2022 Birmingham Stallions season

2022 Birmingham Stallions season
General manager	Skip Holtz
Head coach	Skip Holtz
Home field	Protective Stadium Legion Field
Results
Record	9–1
League place	1st in South Division
Playoff finish	Won Division Finals (vs. Breakers) 31–17 Won USFL Championship (at Stars) 33–30
2023  →

The 2022 Birmingham Stallions season was the first season for the Birmingham Stallions as a professional American football franchise. They play as charter members of the United States Football League, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2022 season. The Stallions play their home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field and are led by head coach Skip Holtz.

In week 8, the Stallions clinched the South division.

Background and history

As is the case with all eight teams competing in the league, the Birmingham Stallions take their name and color scheme from a franchise of the same name that competed in the original USFL. ^[1] The original Birmingham Stallions, who competed in the USFL from 1983 to 1985, finished at or above .500 in each of their three seasons and were led by head coach Rollie Dotsch for the duration of their existence. ^[2]

The identical team names were the subject of a lawsuit brought to Fox by the owners of the original USFL, who claimed trademark infringement and false advertising on the part of the new league. ^[3]

Personnel

Final roster

2022 Birmingham Stallions final roster

	Quarterbacks  2 Alex McGough  6 J'Mar Smith Running backs 20 Tony Brooks-James 44 Bobby Holly FB 11 C. J. Marable 25 Bo Scarbrough Wide receivers  7 Victor Bolden Jr.  8 Michael Dereus 16 Adrian Hardy  4 Osirus Mitchell 17 Marlon Williams Tight ends 14 Sage Surratt		Offensive linemen 74 O'Shea Dugas T 73 Darius Harper T 78 Cameron Hunt G 51 Jordan McCray C 77 Ryan Pope T 65 Tyree St. Louis T 76 Marquez Tucker G Defensive linemen 90 Doug Costin DT 91 Chauncy Haney DE 96 Willie Henry DT 55 Jonathan Newsome DE 95 Seth Thomas DT 99 Dondrea Tillman DE 97 Willie Yarbary DT		Linebackers 40 Brody Buck OLB 47 DeMarquis Gates OLB 57 Terrill Hanks ILB 59 Quentin Poling 33 Scooby Wright ILB Defensive backs 29 Brian Allen CB 22 Lorenzo Burns CB  3 Tae Hayes CB  5 Christian McFarland S  9 Tyree Robinson S 26 Josh Shaw CB 27 JoJo Tillery S Special teams 10 Brandon Aubrey K 41 Ryan Langan LS 15 Colby Wadman P		Reserve lists 90 Aaron Adeoye DE (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) 36 Nate Holley S (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad 86 Cary Angeline TE 38 Trey Baldwin LB 50 Keyshon Camp DT 12 Montell Cozart QB 19 Malik Gant S 21 Bryan Mills CB 30 Josh Nurse CB  1 Peyton Ramzy WR 67 Michael Rodriguez T 13 Jeff Thomas WR Rookies in italics 41 active, 2 inactive, 10 practice squad

The Stallions, like all other teams, have a 38-man active roster with a 7-man practice squad. ^[4] Their first picks in the 2022 USFL draft included quarterback Alex McGough (round 1, pick 6), defensive end Aaron Adeoye (round 2, pick 11), and offensive tackle Chauncy Haney (round 3, pick 22). ^[5]

Staff

The Stallions' first head coach and general manager is Skip Holtz, who will also lead Birmingham's offense. ^[6] Holtz, who served in various positions on college coaching staffs from 1987 to 2021, served most recently in head coaching positions at East Carolina, South Florida, and Louisiana Tech. ^[7] After finishing the 2021 season at Louisiana Tech with a record of 3–9, he was fired. ^[8] The Stallions' defense will be led by John Chavis, whose most recent coaching positions include defensive coordinator spots at Tennessee, LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas. ^[9]

2022 Birmingham Stallions staff

Front office General manager – Skip Holtz Head coaches Head coach – Skip Holtz Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks – Skip Holtz Running backs – Larry Kirksey Wide receivers – Mike Jones Offensive line – Jonathan Himebauch

