ST. LOUIS – It’s official. Quarterback A.J. McCarron will return to the St. Louis Battlehawks for a second straight season after a brief stint in the NFL last year.
The UFL announced Friday morning that McCarron and the Battlehawks agreed to a new contract that allows him to return for the upcoming 2024 season.
McCarron, a former Alabama star and Hesiman Trophy runner-up, started nine games for the Battlehawks during last year’s XFL reboot. At 32 years old and nearly a decade removed from his college football surge, he led the XFL with 24 touchdowns and a 108.4 QB rating, also finishing second with 2,150 passing yards.
McCarron used the momentum to mount an NFL comeback, returning to the big league for the first time since 2020 after six years in limited roles. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year contract last year after franchise leader Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury.
McCarron spent six games on the Bengals’ active roster and saw slight action in two games, but working his way back to the NFL stage after three years out of the league is a huge accomplishment.
It’s been a busy week for the Battlehawks as the league announced new footballs and rule changes over the last few days. McCarron’s comeback is the icing on the cake, and head coach Anthony Becht previously described McCarron as someone who could be “hungry” for another opportunity.
McCarron won national college football titles with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2012 and 2013, his sophomore and junior seasons. He is the program’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,019) and second in passing touchdowns (77).
After big strides last year, McCarron said there was only one path to continue football with an opportunity aside from the NFL. “I absolutely love St. Louis. There’s only one team I would come back and play for. This year, it would be St. Louis,” McCarron told Bleav Network podcast host Matty Fresh in January.
The St. Louis Battlehawks will open their 2024 season on March 30 against the Michigan Panthers. Their home opener is set for April 6 against the Arlington Renegades.
