The Birmingham Stallions were a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Stallions were a founding member of the second iteration of the United States Football League (USFL) in 2022, and competed in the United Football League (UFL) after the USFL merged with the XFL's second iteration. The Stallions were owned and operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation, and played their home games at Protective Stadium. They won three league championships, defeating the Philadelphia Stars 33–30 in 2022 and the Pittsburgh Maulers 28–12 in 2023 as part of the USFL, and finally the San Antonio Brahmas 25–0 in the inaugural UFL Championship Game in 2024. On July 30, 2026, the UFL announced that the league would leave Birmingham.
History The Birmingham Stallions were one of eight teams officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021. On January 6, 2022, it was revealed that former NCAA coach Gene Chizik would become the head coach of the Stallions. Chizik confirmed the report, but the parties have yet to agree. He ultimately took a deal to become the defensive coordinator for North Carolina two days later. On January 20, 2022, it was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former NCAA football head coach Skip Holtz was named the head coach and general manager of the Stallions.
The Stallions finished the 2022 regular season with a 9–1 record, winning the South division title and clinching the South division's first seed. The Stallions hosted their first South Division Championship game, facing the second-seed New Orleans Breakers. The Stallions defeated the Breakers 31–17 and advanced to the 2022 USFL Championship Game.
On July 3, 2022, in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, the Stallions played against the North division's second seed, the Philadelphia Stars. Following halftime, the Stallions led by eleven points, but a 4-yard Stars' touchdown narrowed the Stallions' lead to five points with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter. On the Stallions' next possession, they were forced to attempt a 38-yard field goal, which was missed. Then Philadelphia's Case Cookus found Devin Gray in the end zone for a touchdown two plays later. The Stars attempted and converted a two-point conversion. This gave Philadelphia a 23–20 lead, their first of the game. Following a pair of field goals and a 26–23 lead with under three minutes remaining, Scooby Wright had a 46-yard interception returned for a touchdown to seal the game for the Stallions effectively. Victor Bolden Jr. won the USFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player Award.
Following the 2022 season, the Stallions hired Zachary Potter. He previously held the title of team director during the Stallions 2022 season.
In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons. Officials in Birmingham were assured that the Stallions would be part of the merged league should the union go forward. On September 28, 2023, the XFL and USFL announced their intent to merge, with details surrounding the merger to be announced at a later date. The merger would also require regulatory approval. In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League". On November 30, 2023, Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had received regulatory approval for the merger and were finalizing plans for a "combined season" to begin March 30, 2024. The merger was made official on December 31, 2023.
The Stallions continued to play in the UFL in 2024 and 2025, winning the inaugural UFL championship and eventually losing in the USFL conference championship in 2025. Relations between the UFL and Birmingham began to deteriorate in 2025, amid declining attendance, the moving of the league's hub from Birmingham to the XFL's former home in Arlington, Texas (and the resulting absence of the team from the city except on game days), and the eventual cancellation of plans to host the 2025 championship in Birmingham in favor of a second consecutive year in St. Louis. Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin released a statement stating that he had been assured that the league had not yet decided to relocate out of Birmingham, contrary to reports that emerged in late July. Holtz stated that Birmingham "is our home (...) we're putting together a 2026 team for the Birmingham Stallions (...) until somebody tells us different." Stallions fans launched a campaign to save the team after the reports emerged. On August 16, incoming league co-owner Mike Repole responded favorably to the efforts and indicated that the Stallions were safe in Birmingham for at least the 2026 season but that the team would have to sell at least 15,000 tickets per game for the year to survive beyond that, aiming to sell 5,000 season ticket deposits. He also mentioned the possibility of moving in-market to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to provide a more intimate experience and fuller stadium. On August 22, Repole acknowledged the 5,000 number was rhetorical and declared the campaign a success after 2,200 deposits (and a corporate suite sale) were collected, setting a goal of 20,000 tickets for the opening game at Protective Stadium, including his own. Repole defended his hostile attitude toward the Birmingham community in March 2026 as a means of engagement, stating "what have I got to lose?" The sales drive ended up selling over 15,000 tickets to the home opener, with seating capacity limited to under Repole's original 20,000-seat target.
With the discontinuation of the Michigan Panthers and Memphis Showboats in October 2025, the Stallions would have been the last remaining member of the 2022 USFL still using its USFL legacy brand; four days afterward, the Stallions would be joined by the Houston Gamblers reverting to their USFL branding. Head coach Skip Holtz, quarterback J'Mar Smith, tight end Jace Sternberger and running back C. J. Marable all announced their resignations within a two-week span in late December 2025, with wide receiver Amari Rodgers following suit in January. Under first-year head coach and former St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron, the Stallions missed the playoffs for the first time in the team's history in 2026, winning only four out of ten games.
