The 2022 USFL season was the inaugural season of the United States Football League, and the first season of a league using that name since 1985. The season began on April 16 and concluded on July 3. The league's eight teams represent various geographical locales and associated team names that were part of the 1984 season of the original USFL. For 2022, all regular-season games were played in Birmingham, Alabama, at Protective Stadium (Weeks 1–7, 9) and at Legion Field (Weeks 8 & 10).
The USFL played its postseason games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Birmingham Stallions won the USFL Championship game against the Philadelphia Stars on July 3.
Background On June 3, 2021, The Spring League founder Brian Woods announced that he had acquired the remaining extant trademarks of the United States Football League with the intent of launching a USFL-branded league in 2022, with Fox Sports remaining as a partner in the new USFL. What was to become of The Spring League remained, at the time, an unresolved question, but according to the initial announcement TSL was to continue, probably as a scouting showcase or developmental operation. It was later reported that TSL in no longer associated with the new USFL, and Woods would later state that TSL was "no longer operational."
On October 12, 2021, Tad Snider, the executive director of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, announced that the league was in serious discussions with the board of directors of the BJCC about the possibility of the USFL playing all of its games in Birmingham, Alabama. According to initial information, USFL players/staff would be housed in Birmingham during the season for an estimated economic impact of about $15 million (47,000 hotel nights), while the league would play the bubble season at Protective Stadium and Legion Field. It was speculated that the "bubble" setup would possibly continue in the league's second year, with as many as four teams playing in Birmingham and as many as four in their respective cities. The teams would then be expected to play in their own cities by Season 3.
The proposal included an eight-team 10-week season with two additional playoff rounds, from April 16 through July 3, 2022, with the broadcast proposal as follows: 25% each on Fox, NBC, FS1 and USA. Later on December 15, 2021, Fox and NBC had finalized their agreement. NBC announced that it would air nine games on NBC itself, eight on USA, and four on its streaming service Peacock.
Location
The city of Birmingham and the USFL announced that the city would host all eight teams. The regular-season games would be played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.
The choice of Birmingham as the league's sole city led to substantial crowds for the Birmingham Stallions and to very small crowds for games involving only teams named after other cities and states. The opening-week matchup between the Tampa Bay Bandits and Pittsburgh Maulers, rescheduled to Monday night, was played in an almost entirely empty stadium. USA Today reported that during the Week 2 matchup between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, crowd shots included more Fox broadcast staff members than fans.
On February 16, 2022, the league announced that the 2022 playoffs would be held in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium instead of Birmingham due to schedule conflicts with the 2022 World Games. Playoffs were held on June 25 and July 3.
Teams The eight teams competing in the USFL's 2022 season all feature the names and colors of USFL teams that existed in 1984. During the 2022 season, all regular-season games were held at Protective Stadium (Week 1–7, 9) and Legion Field (Week 8 & 10) in Birmingham, Alabama.
TeamHead coachNorth DivisionMichigan PanthersJeff FisherNew Jersey GeneralsMike RileyPhiladelphia StarsBart AndrusPittsburgh MaulersKirby WilsonSouth DivisionBirmingham StallionsSkip HoltzHouston GamblersKevin SumlinNew Orleans BreakersLarry FedoraTampa Bay BanditsTodd Haley
Players For the 2022 season, all eight carried a 38-man active roster and a seven-man practice squad (45 total). After week 5 the league announced they'll expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five (40/10). Contrary to other leagues, since injured players did not get paid, they were released after they got injured instead of reverting to "injured reserve list".
In May, 2022 the organization contacted players from the newly formed USFL in attempt unionize, with a petition to represent the approximately 360 USFL players was later filed at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The UFPA would later join forces with the United Steelworkers as the players union representation on behalf the USFL players.
Compensation USFL players and staff will be able to receive a college degree "tuition-free and debt-free", through a partnership with for-profit universities Strategic Education's Capella University and Strayer University. They will be able to take classes online or in-person.
USFL players receive weekly salaries of $4,500 for active roster players, $1,500 for practice squad players, and $600 during training camp, while injured players did not get paid. Players also receive bonuses of $850 per regular-season or postseason win and $10,000 for winning the championship. Players had to cover their own housing costs, but the league offered hotel rooms at a discounted price of $75 per room per day, with an option for two players to share a room.
Draft
The 2022 USFL draft occurred on February 22 and 23, 2022, and had a format similar to the 2020 XFL draft, where players were selected in phases based on positions. Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson was the first overall pick by the Michigan Panthers.
Player movement
The USFL has instituted a standard professional football system where players who are cut by a team will be put on waivers for 24 hours. During this period, a player can be claimed by any other team. After the third regular-season game, the League based its waiver priority on inverse league standings. Players clearing waivers with no claim were released, no longer be under USFL contract, and became free agents.
On April 1, New Jersey Generals first round draft pick Ben Holmes 2022 due to a toe injury and replaced by Luis Perez. On May 26, quarterback Shea Patterson was released by Michigan and claimed by New Orleans. On May 28, quarterback KJ Costello Stanford signed a contract with Philadelphia Stars. On June 2, Houston Gamblers starting quarterback Clayton Thorson was placed on the inactive list after suffering an elbow injury.
