Spring football has always been a hard market to enter. With fans already watching hockey, basketball, and baseball, adding more football to the mix will always be difficult. The Detroit Lions, however, are one of the teams that have reaped the benefits of the United Football League.
Viewership has not been high in the UFL so far, with averages under one million viewers (NFL games average 17.5 million viewers) — but viewership is not its only purpose. When the league merged the XFL and USFL in 2024, the players were given another chance at the sport they love. This was the goal, as stated by the owner, former NFL player, Dwayne The Rock Johnson:
“From day one, our mission has been to expand the game of football and be a league of opportunity, culture and innovation. As we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting, and very cool for football fans — a spring league with lasting impact for all the players with a dream to play pro football and the ‘hardest workers in the room’ mentality to make their dreams come true.”
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2024
Since its inception in 2024, the talent in the UFL has not gone unnoticed. Dan Campbell was quick to snatch Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates at the end of the 2024 season. Brandon Aubrey of the Cowboys was also given a chance because of his USFL performance. Players continue to get NFL offers because they were given an opportunity to play football on a much smaller stage.
In 2024, the Lions signed 3 players from the UFL. Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Jacob Burton, and Jake Bates. While only Bates made the 53-man roster, Iyiegbuniwe and Burton were both given new NFL life because of their stints in the UFL. Burton had only ever been on the Giants’ practice squad back in 2021.
Bates, on the other hand, became a star. His decision to try out for the UFL sparked a new life in the NFL just months later. Shortly after being signed, he replaced the injured Michael Badgley. By November, Bates had his first NFL game-winning kick.
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Bates made himself popular with a 64-yard game-winner in the UFL. He then spent the whole season transforming himself from a brick salesman to a professional placekicker. It paid off for both Bates and the Lions during the 2024 season.
Players like Jake Bates and Brandon Aubrey are examples of how high the UFL can take you.
2o25
Although rosters are not finalized, the Lions have once again taken up several former UFL players, some rather recently. They come for a mixture of reasons, but all are being given a shot at the NFL.
- Steven Stilianos – San Antonio Brahmas
- Luq Barcoo – San Antonio Brahmas (XFL)
- D.J. Miller – Michigan Panthers
- Jacob Saylors – St. Louis Battlehawks
- Nick Whiteside – St. Louis Battlehawks
While not all of these players were signed directly from the UFL, these players were given another chance, all by one organization.
Verdict
Although the UFL is not as popular, it serves a purpose similar to the MiLB. Players who haven’t made an NFL roster, never got drafted, or never played football, have the opportunity to grow in the game, earn some money, and prove themselves for a shot at the NFL. While most still aren’t able to crack the 53-man roster, they were given a chance that would have otherwise been impossible.
Only time will tell how successful the UFL players are this upcoming season. Spring football may not be eye-popping in terms of ratings, but it’s been life changing for the players on the field.
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