With the UFL draft less than a week away, teams have officially announced their protected rosters moving into the 2027 draft. While the Battlehawks have announced their initial roster as well, several notable players have been designated for retirement as the 2027 begins. One of which being one of spring football's most prolific EDGE rushers Pita Taumoepenu.
Taumoepenu came into pro football in 2017 as a sixth round draft pick with the 49ers. He'd spend time with the Cardinals, Seahawks, Falcons, and Broncos before joining the XFL's Vegas Vipers in 2023. Taumoepenu would earn XFL Defensive Player of the Year honors enroute to a contract with the New York Jets. Upon the merging of the USFL and XFL to the UFL, Taumoepenu would sign with the St. Louis Battlehawks for the 2024 season. Over four seasons in spring football amassed 26.5 sacks (most in the spring football modern era), along with over 100 tackles. He'd earn two Defensive Player of the Year honors (2023 and 2025), two All-League honors (2023 and 2025), while also earning player of the week honors in week 6 of the 2025 season.
The Battlehawks also saw three additional players opt for retirement as well. Defensive Backs Luq Barcoo, Michael Ojemudia, and A.J. Thomas will all be moving on from football as the team moves forward in the 2026 season. All three players were first year Battlehawks in 2026, however veterans of spring football teams for several years. Barcoo and Thomas earned all-league selections in 2023, and 2024 respectively, with all three retirees earning NFL contracts due to their time in spring football.
Also opting for retirement is former Brahma/Renegade Sam Tecklenburg. Tecklenburg appeared in 30 games (28 starts), over his spring football career after appearing in 17 NFL games prior. Tecklenburg took to social media to announce his retirement after seven professional seasons.
Since the completion of 2026 training camp 29 spring football alumni have opted for retirement prior to the 2027 season. With over 104 new free agents many spring football "regulars" are expected to retire over the next several weeks. Some other notable retirements from this past season who finished with UFL teams include Andre Mintze (D.C.), Keaton Sutherland (DAL/COL), Andrew Dowell (DAL/COL), and Nolan Henderson (HOU/DAL).