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/Linebackers – John Chavis Defensive line – Bill Johnson Defensive backs – Corey Chamblin

Schedule

Regular season

The Stallions' 2022 schedule was announced on March 7. They opened the season against the New Jersey Generals in the league's inaugural game, ^[10] which did simulcast by both NBC and Fox, with an additional broadcast on NBC's Peacock streaming service. ^[11] This was the first simulcast of a live sporting event by rival television networks since 1967. ^[12] Because the regular season is being held in its entirety at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the Stallions will play all of their games at their home stadium. ^[13] The schedule format has each team playing a ten-game regular season, consisting of two games against each division opponent and one game against each team in the opposite division. ^[14]

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Opponent	Result	Record	TV	Recap
1	April 16	7:30 p.m.	New Jersey Generals*	W 28–24	1–0	NBC/Fox/Peacock	Recap
2	April 23	7:00 p.m.	Houston Gamblers	W 33–28	2–0	FS1	Recap
3	April 30	8:00 p.m.	New Orleans Breakers	W 22–13	3–0	Fox	Recap
4	May 7	7:00 p.m.	Tampa Bay Bandits*	W 16–10	4–0	Fox	Recap
5	May 15	12:00 p.m.	Philadelphia Stars	W 30–17	5–0	NBC/Peacock	Recap
6	May 21	7:30 p.m.	Michigan Panthers*	W 33–17	6–0	NBC/Peacock	Recap
7	May 29	2:00 p.m.	Pittsburgh Maulers	W 26–16	7–0	Fox	Recap
8	June 4	3:00 p.m.	New Orleans Breakers*	W 10–9	8–0	Fox	Recap
9	June 11	6:00 p.m.	Houston Gamblers*	L 15–17	8–1	USA	Recap
10	June 18	4:00 p.m.	Tampa Bay Bandits	W 21–18	9–1	Fox	Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. * mean that they host the game, since all eight teams play at the same stadium

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. New Jersey Generals

Week 1: New Jersey Generals at Birmingham Stallions – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Generals	7	7	0	10	24
Stallions	7	0	7	14	28

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 16, 2022
• Game time: 7:30pm EST
• Referee: Larry Smith
• TV announcers (NBC/Fox/Peacock): Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard
• Recap

Game information

First quarter NJ – Randy Satterfield 3-yard pass from Luis Perez (Nick Rose kick), 11:45. Generals 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 3:15. BHAM – Osirus Mitchell 35-yard pass from Alex McGough (Brandon Aubrey kick), 11:09. Tied 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:36. Second quarter NJ – Braedon Bowman 13-yard pass from Luis Perez (Nick Rose kick), 9:08. Generals 14–7. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 4:00. Third quarter BHAM – C. J. Marable 3-yard run (Brandon Aubrey kick), 0:37. Tied 14–14. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:13. Fourth quarter NJ – De'Andre Johnson 4-yard run (Nick Rose kick), 9:14. Generals 21–14. Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:23. BHAM – Cary Angeline 28-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick), 5:51. Tied 21–21. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 3:23. NJ – Nick Rose 47-yard field goal, 1:54. Generals 24–21. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 4:02. BHAM – J'Mar Smith 2-yard run (Brandon Aubrey kick), 0:23. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 1:26. Top passers NJ – Luis Perez – 13/18, 143 yards, 2 TD BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 11/21, 156 yards, TD Top rushers NJ – De'Andre Johnson – 12 rushes, 98 yards, TD BHAM – Tony Brooks-James – 8 rushes, 27 yards Top receivers NJ – Randy Satterfield – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD BHAM – Osirus Mitchell – 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD

The Stallions started their first season in the inaugural opener for the USFL against the New Jersey Generals. The Stallions won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Generals scored on their first drive to put the Stallions down 0–7. The Stallions answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell to tie the game 7–7. The rest of the quarter saw the teams trade punts. The Generals scored the only points of the second quarter with a touchdown after an Alex McGough interception, putting the Stallions behind 7–14. The Stallions then scored the only points of the third quarter with a C. J. Marable 3-yard rush, tying the game 14–14. In the fourth quarter the Generals scored first, putting the Stallions down 14–21. The Stallions would respond with a 6 play 67-yard touchdown, tying it up again at 21–21. The Generals responded with a 38-yard field goal drive, ending in a 47-yard field goal, putting the Stallions at 21–24 with 1:54 remaining. The Stallions responded by driving 59 yards downfield for a touchdown that would give them their first lead at 28–24, which would be the final score.

