Both ESPN, which owns part of the UFL, and Sports Business Journal have reported that the UFL players and the United Football League have reach a deal that is for the 2025 and 2026 season. While no official announcement has been made yet, it looks like the UFL players got what they wanted.
Per Sports Business Journal;
According to UFPA leadership, members would see their full-season salary increase from $55,000 now to $62,005 this year, retroactive to the opening of camp, with another increase to $64,000 scheduled for 2026. More than half of that initial $7,005 increase would be paid for by eliminating a separate $4,000 housing stipend, which makes the immediate raise effectively 5.1%.
Players also got the main thing they wanted. Year round health insurance for themselves and family.
players would now have health insurance for themselves and dependents in the offseason, via a blend of extended active coverage and the UFL’s promise to subsidize COBRA coverage for five months each offseason.
This is important for players, as pointed out by ESPN. Players after the age of 26 can no longer on their parents health insurance. It could take a player two or three years on Spring Football to get on an NFL roster so this bridges that gap, so more players after the age of 26 would stay in the league.
President of Sports Solidarity, Harry Marino, led the negations on behalf of the UFLPA. Per ESPN.
I think this is a reflection of the fact that the UFL and the UFPA ultimately wanted to come together to reach a sustainable deal that will ensure that spring football will be here to stay,” said Harry Marino, president of Sports Solidarity and the UFPA’s lead negotiator for the CBA. “And as hard-fought as the negotiation was, I think this is turning the page and saying, ‘OK, now we’re going to work in partnership to make sure this thing lasts and succeeds.'”
Michigan Panthers quarterback Danny Etling was quote in both articles talking about the deal.
“It’s good not only for the league investors, but just for the league in general to give it some stability,” Etling said. “So then we’re not in a negotiation next year trying to do the same thing, having this go into the season, but also just for the players having the ability to have some consistency there, for players planning with their families and trying to get guys to return for multiple seasons.”
UFL New Contract Details
- Minimum salary increase from $55,000 to $62,005 for players who participate in all 10 regular-season games
- Minimum salary will increase to $64,000 in 2026
- Year-round health care eligibility for all players
- Roster increases from 42 to 43 active players, with camp invitees up from 58 to 64
- Player bonuses: $7,500 for league MVP, $5,000 for championship team members
- Limited padded practices to two per week
- Formalized disciplinary process
- Three meals instead of one on game days
- Guaranteed access to medical records
- Players’ choice of cleats
- Creation of a labor-management committee meeting regularly
- Additional bonuses: $500 for player of the week, $5,000 for players of the year
- Established player grievance process
- Labor management committee will meet three times per year
UFL News Hub will have a full breakdown of all the details when they are available. This deal looks fair on both sides and will bring even more stability to the UFL. Both sides know they need each other and want this Spring Football League to survive.
Despite the ratings and attendance. It looks like there will be a UFL in 2026.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
Midweekend UFL Musings-I should have put this here.
1. As many of you know, when something becomes clear to me I comment about it for what I feel is the good of the league. That stated, sometimes I give the league the benefit of the doubt, because I don’t really know exactly what the league is up against. I have fairly good idea having put in great effort myself to see what can be done for the betterment of the league.
You see, I knew what being a New Jersey Generals fan meant for me and my family losing my mother in 1984 and when I really didn’t want to do anything else in the world, because I was too depressed, my step-father asked if I, again, wanted Generals seasons tickets again for my birthday in 1985. Even then it was hard to say yes, because there was nothing I really did that was fun.
I felt nothing could compete with having my mom back.
Nothing. I was that way for two years. But Ernie asked my if I wanted to have my tickets and I could not hurt him, so I said yes. As the season went on, I starting to pay attention to football again. I could think of something other than my mom’s passing. That is the main reason I comment so much on the league, because I want to save it….not just financially, but for battle of right vs wrong.
I am sorry I put that much pressure on the league in these comments, but football in its purest state is really the best thing. It’s a complicated and choreographed competition, but all of a sudden it is man against man in a true battle of heart, skill and athleticism. The last part of that should be sportsmanship.
Ratifying the agreement for this and next year is a great idea. The article I read seemed to indicate this was from the UFL and UFPA, yet still needed to be approved by the investors so I am a little confused. Let’s get a way from that and look at the particulars I read.
In one way it takes some of the leverage the UFL had away in case the league doesn’t do as well as they hope this year, but it also makes it so the league knows what it needs to do to stay in business which should definitely looked at it as part of it.
The numbers & benefits clearly favor the players, based on the last contract. Especially if the league plans to go ten teams deep this will really provide an excellent players pool too and it should make it that the fans should have no trouble supporting the league provided the league plays with the true spirit of football. IF I were the league before I do my sign off, maybe I add some of the following.
1. The players are 100% clear about reporters access to the sidelines. IF the league is so inclined players and coaches could and should be charged $100 for cursing and $300 for openly criticizing or blaming another UFL employee or fan, including $100 a second time you are jawing at the offensive or defensive player and you or he makes a play. Simply put, when the play is over, go back to the huddle or sideline. Celebrate with your fans and with teammates not on an opponent. I understand the players wanting the league to care about their well-being. The player should care about the league’s well-being.
2. I read somewhere that there are no more than 2 padded practices. I am not sure what is normal, but I would say at least 3. I used to do it 4 times plus games and we have like 32 players. For camp we would be in pads 6 days and twice on Saturdays. I would like to think these players are as tough as I am. And to be honest the gameplay is really not yet that good. Again, it should be up to at least 3 as the coach sees fit.
3. League sets camp amount but cannot be lower than 58 and cannot be higher than 65.
4. I don’t see anything about minimum salary, practice squad players and in season minimums, but I presume that should be around the same? I also don’t see anything about camp salary, etc.
I hope this is soon ratified, but I hope that won’t have anything to do with expansion. To be honest some of the best sites have yet to be unraveled, but will be. Note, when the CBA is ratified I plan to go out celebrate and order 1 item from the site. If you could meet me half way and get me a 20-30% discount that would be most amenable and it would be cool if fans could follow me. Good luck, all.
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