Birmingham Stallions (2022)

Birmingham Stallions
Birmingham Stallions
Current season
	Established 2021; Play in Protective Stadium; in Birmingham, Alabama; https://twitter.com/USFLStallions
League/conference affiliations
	United States Football League (2022–present) South Division (2022–present);
	Current uniform
Team colors	Red, gold, white;
Mascot	Stanley
Personnel
Owner(s)	National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC, (Fox Sports)
General manager	Zach Potter
Head coach	Skip Holtz
Team history
	Birmingham Stallions (2022–present);
Championships
	League championships (1); 2022
	Conference championships (1); 2022
	Division championships (1); 2022
Playoff appearances (1)
	2022
Home stadium(s)
	Legion Field (2022); Protective Stadium (2022–present);

The Birmingham Stallions are a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Stallions compete in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member club of the league's South division, and are the league's current champions, defeating the Philadelphia Stars 33–30 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on July 3, 2022.

History

The Birmingham Stallions were one of eight teams that were officially announced as a USFL franchise on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on November 22, 2021[1] 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 never reached an agreement and he ultimately took a deal to become the defensive coordinator for North Carolina two days later.[2][3] 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.[4]

The Stallions finished the 2022 regular season with a 9–1 record, winning the South division title, and clinched the South division's first seed. The Stallions hosted their first South Division Championship game facing the second-seed New Orleans Breakers. The Stallions then defeated the Breakers 31–17 and advanced to the 2022 USFL Championship Game.[5]

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.[6] This gave Philadelphia a 23–20 lead, their first of the game. Following a pair of field goals and with a 26–23 lead with under three minutes remaining, Scooby Wright had a 46-yard interception returned for a touchdown to effectively seal the game for the Stallions. 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 team director during the Stallions 2022 season.[7]

Championships

The Stallions have won one USFL Championships and one South Division Championships.

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
Total USFL championships won:								1

South Division Championship Games

Year	Coach	Stadium	Location	Opponent	Score	Record
2022	Skip Holtz	Protective Stadium	Birmingham, Alabama	New Orleans Breakers	31–17	9–1
Total South Division championship games won:						1

Players

Initially, each team carried a 38-man active roster and a 7-man practice squad, but the rosters were increased to 40 active players and 50 total in May, 2022.[8][9]

**Birmingham Stallions roster**
Quarterbacks 2 Alex McGough 18 Jalen Morton Running backs 11 C. J. Marable 4 ZaQuandre White Wide receivers 13 Davion Davis 16 Adrian Hardy 1 Josh Johnson 81 Myron Mitchell 14 Austin Watkins Tight ends 86 Thaddeus Moss 80 La'Michael Pettway 12 Jace Sternberger		Offensive linemen 69 Cohl Cabral C 77 Derwin Gray T 76 Darius Harper T 67 Jahmir Johnson T 63 Matt Kaskey G 65 Cole Schneider T 79 Tre'Vour Wallace-Simms G Defensive linemen 94 Darrion Daniels DE 95 Khalil Davis DT 96 Willie Henry DT 55 Jonathan Newsome DE 78 Jordan Thompson DE 99 Dondrea Tillman DE 97 Willie Yarbary DT		Linebackers 59 Quentin Poling 57 Elijah Sullivan OLB Defensive backs 29 Brian Allen CB 26 Nate Brooks CB 22 Lorenzo Burns CB 7 T. J. Carter CB 36 Nate Holley S 20 Donnie Lewis CB 5 Christian McFarland S -- Bryan Mills CB 9 Tyree Robinson S Special teams 10 Brandon Aubrey K 41 Ryan Langan LS 15 Colby Wadman P				Reserve lists -- Mark Fields CB (Did not report) -- Malik Gant S (Did not report) 44 Bobby Holly FB (IR) 25 Bo Scarbrough RB (IR) 6 J'Mar Smith QB (IR) 17 Marlon Williams WR (IR) 33 Scooby Wright ILB (IR) Inactive roster 85 Deon Cain WR 8 Michael Dereus WR 74 O'Shea Dugas T 90 Joe Jackson DE 47 Joe Ozougwu DE -- Ricky Person RB 3 Kyle Sloter QB 35 Rashad Smith ILB 27 JoJo Tillery S Rookies in italics Roster updated May 11, 2023 40 active, 7 reserve(s), 9 inactive → USFL rosters

