Former Alabama football star AJ McCarron ends statewide political bid to take UFL head coaching role

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AJ McCarron added his name to Alabama football lore when he helped deliver three Bowl Championship Series titles during his standout stint in Tuscaloosa.

After being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron bounced around the NFL in backup roles before signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks, a franchise now part of the United Football League (UFL).

McCarron briefly returned to the Bengals in 2023 before rejoining the Battlehawks in 2024. Now, McCarron is trading his helmet for a coaching headset. On Thursday, the Birmingham Stallions named McCarron the team's head coach for the 2026 season.

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AJ McCarron of the St. Louis Battlehawks arrives to the stadium before a game against the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium May 11, 2024, in Birmingham, Ala. (Brandon Sumrall/UFL/Getty Images)

McCarron will replace Skip Holtz, who stepped down earlier this week after four years at the helm. Holtz had been the coach since the Stallions first started playing in 2022. 

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"I am not retiring. This is simply the right moment to pause, reflect and look ahead," Holtz clarified Tuesday when he announced he wouldn't return as Birmingham's coach next season. "I'm excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I look forward to seeing where this path leads."

A.J. McCarron of the St Louis Battlehawks looks on against the DC Defenders during