The drama continues for the UFL as they have lost another head coach just days before the start of the 2025 regular season schedule.
The UFL is doing all it can to keep the idea of spring professional football alive in 2025. Last year, the defunct brand was brought back to be the banner for a league created after the most recent spring football leagues — the XFL and USFL — decided merging was more beneficial than competing. Unfortunately, the road to season two of the new UFL has been very bumpy.
Earlier this month, reports emerged of unhappiness among the player ranks. While the UFL players union hasn’t decided to strike, they did end up filing an unfair labor practice charge. The official grievances can be found below (h/t Pro Football Talk).
“The UFPA makes the following allegations against the UFL: (1) threatening to cut Players because of their participation in protected union activities; (2) cutting quarterback Quinten Dormady in response to his participation in protected union activities; (3) creating new rules regarding player discipline to discourage players from participating in protected union activities; (3) creating rules regarding player discipline that have a reasonable tendency to chill players from exercising their rights; (4) denying the union access to league facilities.
“(5) threatening to remove union representatives from areas to which the union has lawful access rights; (5) engaging in surveillance of player participation in protected union activities; (6) creating the impression of surveillance with respect to player participation in protected union activities; (7) threatening to discipline players because of their participation in protected union activities; (8) failing and refusing to provide information requested by the union that is relevant and necessary to collective bargaining.”
However, the league has had some other major problems over the last week.
Two UFL head coaches depart days before the start of the 2025 season
On Sunday, the UFL announced in a press release that DC Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow was stepping down to take on the same role with Tennessee State University. The news comes just a few days before the new UFL season kicks off on Friday.
Well, the Defenders are not the only team that will have an interim head coach in Week 1. On Monday, the league revealed that Memphis Showboats head coach Ken Wisenhunt was taking a leave of absence. The only reason given for his unexpected temporary(?) exit was just personal reasons.
So not only are UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon and and Vice President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston dealing with a potential players strike, but two of their eight planned head coaches have left days before the season begins.
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