Todd ArcherMar 27, 2025, 06:00 AM ET
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- Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has coated the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
ARLINGTON, Texas — So what’s the name of the game sauce of the Birmingham Stallions?
“Nice avid gamers. Nice coaches. And overcoming your head trainer,” Stallions trainer Skip Holtz stated previous this month on the UFL media days. “That is how we’ve got been in a position to win.”
The Stallions received the inaugural UFL championship in 2024 and received USFL championships in 2022 and ’23. And in spite of Holtz’s proclamations, he is a huge explanation why Birmingham has received such a lot.
UFL Season Two
• Standings
• Crew-by-team schedules
• Emblems, coaches, key avid gamers
• Uniforms
“He is a instructor, then he is a trainer,” quarterback Alex McGough stated. “You’ll be able to admire that. When anyone makes a mistake, he is not simply going to fully damage them.”
Previously 3 common seasons, the Stallions have long gone 26-4, together with a 9-1 mark a 12 months in the past. They have got received with 3 other quarterbacks: McGough, J’Mar Smith and remaining 12 months’s MVP, Adrian Martinez, who’s now with the New York Jets.
Martinez handed for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 528 yards and 3 TDs.
McGough is again after two seasons off and on the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ follow squad, the place he frolicked as a quarterback and vast receiver. Holtz wasn’t in a position to mention McGough would be the starter, noting Matt Corral’s enjoy.
“You want two quarterbacks on this league,” he stated.
And Holtz is aware of the Stallions wish to be in a position.
“When there is a staff that is successful at that degree, everyone circles the calendar,” Holtz stated. “It is like, ‘OK, when do you we play the (Kansas Town) Chiefs? When will we play the Stallions?’ Again within the ’70s, it used to be, ‘When will we play the Cowboys, the Steelers or the Dolphins?’ The groups which might be successful have that focus on on their again and you have to be at a truly top stage. You are going to get everyone’s easiest shot.”
Holtz’s message to the avid gamers noting the franchise’s 3 championships used to be that the ones do not follow to this 12 months’s staff.
“We’ve got were given to head from scratch and we’ve got were given to give you the option to win one recreation and a difficult recreation with DC at the highway to begin the season,” Holtz stated.
The avid gamers like the danger for a four-peat.
“I at all times say force is a privilege,” McGough stated. “Now not numerous other folks get to mention that they’ve a goal on them. I believe that is a privilege. We were given via on exhausting paintings and successful and sustained luck, so I believe we will be in a position for it. We settle for all demanding situations.”
Trainer Skip Holtz (middle) led the Birmingham Stallions to a 9-1 file and the primary UFL championship. Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire
Nonetheless going
Wade Phillips’ first training activity used to be in 1969 at Orange (Texas) Top Faculty. He has coached soccer at some stage for all however 5 years since.
At 77, Phillips is again for his 2nd 12 months with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas. There isn’t an older head trainer in MLB, the NBA, the WNBA, the NFL, the NHL, MLS or NWSL, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
“It is nice amusing for me,” stated Phillips, who used to be the pinnacle trainer of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Expenses and Dallas Cowboys, in addition to the intervening time head trainer at 3 other spots. “It is a absolute best surroundings. I am getting to train soccer for 4 months and I am off the remainder of the 12 months. Do what I like to do after which get to have some day off and be with circle of relatives.”
If Pete Carroll, who’s 73, can trainer the Las Vegas Raiders, may just Phillips make an NFL go back?
“Smartly, they hadn’t referred to as me,” he laughed.
Phillips, whose defenses have confounded quarterbacks for years, is not certain how a lot he needs to proceed training.
“So long as I revel in it,” Phillips stated, “and so long as they’re going to stay me round.”
Wade Phillips returns after guiding San Antonio to the UFL championship recreation. Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Pictures
Discovering a quarterback
Both within the XFL or UFL, the St. Louis Battlehawks knew what they’d at quarterback in AJ McCarron the previous two seasons. The previous Alabama megastar compiled a 12-5 file and threw for three,732 yards with 39 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
This 12 months, St. Louis is taking a look at Manny Wilkins, Max Duggan or Chevan Cordeiro.
