Former Alabama football star AJ McCarron ends state political bid to take UFL head coaching job

AJ McCarron added his name to Alabama football lore when he helped lead to three Bowl Championship Series titles during his standout tenure 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 now part of the United Football League (UFL).

McCarron briefly returned to the Bengals in 2023 before joining the Battlehawks in 2024. Now, McCarron is trading in his helmet for a training headset. On Thursday, the Birmingham Stallions named McCarron the team’s head coach for the 2026 season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON News

AJ McCarron of the St. Louis Battlehawks arrives at the stadium before a 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 the coach since the Stallions began play in 2022.

BRUCE FELDMAN: MICHIGAN HAS ‘SERIOUS INTEREST’ IN ALABAMA HC KALEN DEBOER

“I will not retire. This is simply the right time to pause, reflect and look forward,” Holtz said Tuesday when he announced he would not return as Birmingham coach next season. “I am excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I look forward to seeing where this path leads.”

AJ McCarron of the St Louis Battlehawks looks on against the DC Defenders during the second half of an XFL game at Audi Field on March 5, 2023, in Washington, DC (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Under Holtz, the Stallions posted a 33-7 record and advanced to the playoffs in each of his four seasons. Holtz led the Stallions to the 2024 UFL title.

McCarron tore the ACL in his right knee in a 2021 preseason game with the Atlanta Falcons. He appeared in just two games in 2023 in his second stint with the Bengals.

AJ McCarron 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)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE News APP

The 2026 UFL season begins March 27.

Follow News Digital sports coverage in Xand subscribe to the News Sports Huddle newsletter.