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Writer's pictureKelly Brand

From The USFL To The NFL


56 players from USFL Season 1 have signed NFL contracts, most during training camps.

*10 have been on NFL ACTIVE rosters for at least one game during the 2022 season:



*KaVontae Turpin (New Jersey Generals > Dallas Cowboys, ACTIVE all season)

*Maurice Alexander Jr. (Philadelphia Stars > Detroit Lions)

*Tae Hayes (Birmingham Stallions > Carolina Panthers)

*Mitch Fraboni (Pittsburgh Maulers > Denver Broncos)

*T.J. Carter (Michigan Panthers > Los Angeles Rams)

*Micah Abernathy (Houston Gamblers > Green Bay Packers)

*Taylor Bertolet (New Orleans Breakers > Los Angeles Chargers)

*DeMarquis Gates (Birmingham Stallions > Chicago Bears)

*Ramiz Ahmed (Pittsburgh Maulers > Green Bay Packers)

*Domenique Davis (Houston Gamblers > Cincinnati Bengals)


NFL Practice Squads are always fluid, but in general, approximately 20 players from USFL Season 1 have been on Practice Squads all season. Through NFL Week 14, the following players are on Practice Squads:


Maurice Alexander Jr (Philadelphia Stars > Detroit Lions)

Tae Hayes (Birmingham Stallions > Carolina Panthers)

Mitch Fraboni (Pittsburgh Maulers > Denver Broncos)

T.J. Carter (Michigan Panthers > Los Angeles Rams)

Micah Abernathy (Houston Gamblers > Green Bay Packers)

Taylor Bertolet (New Orleans Breakers > Los Angeles Chargers)

DeMarquis Gates (Birmingham Stallions > Chicago Bears)

Ramiz Ahmed (Pittsburgh Maulers > Green Bay Packers)

Domenique Davis (Houston Gamblers > Cincy Bengals)

Victor Bolden Jr (Birmingham Stallions > Denver Broncos)

Carlo Kemp (Pittsburgh Maulers > Los Angeles Chargers)

Tino Ellis (Michigan Panthers > Miami Dolphins)

Alex Akingbulu (Philadelphia Stars > Washington Commanders)

Darrin Paulo (Tampa Bay Bandits > Detroit Lions)

Jeremiah Pharms (Pittsburgh Maulers > New England Patriots)

Isaiah Zuber (Houston Gamblers > Las Vegas Raiders)

Ike Brown (New Orleans Breakers > Las Vegas Raiders)

Case Cookus (Philadelphia Stars > Los Angeles Rams)

Tucker Addington (Houston Gamblers > New England Patriots)


And of course, USFL Season 1 Defensive Player of the Year Chris Odom projected to make the Cleveland Browns Active Roster out of training camp, but a season-ending injury in the preseason put him on the NFL Injured Reserve list all season.



At the end of the day, these numbers demonstrate the very high level of football talent the USFL has on the field. Season 1 proved USFL athletes become better players, so Season 2 will continue to produce high-quality, exciting, and competitive football for this fan-first league. But it’s also an important point that while USFL leaders are happy for these athletes, they do not judge ultimate success by the number of players in the NFL. The USFL is not a developmental league – it is a stand-alone major professional spring league that judges success by the entertaining and innovative brand of football provided to fans. Fans should be excited about the USFL for the long haul as the league provides unprecedented access, promotes it’s own star players, and evolves the game through innovative rules that stay true to the fast-paced and physical football we all love.



A very big shout-out to @USFL_Showboats (Twitter) for the research done on this.

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