Repole again expressed his dissatisfaction with the Stallions' stadium situation following the 2026 season, all but guaranteeing that the team would not play in Protective Stadium in 2027 because doing so would go against everything he wanted for the league. Officials with the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority that operates the stadium, along with the city of Birmingham, noted that Repole had not contacted anyone in Birmingham before making his statements. The mayor of the suburb of Hoover, which owns and operates Hoover Metropolitan Stadium—the venue most closely fitting Repole's specifications for stadium capacity—preemptively rejected a proposal put forth by fans to play at that stadium, stating that it was booked through 2028 and would be in its baseball configuration during the UFL's spring season. This leaves the 6,700 (expandable to 10,000) seat Bobby Bowden Field at Pete Hanna Stadium, the on-campus home of the Samford Bulldogs football team in Homewood, as the only other option in the immediate Birmingham metropolitan area; neither the Hoover Metropolitan nor Pete Hanna Stadiam are the soccer-specific stadiums that Repole has historically preferred. Birmingham was conspicuously excluded from the seven job listings the UFL posted for team business directors in July 2026. The mayor of Montgomery, where the more appropriately-sized Cramton Bowl and ASU Stadium exist, offered to host the Stallions there to save the team's presence in Alabama.
On July 30, 2026, the UFL announced that the league would leave the cities of Birmingham and Houston. Repole once again singled out the large capacity of Protective Stadium as being a prime reason behind the league's departure. McCarron and the Birmingham roster were reallocated to Rhode Island.
Traditions The Birmingham Stallions has an official supporters group, The Horsemen, as well as the newly inaugurated Pyramid of Flesh. Both groups are often recognized by the coaches and players.
The Horsemen The Horsemen became the official fan base of the Birmingham Stallions at the beginning of the 2023 season. Stationed in Section 104 of Protective Stadium, The Horsemen are directly behind the home team's benches, allowing easy access and interaction with the players, coaches, and cheerleaders. The supporters group has been the creators of the many chants made during the games—"Giddy Up" and "Buck 'Em"—as well as crowning its team the "Kings of Spring," after the Stallions continues to win League Championships, and hands out crowns to all of the fans.
Many of the Horsemen travel to all of the away games, including the League Championship games; whereas, others remain in Birmingham to host watch parties that has attracted many fans as well as coverage from local media.
The Horsemen work with the team to create unique fan experiences, such as watch parties, signings, meet-and-greets, as well as working with the team to shop for and donate toys to the Children's of Alabama Hospital Sugar Plum Shop each year.
The local media often utilize the Horsemen as the spokespeople for the fan base, ensuring all fans are informed of local events and updates on the season. Coach Skip Holtz often refers to the Horsemen and how the fan base creates an electric environment at both home and away games and how much he appreciates the fans.
After the 2023 USFL Championship, the Horsemen led the team and cheerleaders in the celebration parade.
Pyramid of Flesh (a.k.a. Shirtless Stallions) On April 20, 2024, the Stallions hosted a game against the D.C. Defenders at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. With 1:55 remaining in the first half, the game was halted for a lightning delay. By the time play resumed nearly 90 minutes later, most fans had left the stadium. However of the few devoted fans who remained, a group of men had gathered near the North endzone, taking off their wet shirts and cheering enthusiastically. Having received such significant air time in the game broadcast, a tradition was born. Later dubbed the "Pyramid of Flesh", during each home game at the front row of Section 138 a small group of shirtless fans begins to gather. By the end of most games the Pyramid of Flesh has typically grown to include several dozen fans as well as the Stallions' mascot, Stanley.
Championships The Stallions have won two USFL Championships and one UFL Championship as well as two (USFL) South Division Championships and one (UFL) USFL Conference Championship, winning three championships in a row from 2022 to 2024.
USFL Championships Year Coach USFL Championship Game Stadium Location Opponent Score MVP Record 2022 Skip Holtz 2022 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Philadelphia Stars 33–30 Victor Bolden Jr. 9–1 2023 Skip Holtz 2023 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Pittsburgh Maulers 28–12 Deon Cain 8–2 Total USFL championships won: 2
UFL Championship Year Coach UFL Championship Game Stadium Location Opponent Score MVP Record 2024 Skip Holtz 2024 The Dome at America's Center St. Louis, Missouri San Antonio Brahmas 25–0 Adrian Martinez 9–1 Total UFL championships won: 1
South Division Championship games Year Coach Stadium Location Opponent Score Record 2022 Skip Holtz Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio New Orleans Breakers 31–17 9–1 2023 Skip Holtz Protective Stadium Birmingham, Alabama New Orleans Breakers 47–22 8–2 Total South Division championship games won: 2
USFL Conference Championship game