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AJ McCarron etched his name into Alabama football lore when he helped win three Bowl Championship Series titles during his remarkable time in Tuscaloosa.
After being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron bounced around the NFL in backup roles before signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks, a franchise that is now part of the United Football League (UFL).
McCarron briefly returned to the Bengals in 2023 before joining the Battlehawks in 2024. McCarron is now trading in his helmet for a coaching helmet. On Thursday, the Birmingham Stallions named McCarron as the team’s head coach for the 2026 season.
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AJ Mccarron (10) of the St. Louis Battlehawks arrives at the stadium before the game against the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium on May 11, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Brandon Sumrall/UFL/Getty Images)
Mccarron will replace Skip Holtz, who resigned earlier this week after four years at the helm. Holtz had been in place since the Stallions began play in 2022.
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“I’m not retiring. It’s just a good time to pause, reflect and look forward,” Holtz said Tuesday in announcing he would not return as Birmingham coach next season. “I’m excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by the new possibilities. I can’t wait to see where this path takes me.”
AJ McCarron #10 of the St Louis Battlehawks battles against the DC Defenders during the second half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Under Holtz, the Stallions went 33-7 and qualified for the playoffs in each of his four seasons on the sidelines. Holtz coached the Stallions to the 2024 UFL title and a runner-up finish in last year’s league title game.
McCarron tore the ACL in his right knee during a 2021 preseason game with the Atlanta Falcons. He only played in two games in 2023 during his second stint with the Bengals in 2023.
AJ McCarron (5) of the Atlanta Falcons looks to pass against the Miami Dolphins during a preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The 2026 UFL season will begin on March 27.
