This is the first part of what will be an eight-part look at each UFL team’s 2026 season.
What went right
One of three new markets for 2026, Columbus held its own when it came to attendance, even in a down year for the team record-wise. Support in this city is one less problem UFL ownership has to worry about this off-season. On the field, the Aviators boasted one of the top rushing attacks in the league, finishing second overall in rush yards. Their three-headed monster at the position, featuring John Lovett, ZaQuandre White and Toa Taua, was incredibly effective and helped seal their first win in franchise history over Dallas. Receiver Tay Martin emerged as the go-to player in the passing game. Defensively, it should be no surprise that coordinator Captain Munnerlyn's squad was the best pass defense in the UFL given his strong play at the cornerback position during his NFL career. Brad Robbins, Jonah Dalmas and Payton Bunch formed a strong special teams battery.
What went wrong
Columbus just didn't get the results they wanted on the field, finishing last in the league with three wins and tying for the most points per game allowed. Starting QB Jalan McClendon could never find his rhythm throwing downfield, limiting the effectiveness of the pass game. The team turned to Jalen Morton for the final two games, and he did stretch the field more effectively but was much more inconsistent. While the offensive line's run blocking was strong, the pass blocking was average at best and the team gave up nearly two-and-a-half sacks per game. Similarly on defense, though the corners and safeties had it on lock through the air, the team's run defense was not as tight: Columbus surrendered the second-most rushing yards. Kicker Ryan Coe left a lot of valuable points on the board in missed field goals and extra points until he was axed mid-season. Head Coach Ted Ginn was hired in large part due to his ties to the community, but this was his first coaching job and it showed. The low point was his DUI arrest prior to Week Three.
Stat to note
When Columbus handed the keys to Morton for the final two games, part of it was just to get him some reps and game tape, but part of it was also McClendon's unwillingness or inability to push the ball down field. According to Pro Football Focus, McClendon attempted just 15 passes of 20 yards or longer - under two attempts per game. He only completed one of those passes, versus two interceptions. Looking back at last year's numbers with Houston, he completed eight of 26 passes of 20 yards or more and it was actually his highest-graded depth per PFF. So he CAN do it; Columbus needs to figure out why he didn't produce in that department this year. The pass blocking shares some of the blame, though if McClendon wants to win the starting job next year, this is where his improvement needs to begin.
Offensive MVP
When the Aviators found success, it was on the ground. And leading the charge for the offensive line was OT Ryan Nelson. A holdover from the Michigan Panthers, which was the team Columbus morphed from, Nelson played all but one snap this year and was the team's highest-graded lineman and most importantly, earned the highest run-blocking grade of the linemen based on PFF's data. Good linemen are hard to find in spring leagues and unless he's signed by an NFL team this off-season, he gives Columbus a nice cornerstone at the position heading into 2027.
Defensive MVP
Another former Panther, CB D.J. Miller Jr., gets the nod here. An All-UFL selection, Miller picked off three passes, returning one for a touchdown. He also tied for second in the UFL in pass breakups with nine. There is a lot of talent in the Aviators' defensive backfield, as evidenced by their numbers, and Miller may be the most talented of them all. He played a big role in making Munnerlyn's defense a no-fly zone.
Special Teams MVP
The UFL's newly minted punting rules for this season all but legislated any kind of punting strategy out of the game. Because teams couldn't punt inside their 50-yard-line (unless inside 2:00 of the half), a big leg was emphasized more so than touch. Coffin corner kicks were out, penalizing teams for punting out of bounds inside the 20. It was therefore impressive how those at the position like P Brad Robbins were able to adjust. Robbins, an NFL veteran, finished second in the league in gross punting average at 49.6. With players not allowed to leave the line of scrimmage until the kick is away, returns are generally more frequent than those in the NFL. Robbins still managed to average an impressive 42.2 net average, landing almost half of his balls inside the 20-yard-line.
Most likely to succeed (in getting NFL opportunities)
Despite a trio of talented running backs, I wouldn't be surprised if one - or none - got NFL workouts. John Lovett and ZaQuandre White feel like they've already been spit out by the NFL machine. Perhaps Toa Taua, signed by the Cleveland Browns last year, gets a second look. Antwane Wells and Tay Martin at receiver are contenders to be back in The League. Along the line, Nelson and Chris Glaser might be the most likely to get a workout. Jacoby Windmon was signed late in the year and he spent 2025 bouncing around the NFL; that could be his destiny again. D.J. Miller, Ron Stone Jr., and O'Donnell Fortune are other defenders to keep an eye on. Jonah Dalmas made waves in Week 10 by kicking a few long field goals. He was another late add and though he's never really had NFL interest, that could change. Robbins could be an emergency call at punter as well.
QB concern level for 2027 (1-5)
One of the main reasons Columbus finished in last place this season was the inconsistency at the quarterback position. They really don't have a set starter right now, as they may opt to let Jalan McClendon and Jalen Morton battle it out in training camp again. Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, provided he returns, seemed to favor McClendon despite his flaws. Morton didn't show enough in his two auditions to be deemed the starter straight away. And third string Aidan Sayin didn't play. Sayin, a Penn grad, has a relationship to the area as his younger brother is QB1 at Ohio State. The Aviators might be comfortable going into 2027 running it back with this QB room, but they should really keep one eye on the market to see if an upgrade can be found. I'm less bullish on these three than others, so I'll call this a 4.
Head coach return scale (1-5)
Previously, this was my "head coach hot seat rating," but since most of these head coaches are new and in their first year, none are probably under fire from ownership quite yet. That doesn't mean there may not be changes; however, those changes are more likely to be self-induced from those coaches. The UFL didn't immediately suspend or fire Ginn Jr. after his DUI arrest, so unless other ugly details arise about that incident, he's likely safe from that perspective. When you have someone so new to coaching as Ginn was thrown into the head job and finding little success, there is a question as to whether they may decide it's not for them. Ginn's father is a famous coach in the area so he certainly knew what he was getting into. With "5" as the most likely to return, I'll give Ginn a 3. His off-season will likely be watched more closely than his counterparts.
Offseason needs for 2027
This will be the first real offseason under the reshaped UFL Player Personnel department, so who knows what wonky rules will be put into place when it's time to add or draft players in the coming months. Regardless, the Aviators could use a veteran QB to lead this team. Depth beyond the top three receivers was lacking, so perhaps more talent on the back end at that position could be used. The pass blocking issues start with the interior of the line. Focusing on good pass blockers could shore up that spot. Some stouter run defenders in the middle of the first two levels of the defense could also be sought.