Figure 1 UFL athletes continue to make an impression in the NFL - Source: Unsplash
With the 2026 UFL season now in the books and the Louisville Kings becoming the third winner of the United Bowl in the three years of the league, there are now plenty of athletes trying out with NFL teams ahead of the league’s own 2026 season. There is so much talent in the UFL that this annual practice has become a vital way for NFL teams to bolster their rosters ahead of a new campaign.
It is noticeable that many of the most successful moves from UFL to NFL have involved athletes on special teams. Maybe it is something about the special skills needed for these roles, but whatever the reason, there will be NFL teams boosting their chances of success this year because of the UFL athletes they recruit. The sportsbooks profiled at VegasBetting.net will certainly be keeping a close eye on all arrivals.
UFL fans know that the league is so much more than just a chance to watch football in the Spring. The league is full of talent, both veteran and rookie, and part of the joy of watching the UFL is identifying early on athletes who have what it takes to play at the pinnacle of the game. Here are some recent NFL stars who honed their craft in the UFL.
Brandon Aubrey
There have been football athletes who previously played soccer, but not many as successful in both sports as Brandon Aubrey. After being drafted by Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, and then playing for the legendary team Bethlehem Steel, Aubrey decided to switch to football after watching a game on TV.
Drafted by the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL in 2022, he immediately made an impact and helped his team win a championship. He was actually the league’s scoring leader that year and then won back-to-back titles with the Stallions in 2023. Those performances attracted the attention of the NFL, and he signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was named as a First Team All-Pro in his debut season and has now made six career field goals of 60 yards or longer, a record for the NFL.
Jake Bates
Another star kicker, known for his powerful technique and knack of deciding tight games, Jake Bates also played soccer at college level, before concentrating on football. Bates excelled for Texas State and then Arkansas before going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. This setback initially saw him turn his back on the game before signing with the Michigan Panthers on Christmas Day, 2023.
In Week 1 of the 2024 UFL season, Bates kicked his first-ever in-game field goal, which at 64 yards was a new record for the league and its predecessors. He would go on to be an important player for the Panthers all year, ultimately making the 2024 All-UFL Team, before having his contract terminated in order to join an NFL team. He has now played two seasons with the Detroit Lions and recently re-signed for the 2026 season.
Dondrea Tillman
Not all UFL to NFL converts are kickers. Tillman played Division II football at IUP before going undrafted in 2022. The Birmingham Stallions took him in the third supplemental round of the USFL Draft, where his relentless pass-rushing talent saw him win three championships, two in the USFL and one in the UFL.
After being such a success in the UFL, stepping up to the NFL was still going to be a tough task, but Tillman is now an important part of the Broncos defense, after making his debut in week three of the 2024 season. Denver has continued to extend his contract, and he is now in training ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Jalen Redmond
Redmond is another NFL athlete who came to the game late, after being asked to try out for the football team in his junior year of high school. He developed into a five-star recruit and ended up as an Oklahoma Sooner, where his college career was interrupted by health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although he was initially undrafted in 2023, the Carolina Panthers signed Redmond before waiving him at the beginning of the season. He soon became a star of the Arlington Renegades defensive line and impressed so much in his first year that the Vikings signed him up for the 2024 NFL season. He has now played two years in Minnesota and will be hoping that he can make a good impact again in 2026.
Figure 2 Many of the best UFL players to do well in the NFL have been kickers - Source: Unsplash
Andre Szmyt
Returning to kicking duties again for our final example of how important the UFL is for NFL recruiting teams, Andre Szmyt was an important player at Syracuse and was named to the First-Team All-ACC in 2018. He played four years as an Orangeman before going undrafted in 2022. He was then signed and waived by the Chicago Bears.
Undeterred, Szmyt signed up with the St Louis Battlehawks of the UFL and played so well that he was added to the Cleveland Browns practice squad at the beginning of 2025. After showing his talent in the offseason, Szmyt was then named the starting kicker for the upcoming season. Some early misses might have set his development back, but he knuckled down and has now become known for his clutch, late-game kicks.
It may makes sense that the more defined roles on special teams are perfect for UFL athletes to graduate to the NFL. These are exceptionally talented individuals who manage to find their place in the professional game and now play at the highest level. The UFL continues to produce athletes who may have been overlooked or just needed to develop further before making the leap. No doubt there will be more names to add to this list by the time the 2026 NFL season is over.