft 4 years astatine the helm. Holtz had been successful spot since the Stallions archetypal started playing successful 2022. 

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"I americium not retiring. This is simply the close infinitesimal to pause, reflect, and look ahead," Holtz clarified Tuesday erstwhile helium announced helium wouldn't instrumentality arsenic Birmingham's manager adjacent season. "I'm excited astir the adjacent steps successful my travel and energized by caller possibilities. I look guardant to seeing wherever this way leads."

A.J. McCarron #10 of the St Louis Battlehawks looks connected against the DC Defenders during the 2nd fractional of the XFL crippled astatine Audi Field connected March 5, 2023 successful Washington, DC.  (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Under Holtz, the Stallions posted a 33-7 grounds and precocious to the playoffs successful each of his 4 seasons connected the sideline. Holtz coached the Stallions successful the 2024 UFL rubric and a runner-up quality successful past year's league rubric game.

McCarron tore his ACL successful his close genu successful a 2021 preseason crippled with the Atlanta Falcons. He appeared successful conscionable 2 games successful 2023 successful his 2nd stint with the Bengals successful 2023.

AJ McCarron (5) of the Atlanta Falcons looks to walk against the Miami Dolphins during a preseason crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Aug. 21, 2021 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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The 2026 UFL play kicks disconnected connected March 27.

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