Birmingham Stallions Best Hair Award

On June 13, 2022 the Stallions started a Best Hair Award tradition following by a teammate vote. The first ever winner was J'Mar Smith.[10]

Year	Player	Position	Record	Ref
2022	J'Mar Smith	Quarterback	9-1	[10]

Personnel

Staff

**2023 Birmingham Stallions staff**

	Front office General manager – Zach Potter Head coaches Head coach/Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks – Skip Holtz Offensive coaches Running backs – Larry Kirksey Wide receivers – Mike Jones Offensive line – Neil Callaway			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/Linebackers – John Chavis Defensive line – Marty Long Defensive backs – Bob Shoop Assistant defensive backs - Daric Riley

Statistics and records

Season-by-season record

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

Legend
USFL champions	Division champions	Wild Card berth

Birmingham Stallions season-by-season records
Season	Team	League	Division	Regular season					Postseason results	Awards
Season	Team	League	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties	Pct	Postseason results	Awards
2022	2022	USFL	South	1st	9	1	0	.900	Won Division Finals (Breakers) 31–17 Won USFL Championship Game (Stars) 33–30	J'Mar Smith (SD MVP) Victor Bolden Jr. (CG MVP)
2023	2023	USFL	South		3	1	0	.750	–	–
Totals					12	2	0	.857	(2022–2023, regular season)
					2	0	—	1.000	(2022–2023, playoffs)
					14	2	0	.875	(2022–2023, regular season and playoffs)

Records

All-time Stallions leaders
Leader	Player	Record	Years with Stallions
Passing	J'Mar Smith	1,573 passing yards	2022
Rushing	C. J. Marable	401 rushing yards	2022
Receiving	Marlon Williams	474 receiving yards	2022
Coaching wins	Skip Holtz	9 wins	2022
Sacks	DeMarquis Gates	6.5 sacks	2022
Interceptions	Lorenzo Burns	2 interceptions	2022

References

"USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
Chizik, Gene [@CoachGeneChizik] (January 6, 2022). "Addressing a rumor this morning. I am honored that the new @USFL is interested in me for a HC position. We have had several discussions. Although this is a consideration, nothing has been finalized… #Facts" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 – via Twitter.
"North Carolina Tar Heels football names Gene Chizik assistant head coach for defense". ESPN. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
"What you need to know for USFL in 2022:Two more head coaches revealed". Fox Sports. January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
"USFL Playoffs 2022 score, highlights: Birmingham Stallions defeat New Orleans Breakers 31-17". www.sports.nbcsports.com. NBC Universal. June 25, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
Jones, Alex (July 3, 2022). "Birmingham Stallions win 2022 USFL Championship over the Philadelphia Stars". WBRC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
"USFL hires new general managers for two teams". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
"USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". ProFootballTalk. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
"USFL expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five". ProFootballTalk. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
CHAMPIONSTALLIONS [@USFLStallions] (June 13, 2022). "Votes are in! @jMar_Smith was chosen as the Birmingham Stallions Best Hair by his teammates 🤣🔥 t.co/cF4wpFlaWK" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 – via Twitter.

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[1] "USFL unveils team cities, nicknames and logos for 2022 debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-18.

[2] Chizik, Gene [@CoachGeneChizik] (January 6, 2022). "Addressing a rumor this morning. I am honored that the new @USFL is interested in me for a HC position. We have had several discussions. Although this is a consideration, nothing has been finalized… #Facts" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 – via Twitter.

[3] "North Carolina Tar Heels football names Gene Chizik assistant head coach for defense". ESPN. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-08.

[4] "What you need to know for USFL in 2022:Two more head coaches revealed". Fox Sports. January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.

[5] "USFL Playoffs 2022 score, highlights: Birmingham Stallions defeat New Orleans Breakers 31-17". www.sports.nbcsports.com. NBC Universal. June 25, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

[wbrc-6] Jones, Alex (July 3, 2022). "Birmingham Stallions win 2022 USFL Championship over the Philadelphia Stars". WBRC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.

[7] "USFL hires new general managers for two teams". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2023-02-05.

[8] "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". ProFootballTalk. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-05.

[9] "USFL expands game-day rosters by two, total rosters by five". ProFootballTalk. 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2022-06-01.

[merged1-10] CHAMPIONSTALLIONS [@USFLStallions] (June 13, 2022). "Votes are in! @jMar_Smith was chosen as the Birmingham Stallions Best Hair by his teammates 🤣🔥 t.co/cF4wpFlaWK" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 – via Twitter.