Former Alabama, NFL quarterback AJ McCarron named Birmingham Stallions head coach

It’s been a busy week for former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron. On Wednesday, he dropped out of the race for Lieutenant Governor in the state of Alabama. Then, on Thursday, McCarron was named head coach of the Birmingham Stallions.

For the past four seasons, Birmingham was coached by Skip Holtz. That was a run that included three straight championships, two of which came in the USFL and one of which came in the UFL. His run culminated with a loss in their conference championship game this past season. He exited with a 33-7 record, plus a 6-1 playoff record. It’s a franchise in a relatively strong position for AJ McCarron to now inherit.

“I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” McCarron said. “This game has given me so much as a player, and now I am ready to give back as a coach. It’s even more special that I get to do that while representing my home state — a state that has supported me throughout my career. Our team will build upon the amazing legacy of Skip Holtz. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Holtz, what he has done for the league and for the Stallions. I am ready to put in the work that will continue producing championship wins for the city of Birmingham.”

When he dropped out of the race for Lieutenant Governor, McCarron released a statement. In it, he tried to explain his decision. In it, he noted that he had a football opportunity. However, he did not call out the Birmingham Stallions by name.

“With a double-digit lead in the polls and solid fundraising commitments lined up, I was eager to bring a fresh voice and new leadership to the Alabama State House, but football is calling my name once again. My football position will require the same 100% focus, commitment, and attention that I was prepared to give to the office of lieutenant governor, so it is time to end my campaign,” McCarron wrote in a statement.

“They are building a new Alabama State House because the old one busted at the seams with all of the Montgomery insiders and career politicians packed inside, and while my job offer won’t allow me to run, it is time for political newcomers and conservative outsider candidates like Coach Tuberville to step forward and lead. I have a deep desire to help create an even better Alabama for Tripp, Cash, and Cruz, our three sons that Katherine and I love so much, so I may return to the political playing field once my career on the football field has truly run its course. In the meantime, I will always be grateful to the countless Alabamians across the state who offered their encouragement, support, and prayers to the AJ for LG campaign.”

McCarron has been running as a conservative. He would cite the assassination of Charlie Kirk as one of the key reasons he was going into politics. On top of that, McCarron would also cite Donald Trump as an inspiration.

While the quarterback at Alabama, AJ McCarron was a part of three BCS National Championship teams. One of those came while he was redshirting. He’d go on to become a fifth round NFL Draft pick in 2014. Later, he played two seasons in the XFL and UFL, as recently as 2024, for the St. Louis Battlehawks. He even led the XFL in passing touchdowns in 2023.