TUSCALOOSA, AL — Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron is headed to Rhode Island as part of a major realignment by the United Football League ahead of the 2027 season.
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The UFL announced Wednesday that McCarron will serve as head coach of its new Rhode Island franchise, with the Birmingham Stallions' 2026 roster also moving to Rhode Island for the team's inaugural season.
The Mobile native and three-time national champion at Alabama, spent the 2026 season as head coach of the Stallions.
The move means Birmingham's roster will effectively follow McCarron to the new market as the league reshuffles teams and personnel for 2027.
"New England fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of sports, and that passion is something I'm really excited to experience firsthand," McCarron said. "Rhode Island has a proud sports culture and a fan base that appreciates teams that give everything they have every time they step on the field."
McCarron said in the announce that he is looking forward to introducing the team to its new community.
"I'm excited to bring this group to Rhode Island, rally this community around its new team and give these fans a team they can be proud to call their own," he said.
The UFL also announced that Rick Neuheisel will coach its new Colorado franchise, while Kevin Sumlin will take over the Dallas Renegades.
As part of the realignment, the 2026 Dallas Renegades roster will move with Neuheisel to Colorado, while the 2026 Houston Gamblers roster will move with Sumlin to Dallas.
UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon said keeping existing rosters together is intended to provide continuity as the league establishes franchises in new markets.
"The UFL's growth is about more than adding teams — it's about building football communities that fans can connect with from day one," Brandon said.
McCarron is entering his second season as a UFL head coach after taking over Birmingham in 2026.
At Alabama, McCarron was part of three national championship teams in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
He earned first-team All-America honors in 2013 and won the Maxwell Trophy, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Kellen Moore Award.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected McCarron in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He went on to spend eight seasons in the NFL with Cincinnati, Buffalo, Oakland, Houston and Atlanta.
Colorado's franchise will unveil its identity Oct. 25 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
The UFL said the moves come after a 2026 season that saw multiple games draw more than 1 million viewers and the United Bowl sell out.
The league also said 118 former UFL players participated in NFL training camps this year, with 46 earning spots on active rosters or practice squads.
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