Front Office Sports is reporting that the start of the UFL season could be in jeopardy. FOS is owned by RedBird IMI which is the parent company of RedBird Capital. Which owns half of the United Football League.
Sources for this article are people on the inside clearly, which makes the report even more interesting. What are they saying and why did they put this out there.
The start of the United Football League’s second season could be in jeopardy if labor talks don’t improve, a source familiar with negotiations told Front Office Sports.
All 24 quarterbacks were scheduled to get in a quarterbacks-only practice starting February 23rd thought the 26th. This was ahead of the March 3rd start of training camp. Instead, the players sent a letter to UFL President Russ Brandon and Executive Vice President Of Football Operations Daryl Johnston.
The proposal our Players Association received on Thursday was unacceptable and insulting. We – all of the quarterbacks in the UFL – have collectively decided not to attend the UFL quarterback training camp this weekend in Arlington, Texas, in proposal of that proposal and the message that is sent to us as players.
Their walk out did move the needle a little bit according to this report.
“The quarterbacks’ actions led the UFL to make a new proposal, which was enough of an improvement in health care and player salaries to get players to training camp, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The players want to see the league further improve its offer, which is why a new collective bargaining agreement remains unsigned as of Tuesday morning. “
The report goes on to say the relationship between the UFL and the United Football Players Association as “shaky”.
players prepared to take more labor actions during training camp if the UFL remains “dug in” to its current offer”
This FOS report is clearing stating a new collective bargaining agreement is on the table, waiting for the players to sign and the league is not budging.
Front Office Sports has been used in the past for other pro UFL articles like “The UFL Is Primed for Success—If It Can Resist Its Impulse for Hypergrowth” or “Army, UFL Say $11 Million Marketing Saga With The Rock Is Resolved“.
By putting this out there, the UFL front office is putting pressure on the players to sign. No one has reported what the new collective bargaining agreement actually entails and what the players pay raise is.
The story has gotten some run in Reuters and the Pat MacAfee Show. Both sides have valid points. It would be a disaster and there might be no league if season two does not happen.
2 Comments
by Ken Granito
I had previously commented that I believe the UFL has to be prepared for this or they would not have gone about investing so much without actually having contracts with the players in place. However, I think it has now come to a place that they realize if they are lucky to get through this season and there is some success they now realize they need to figure out what they will pay. This being year 2, it would also provide more data of what the league feels it can afford and what it cannot. It seems to me teams signed the best available players. Players knew about what they would be paid or they would have not signed their letter of intention, unless they knew they planned on a strike all along. My thought all along is most intended to play this season. For the ones that intend instead to retire or leave camp, the league will replace those players. Just overall, to me, I can’t imagine the UFL would let it get to a point where they would go under due a player strike. As an actual contract is not signed my thought is that the league and player that cannot agree will go their separate ways and the league will simply fill the league in with players that want to play regardless of increase in salary. This might actually work out with expansion on the horizon bringing many players back in the fold who had wondered if football was past them. At any rate, I wish both sides could come to an agreement that makes the most sense. To me that is to play this year with a very slight increase, do the math and see what makes sense for 2026. THE LAST THING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THAT WE ARE IN THE SAME PLACE NEXT YEAR. I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR, BUT IF YOU GET HERE NEXT YEAR. SHAME ON YOU! Whether you decide you can pay more or not, sign the contracts ahead of camp. I have my tickets for day 1, but I have yet to make hotel arrangements as I don’t know if that day will be pushed back. Tough as a fan to say you are all in when the league and players don’t know if they are all in. I am not saying this can’t become a strike situation, but remember 65 players are in camp. 50 will be on the roster after camp ends. It is likely there are already enough players, however back ups should be signed so they get some reps should some players leave camp. That stated running backs, quarterbacks and kickers, punters and holders will all need to be replaced should any of them leave camp. I guess we will see how it goes.
by 4th&long
The players backing this are idiots, and if the UFL folds, not due to finances, but do to demands thaey wont accept and yr to yr haggling its on the players.
Its simple – don’t like the money, quit. OK with money play. But destroying the league is super selfish on a minority of players. The union is a disaster.