Standings
Season schedule The league announced in November 2021 that teams would each play a ten-game schedule, with each team facing divisional opponents twice and non-divisional opponents once. The champion and runner-up of each division will qualify for the playoffs, which will consist of two semifinal games played on June 25 and a championship game played on July 3. Most games were played on Saturdays and Sundays, with some "special broadcasts" on Fridays. On January 6, 2022, the league announced on its website that the season would begin on April 16.
The full 2022 season schedule was released March 7, 2022, with the highlights including a then-planned tripleheader of Week 1 games on Easter Sunday.
Regular season All games at Protective Stadium during Weeks 1–7 and 9, and at Legion Field during weeks 8 and 10. All times listed are ET. All games on NBC are simulcast on Peacock.
Changes to game schedules or broadcasting are listed in notes after each week's matchups.
All matchups will be officially announced by the league no later than 2 weeks ahead of game time and may be flexed from cable to broadcast if needed.
The playoff bracket was set after the Week 9 contests, rendering Week 10's games to be effectively exhibition games. In an effort to avoid tanking, the USFL declared that the two lowest-ranked teams—both coincidentally set to play each other that day—would be playing for the rights to the first overall pick in the 2023 USFL draft, with the winner receiving that selection.
Week 1 Week 1Date and time Away teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingApril 16, 7:30 p.m.New Jersey Generals24–28Birmingham StallionsFox and NBC3.071.8April 17, 12:50 p.m.Houston Gamblers17–12Michigan PanthersNBCGame originally scheduled for 12 pm ET start but delayed due to weather.2.151.1April 17, 5:00 p.m.Philadelphia Stars17–23New Orleans BreakersUSAGame originally scheduled for 4 pm ET start but delayed due to earlier game being delayed.0.770.4April 18, 7:00 p.m.Tampa Bay Bandits17–3Pittsburgh MaulersFS1Game originally scheduled for 8 pm ET start on April 17 but rescheduled to April 18 due to earlier game delays and weather risk.0.270.2
Week 2 Week 2Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingApril 22, 8:00 p.m.Michigan Panthers6–10New Jersey GeneralsUSA0.360.2April 23, 12:00 p.m.Pittsburgh Maulers23–30Philadelphia StarsFox1.060.7April 23, 7:00 p.m. Birmingham Stallions33–28Houston GamblersFS1Game started on FS2 due to MLB coverage on FS1.0.420.2April 24, 3:00 p.m.New Orleans Breakers34–3Tampa Bay BanditsNBC0.810.5
Week 3 Week 3Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingApril 30, 4:00 p.m.Tampa Bay Bandits27–26Houston GamblersFox0.830.5April 30, 8:00 p.m.Birmingham Stallions22–13New Orleans BreakersFoxThe Stallions–Breakers game was moved to Saturday night (with coverage by Fox) with a corresponding move of the Maulers–Panthers to Sunday afternoon (with coverage by USA), part of an effort by the league to air "some of its better games on network television."1.110.7May 1, 2:30 p.m.Pittsburgh Maulers0–24Michigan PanthersUSA0.290.2May 1, 8:00 p.m.New Jersey Generals24–16Philadelphia StarsPeacockN/A
Week 4 Week 4Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingMay 6, 10:20 p.m.Philadelphia Stars26–25Michigan PanthersFS1 0.210.1May 7, 2:30 p.m.New Jersey Generals21–13Pittsburgh MaulersPeacockN/AMay 7, 7:00 p.m.Tampa Bay Bandits10–16Birmingham StallionsFox1.050.6May 8, 3:00 p.m.Houston Gamblers16–23New Orleans BreakersNBC1.160.7
Week 5 Week 5Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingMay 13, 8:00 p.m.Michigan Panthers20–27Tampa Bay BanditsUSA0.250.2May 14, 3:00 p.m.New Orleans Breakers17–27New Jersey GeneralsFox0.720.5May 15, 12:00 p.m.Birmingham Stallions30–17Philadelphia StarsNBC0.910.6May 15, 4:00 p.m.Pittsburgh Maulers21–20Houston GamblersFox0.690.4
Week 6 Week 6Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingMay 21, 1:00 p.m.Tampa Bay Bandits28–35Philadelphia StarsNBCGame concluded on CNBC due to live airing of Saturday Night Live on NBC.0.790.5May 21, 7:30 p.m.Michigan Panthers17–33Birmingham Stallions1.200.7May 22, 12:00 p.m.Pittsburgh Maulers16–26New Orleans BreakersFS10.280.2May 22, 4:00 p.m.Houston Gamblers25–26New Jersey GeneralsFox 0.670.4
Week 7 Week 7Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingMay 28, 12:00 p.m.New Jersey Generals20–13Tampa Bay BanditsUSA 0.230.2May 28, 9:00 p.m.New Orleans Breakers31–27 Michigan PanthersFS10.270.2May 29, 2:00 p.m.Birmingham Stallions26–16Pittsburgh MaulersFox0.830.5May 29, 6:00 p.m.Philadelphia Stars35–24Houston GamblersPeacockN/A
Week 8 Week 8Date and timeAway teamScoreHome teamBroadcastRefsNetworkViewershipRatingJune 3, 8:00 p.m.Pittsburgh Maulers18–29New Jersey GeneralsUSA0.210.1June 4, 3:00 p.m.New Orleans Breakers9–10Birmingham StallionsFox0.630.4June 5, 12:00 p.m.Michigan Panthers24–46Philadelphia Stars0.770.5June 5, 4:00 p.m.Houston Gamblers3–13Tampa Bay BanditsPeacockN/A
Week 9