Week 2: at Houston Gamblers

Week 2: Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Stallions	10	3	13	7	33
Gamblers	9	9	3	7	28

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 23
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Referee: Duane Heydt
• TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Kugler, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard

Game information

First quarter BHAM – Brian Allen interception return (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 14:13. Stallions 7–0. HOU – Nick Vogel 50-yard field goal, 11:46. Stallions 7–3 Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:22. HOU – William Likely interception return (Nick Vogel kick no good), 8:12. Gamblers 9–7. BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 31-yard field goal, 3:33. Stallions 10–9. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:29. Second quarter HOU – Isaiah Zuber 25 yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Clayton Thorson pass failed), 14:19. Gamblers 15–10. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 37-yard field goal, 6:07. Gamblers 15–13. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 4:01. HOU – Nick Vogel 31-yard field goal, 3:03. Gamblers 18–13. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. Third quarter BHAM – Osirus Mitchell 34-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Victor Bolden Jr. rush failed), 13:33. Stallions 19–18. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:34. BHAM – C. J. Marable 3-yard rush (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 5:38. Stallions 26–18. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 6:48. HOU – Nick Vogel 24-yard field goal, 1:11. Stallions 26–21. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16. Fourth quarter BHAM – Marlon Williams 64-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 13:04. Stallions 33–21. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 3:14. HOU – Tyler Simmons 44-yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Nick Vogel kick good), 12:24. Stallions 33–28. Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:42. Top passers BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 20/30, 229 yards, 2 TD, INT HOU – Clayton Thorson – 12/27, 141 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Top rushers BHAM – C. J. Marable – 16 rushes, 76 yards, TD HOU – Mark Thompson – 16 rushes, 93 yards Top receivers BHAM – Marlon Williams – 3 receptions, 88 yards, TD HOU – Tyler Simmons – 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD

For a second time in as many weeks, Stallions quarterback J'Mar Smith led Birmingham to three consecutive second half drives that ended with touchdowns. The reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Week, Smith went 19-of-29 for 214 yards on Saturday. His 34-yard, third quarter touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell gave the Stallions a 19–18 lead. His 64-yard strike to Marlon Williams stretched Birmingham's lead to 33–21 with just over 13 minutes left.

Houston, who took an 18–13 halftime lead on the strength of Will Likely's 63-yard pick-six, made it a one-possession game when Clayton Thorson connected with Tyler Simmons for a 44-yard touchdown with 12:24 left. The Gamblers comeback bid came up short, however, when Lorenzo Burns recorded his second pick of Thorson with 1:13 left. ^[15]

Week 3: at New Orleans Breakers

Week 3: Birmingham Stallions at New Orleans Breakers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Stallions	0	10	0	12	22
Breakers	0	6	7	0	13

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

• Date: April 30
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Referee: Larry Smith
• TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard

Game information

Second quarter BHAM – Marlon Williams 47-yard catch from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 8:23. Stallions 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 3:16. NO – Johnnie Dixon 2-yard catch from Kyle Sloter (Austin MacGinnis kick no good), 1:12. Stallions 7–6. Drive: 13 plays, 85 yards, 5:07. BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 33-yard field goal, 0:07. Stallions 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 1:09. Third quarter NO – Johnnie Dixon 11-yard catch from Kyle Sloter (Austin MacGinnis kick good), 6:10. Stallions 10–6. Drive: 17 plays, 77 yards, 8:50. Fourth quarter BHAM – Victor Bolden Jr. 19-yard catch from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 7:56. Stallions 17–13. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:06. BHAM – Kyle Sloter sacked in endzone, 7:43. Stallions 19–13. BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 32-yard field goal, 1:19. Stallions 22–13. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:23. Top passers BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 15/38, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT NO – Kyle Sloter – 26/47, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 8 rushes, 59 yards NO – Jordan Ellis – 25 rushes, 90 yards Top receivers BHAM – Victor Bolden Jr. – 6 receptions, 70 yards, TD NO – Johnnie Dixon – 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD

The 2–0 Stallions played against division rival, the 2–0 New Orleans Breakers. In what started off as a slow offensive performance for both sides, the Stallions got a 7–0 lead on a J'Mar Smith screen pass to Marlon Williams. Later into the 2nd quarter, the Breakers scored on a 10-yard pass from Kyle Sloter to Johnnie Dixon which made the Stallions lead trim down to 7–6. With 7 seconds left in the half, Brandon Aubrey made a 33-yard field goal to give Birmingham a 10–6 lead at the half.

Coming out of the half, the Breakers conducted an 8:50 17 play drive to regain the lead at 13–10 on an 11-yard pass from Sloter to Dixon. This would be the last time the Breakers would score all game. Birmingham would score 12 points in the final quarter of play. A touchdown from Smith to Victor Bolden Jr, a safety forced by Dondrea Tillman, and a Brandon Aubrey field goal. Birmingham would end up winning 22–13, which put them in sole possession of first place in the South Division with a 3–0 record.

Standings

South Division
#	view talk edit	W	L	PCT	GB	DIV	PF	PA	STK
1	(y) Birmingham Stallions	9	1	.900	-	5–1	234	169	W1
2	(x) New Orleans Breakers	6	4	.600	3	3–3	196	164	L1
3	(e) Tampa Bay Bandits	4	6	.400	5	2–4	162	195	L2
4	(e) Houston Gamblers	3	7	.300	6	2–4	196	208	W2
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Postseason

Round	Date	Time (ET)	Opponent	Result	Record	TV	Recap
Division Finals	June 25	8:00 p.m.	vs. New Orleans Breakers	W 31–17	1–0	NBC/Peacock	Recap
USFL Championship	July 3	7:30 p.m.	at Philadelphia Stars	W 33–30	2–0	Fox	Recap

References

1. Florio, Mike (22 November 2021). "USFL will return with eight original team names". Yahoo!. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
2. Stephenson, Craig (12 June 2018). "Players: USFL's Stallions were 'top-notch' organization". AL.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
3. Camenker, Jacob (1 March 2022). "USFL lawsuit, explained: Why Larry Csonka, old USFL teams and owners are suing the new league". The Sporting News. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
4. "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". Pro Football Talk. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
5. "USFL 2022 Draft Results". USFL Newsroom. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
6. "USFL taps Birmingham as host city, Skip Holtz introduced as Stallions coach". WVTM-13 NBC. 26 January 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
7. Stephenson, Craig (20 January 2022). "Skip Holtz named coach of USFL's Birmingham Stallions". AL.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
8. Jeyarajah, Shehan (November 26, 2021). "Louisiana Tech fires Skip Holtz: Bulldogs opt for coaching change after nine years amid 3–8 season". CBS Sports . Retrieved November 26, 2021.
9. Harralson, Dan (17 March 2022). "John Chavis to serve on Birmingham's coaching staff". USA Today Sports. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
10. "2022 Birmingham Stallions Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
11. Hipes, Patrick (26 January 2022). "USFL Season Opener To Be Simulcast On Fox And NBC In Rare Double-Team". Deadline. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
12. Hayes, Dade (January 25, 2022). "NBC And Fox Will Both Air USFL Opener In April, In First TV Network Sports Simulcast Since 1967". Deadline. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
13. "USFL announces Birmingham as official headquarters, host city for 2022 season". WVTM-13 NBC. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
14. "USFL 2022: Everything you need to know". Fox Sports. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
15. "USFL Week 2: J'Mar Smith, Stallions sprint past Gamblers to move to 2–0; Stars top Maulers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2022-04-24.