“3 guys that may throw the ball truly smartly, could make all of the throws, however they all be capable to pull it and run and do a little further issues,” St. Louis trainer Anthony Becht stated. “I simply assume that is vital on this league, and I am bored with getting overwhelmed on that via different groups. So now that is an issue they’ve to maintain from us with all of the different issues we’ve got on offense.”
Wilkins began two video games remaining 12 months. He used to be with the Packers in 2019 however moved into the tune business ahead of coming again to soccer two years in the past.
“To grasp the kind of perspective I’ve after we move into fight is almost certainly just a little more uncomplicated on their minds, understanding the extent of element, focal point, all the ones issues that I’ve,” Wilkins stated. “I believe perhaps that places some ease on their minds in terms of having a brand new quarterback that is not been your starter for 2 years. For me, having the ones two begins, first time beginning a recreation in six years, took a smash from ball for just a little bit, however to have that chance to get the anxieties out, the butterflies out, all of the issues which might be herbal, you simply want reps.”
Duggan led TCU to the nationwide championship recreation in opposition to Georgia in 2022. He used to be with the Los Angeles Chargers for the previous two summers.
“In case you instructed me again then what my occupation used to be going to be like, I truly did not know,” Duggan stated. “There is numerous ups and downs and issues. Simply staying true to the sport, running exhausting, seeing what occurs, I am excited to be right here. It is a nice league and a spot for guys to increase.”
Former TCU QB Max Duggan is in a competion to begin for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Courtesy of the UFL
Time to win
From 1999 to 2016, Bob Stoops by no means had a dropping file at Oklahoma. He misplaced 5 video games in a season simplest thrice. As Stoops starts his fourth season with the Arlington Renagades, he is able to win.
“If you will do one thing, you need to win at it,” Stoops stated. “Yeah, we wish to win greater than we’ve got. Without a doubt.”
Stoops has a 9-16 file in 3 seasons (two within the XFL, one within the UFL), however he does have a championship. They received the 2023 XFL championship, in spite of a 4-6 file.
His quarterback then used to be Luis Perez, who stays the starter and is coming off a season by which he led the UFL in passing yards, touchdowns, passer score and completions. It earned him a coaching camp invite to the Chargers, the place he used to be one of the vital ultimate cuts.
“It is understood,” Perez stated of the mandate to win. “Coming on this 12 months after we had our first assembly, it used to be, ‘All proper, guys, remaining 12 months’s up to now, flip the web page, it is time to transfer on.’ We made some errors, and we’ve got were given to mend them this 12 months and transfer ahead and get started 1-0 each week.”
UFL passing chief Luis Perez returns to steer the Arlington Renegades. Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire
Again at the sidelines
After spending greater than 30 years training, together with 16 as an NFL head trainer or offensive line trainer, Tom Cable used to be taking part in existence in Idaho.
“I stuck extra fish, shot extra elk than most of the people,” Cable stated.
However remaining summer season he visited his son, Zach, who’s an assistant trainer with the Chicago Bears, at coaching camp.
“I used to be at the box for like 5 mins and I used to be like, ‘I leave out educating,'” Cable stated. “So, yeah, you’ll be able to say I overlooked that a part of it needless to say.”
Cable is the run recreation coordinator/offensive line trainer for the Houston Roughnecks. Head trainer Curtis Johnson is more than happy to have a trainer that caliber on his personnel.
“He’ll make our guys higher,” Johnson stated.
Cable, 60, is excited to be again training.
“It is soccer. It is educating,” he stated. “In particular, you might be looking to take and lend a hand younger other folks move the place they wish to move. It is truly a purpose-driven adventure. That is at all times been my factor. Some guys are looking for their method within the recreation, in finding their as far back as the NFL or in finding their method into the NFL. All you need to do is lend a hand them do this and notice manufacturing at the box.”
