McGough’s Return Sparks Quarterback Competition for Birmingham Stallions in 2025 UFL Season
The Birmingham Stallions, perennial powerhouses in the UFL, are gearing up for the 2025 season with a familiar face back in the fold: Alex McGough, the league’s 2023 MVP. After a stint with the Green Bay Packers that saw him transition to the wide receiver position, McGough is returning to the Stallions, igniting a wave of excitement and anticipation among fans. However, the question on everyone’s mind was: What position would the prodigal player be playing?
Head coach Skip Holtz has put any speculation to rest, confirming that McGough will be returning to his roots as a quarterback. This decision, while welcomed by many, isn’t simply based on nostalgia. Holtz recognizes McGough’s exceptional talent and potential to reclaim his position as the team’s starting quarterback.
"Right now, he’s been all quarterback," Holtz affirmed in a recent interview, dispelling any doubts about McGough’s role. This statement underscores the Stallions’ commitment to capitalizing on McGough’s strengths and experience as a signal-caller.
McGough’s previous UFL stint showcased his exceptional abilities as a quarterback. In 2023, he dominated the league, earning the MVP award by completing an impressive 67.4% of his passes for 2,105 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a mere five interceptions across 10 games. His dual-threat capabilities were also evident, as he added five rushing touchdowns during the regular season and an astounding nine total touchdowns in the playoffs. These statistics solidify McGough’s reputation as a dynamic and impactful quarterback.
While McGough’s past success at quarterback is undeniable, Holtz’s decision to keep him in that role is also influenced by the strength and depth of the Stallions’ wide receiver corps. The team boasts a talented group of pass-catchers, including former NFL players Deon Cain, Amari Rodgers, and Austin Watkins Jr. Holtz believes that diverting McGough to the receiver position would potentially limit the opportunities for these established players to shine.
"We have a deep, talented receiver group right now, so I don’t want to take any reps away from them," Holtz explained, highlighting the team’s abundance of talent at the wide receiver position.
More importantly, Holtz believes that McGough has a legitimate chance to win the starting quarterback job for the Stallions. This confidence stems from his assessment of McGough’s abilities and his belief that he can successfully reacclimate to the position after his time as a receiver with the Packers.
However, the transition back to quarterback hasn’t been without its challenges. Holtz acknowledged that McGough’s arm showed signs of "rust" early in training camp and experienced fatigue. To address this issue, the coaching staff has implemented a carefully structured throwing plan to gradually build up McGough’s arm strength and endurance.
"He started floating balls as practice went on, so we’ve kind of put him on a little bit of a pitch count," Holtz said, emphasizing the importance of a cautious and strategic approach to McGough’s training. "Just to make sure that we don’t overthrow him while he’s getting back into the number of throws you got to have during camp, because that’s not what he’s been training his arm to do."
Despite this obstacle, Holtz expressed confidence in McGough’s ability to overcome these challenges and compete for the starting quarterback position. He described the quarterback situation as "a heck of a competition" between McGough and Matt Corral, who shared starting duties with 2024 UFL MVP Adrian Martinez last season.
Furthermore, the retirement of veteran third-string quarterback JMar Smith further solidifies McGough’s position on the roster, ensuring that he will remain at quarterback even if he doesn’t win the starting job outright.
Despite his firm commitment to McGough as a quarterback, Holtz hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of utilizing him as a receiver in certain situations. He acknowledged McGough’s versatility and his ability to play receiver if the team faces injuries or other unforeseen circumstances.
"If we were to get into a situation, I know Alex is capable of going outside and playing receiver," Holtz said, leaving the door open for McGough to contribute in multiple roles. "I’ve watched him do it."
Holtz wasn’t just referring to McGough’s time with the Packers. He recalled an instance where McGough stepped in as a receiver during a game due to injuries to the team’s wide receivers.
"The Stallions had suffered several injuries to wide receivers before and during a contest," Holtz explained. "That was a problem given the team’s small, 50-man roster size, so McGough volunteered to play out wide. Alex said, Coach, I’ll go out there and play receiver. I know what to do. I know what everybody does on every play so I’ll go out there and play."
Holtz also emphasized the importance of versatility in a league with smaller rosters, stating that he encourages his players to be able to play multiple positions. However, he acknowledged that this expectation doesn’t typically extend to the quarterback position, making McGough’s willingness to play receiver even more remarkable.
"When you look at how big he is, how rangy he is and how well he runs, he’s an attractive piece to put out there," Holtz said, acknowledging McGough’s physical attributes and potential as a receiver.
Despite the potential for McGough to contribute at receiver, Holtz remains steadfast in his primary focus: preparing McGough to compete for the starting quarterback job.
"Right now, I want to find out if he’s going to be the [starting] quarterback," Holtz concluded, reiterating his commitment to evaluating McGough’s performance at quarterback and determining his role in the team’s offensive strategy.
The return of Alex McGough has undoubtedly injected excitement and anticipation into the Birmingham Stallions’ preparations for the 2025 UFL season. With a talented quarterback returning to his natural position and a deep roster of skilled players, the Stallions are poised to make another strong run at the championship. The quarterback competition between McGough and Corral will be one of the key storylines to watch as the season approaches.
