ST. LOUIS – A.J. McCarron, the former college football star who revived his career as a spring football standout, will not return to the St. Louis Battlehawks next season.

Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht noted on Friday that the team is preparing to give another quarterback a chance at the starting job.

“The UFL continues to be a league of opportunity and we have come to the decision to move forward looking at new opportunities at the quarterback position,” said Becht via the Battlehawks X social media account. “A.J. McCarron has been a tremendous part of the success of our team the last two seasons and we are grateful for all of his contributions. It’s with respect for A.J. that we wanted to provide him a clear path forward as he decides what is next in his football future.”


New homes planned for long abandoned hazardous site in The Hill

When healthy, McCarron had served as the Battlehawks primary quarterback over their last two spring football seasons. McCarron’s run in St. Louis will come to an end with 39 touchdowns and more than 3,700 passing yards over 17 games.

The Battlehawks won 14 total games, packed record spring football crowds greater than 40,000 fans, and qualified for playoffs in the 2024 UFL season with McCarron as the lead quarterback.

McCarron became a fan-favorite over the last two seasons due to his success with Alabama Crimson Tide in his 2012 and 2013 college football seasons. He is the program’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,019) and second in passing touchdowns (77) and finish as the Heisman trophy runner-up – honoring college football’s top player – in 2013.