One of the major changes made in the off-season was the elimination of team general managers. For 2026 and beyond, each coaching staff works with the UFL's personnel department to identify players to add to rosters throughout camp and during the season. That structure, however, has not been clearly defined to the public. In fact, each team seems to be going through the player acquisition process slightly differently than their counterparts.
I had the opportunity to ask several UFL head coaches how their team handles the addition of players and what the process is like.
Head Coach as CEO
As part of the recent expansion of the league personnel department in lieu of general managers, each team is given a UFL scout that helps out with the search for players. In Louisville, it's Rick Mueller, who had been GM of the Renegades for the last three years. "He does an outstanding job and has been right on every player that we've brought in," said Kings Head Coach Chris Redman. "His experience is showing up and we're really happy to have someone like that."
Redman acknowledged the increased responsibilities now laid at the feet of head coaches this season. "Without having a GM, you do have to wear a lot of hats as a head coach, and you're kind of the CEO of this company," he said. He noted that that his coordinators have a say in deciding what players are brought in and added that linebackers coach Brad Jackson also plays a talent evaluation role with the Baltimore Ravens, giving the Kings another experienced set of eyes when on the lookout for players (It may be a more informal role with Baltimore as Jackson does not appear on the Ravens' website list of player personnel staff). "We've had strategic plays for our coaching positions and it's definitely showing up," Redman said, indicating the desire to add coaches who can also grind tape on potential roster additions.
Keeping players in-house
There will be natural attrition due to injuries or performance throughout the season, and for the Dallas Renegades and Head Coach Rick Neuheisel, their intent is to keep any cut-downs they'll make at the end of camp at the top of their in-season wish list. "I want, basically, guys to be on our quote-unquote practice squad if they don't get picked up by another team, so I can go back and get the same guys who were in camp, who know the language...and can help us," said Neuheisel. He indicated injury being the main reason for transactions this month, resisting the frequent churn other teams have during camp, which puts less pressure on the coaches to continually find new players to bring in.
When additions are needed, however, Neuheisel has delegated most of that responsibility to the team's UFL scout. "I am leaning heavily on Will Lewis, our representative in the league office," he said. Neuheisel noted that he gives Lewis a description of the player they're looking for to replace those injured or nicked up in camp so as to ensure fresh legs for his players once the regular season kicks off later in March.
Relationships matter
Houston Gamblers Head Coach Kevin Sumlin is not long removed from being a part of the college game, which he believes gives him and his staff an advantage when identifying players to add to the roster. His relationship with college coaches helps when doing background on a potential player or understanding how they may be a scheme fit, and his familiarity with players from recruiting and playing against them works in his favor, too.
An example of those relationships is the recent signing of former LSU safety Major Burns. When Sumlin was head coach at the University of Arizona, he recruited Burns. That familiarity allowed him to zero in on Burns when a need arose at that position. "Having some knowledge about these guys, I think, is very helpful for me," Sumlin said.
Not only are relationships with college coaches and players advantageous, but so is his relationship with Houston's league scout, Rick Mueller. Sumlin and Mueller started out as graduate assistants together at Washington State in 1989. "We know how each other thinks, evaluates, and he's easy to talk to," said Sumlin of Mueller. "It makes our lives as far as talent acquisition a lot smoother."
Like other coaches, Sumlin looks for players who fit what the team is trying to do on offense and defense. "We know what criteria we're looking for in those positions (where) we're deficient...we're looking for 'this' type of player, and our coaches and Rick Mueller go to work on that," he said. Sumlin pointed out that all the players on the team had already been evaluated by himself and Mueller before a full coaching staff was even put together.
Recruiting skills at work
Sumlin isn't the only coach putting to use his recent college experience. D.C. Defenders Head Coach Shannon Harris was offensive coordinator at Tennessee State just last fall under former Defenders Head Coach Reggie Barlow. Prior to working for D.C., Harris had been at Virginia State, in addition to a few other stops. He cited the ability to recruit players as a skill that translates from college to the UFL. You're recruiting high school kids to your school in college, and similarly, you're recruiting free agents to play for your team in this league. Harris said many of his assistants have recruiting experience in college and that has come in handy for the Defenders.
The social media age
The Birmingham Stallions lean less on the league office than other teams when searching for players. "We do it on our own," Head Coach A.J. McCarron said. "If we need some recommendations, we'll ask, but our biggest thing is we want eyes on the guys we want. And we kind of have a list of backup plans that we have stashed away." McCarron also indicated that, as camp and the season progresses, there might be a few "surprises" that are added to the roster.
The most difficult part? Getting in touch with the players they want. "You can ask the league, and they do a great job, Russ G. (Giglio) and JIm Monos, they'll find a number if they can." In this digital era, McCarron said the easiest and most common way of getting in touch with players now is through social media. "But heck, sometimes, it's just kind of, hey, reach out on Instagram. Now, in this day and age, it's me hitting a 'follow' button, them seeing it in their notifications, and all of a sudden, they have a DM and it's like, 'hey, hit me up.' So that's really how a ton of my communication happens, is from social media. And then we'll jump on a phone call and everything."