The Cleveland Browns are in the course of the 2026 offseason, signing new gamers and transport off the face of the franchise: Myles Garrett. And within the shadow of this 12 months’s greatest blockbuster commerce, the United Soccer League (UFL) playoffs are set to start.
There are quite a few former Browns gamers and coaches who’re taking their shot on the UFL crown.
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The UFL is permitting these athletes and coaches to maintain their dream alive of as soon as once more enjoying within the NFL.
This weekend, the UFL playoffs are in full swing with two video games slated on Sunday, June 7. The primary contest pits the #1 Orlando Storm towards the defending league champions, the #4 seed DC Defenders, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. (Japanese). The sport might be nationally televised on ABC. At 6:00 p.m., the #2 seed St. Louis Battlehawks are set to host the #3 Louisville Kings, with the sport broadcast by FOX.
The championship sport is named the United Bowl, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at 3:00 p.m. (Japanese) broadcast on ABC.
The Orlando sport has been switched to the ten,000-seat Daytona Stadium in Daytona Seaside, Florida, about 50 minutes east of Orlando. The Storm play their house video games at Inter&Co Stadium, an MLS stadium that’s house to Orlando SC, plus the NWSL membership Orlando Delight. A previous-committed worldwide soccer match prevented the Storm from utilizing their house stadium, so a brand new venue was discovered. Orlando’s Tenting World Stadium, house of the Citrus Bowl, is present process a large $400 million renovation.
The UFL is a league that permits former gamers in all associations to return collectively and carry out, get extra movie, obtain notoriety, collect extra stats, and receives a commission to proceed their profession enjoying skilled soccer. Final 12 months, 190 UFL gamers acquired exercise invites, with 160 getting coaching camp contracts. When the 2025 NFL season started, of that quantity, 46 had been on an NFL roster starting Week 1, both on the principle roster, observe squad, or on some kind of harm checklist.
Andre Szmyt #19 of the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL (Photograph by Ron Jenkins/UFL/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
The Browns’ 2025 roster had a number of former UFL gamers at totally different intervals on their squad, together with two starters: Okay Andre Szmyt and LS Rex Sunahara. Different UFLers included TE Sal Cannella, RB Toa Taua, CB Keenan Isaac, and LB Charlie Thomas III.
Former Browns linebacker Tony Fields completed second within the league this 12 months in tackles with 77 whereas enjoying for the Columbus Aviators.
There are eight groups within the UFL, and several other former Clevelanders are concerned on this 12 months’s playoffs.
Common house attendance: 9,830 (#4)
Browns S Nate Meadors #35 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
It’s superb simply what number of professional soccer groups have known as Orlando house. However what has occurred is that after a number of seasons, the league they performed in evaporated. So, Orlando followers weren’t precisely slamming down the turnstiles with this new membership. The outcome was a sterling efficiency and the #1 seed.
Former Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson started the season as their beginning quarterback, however was later traded to the Birmingham Stallions, who did not make the postseason. Jack Plummer took over and led the league in passing yardage whereas DTR completed #5.
Common house attendance: 9,000 (#5)
O-Line coach Brian Braswell
The defending champs crashed within the second half of the season and barely made the playoffs, dropping their remaining 4 video games after beginning the season 5-1-0. However final 12 months, the Defenders made the postseason by one sport, then dominated each playoff video games to seize the league title.
They function former Browns’ kicker Matt McCrane, who transformed a number of 60-yard discipline targets for the brand new four-point discipline aim rule and completed #2 in discipline aim conversions. One other former Browns participant, working again Deon Jackson, led the UFL in speeding with 449 yards on 91 makes an attempt. He additionally had probably the most speeding TDs with seven.
St. Louis Battlehawks (6-4-0)
Common house attendance: 23,239 (#1)
O-Line Coach Todd Washington
Browns guard Javion Cohen (67) (Photograph by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures) Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures
The Metropolis of St. Louis is properly conscious that when the NFL goes by one other spherical of growth, they are going to be listed on the prime. Superb exhibiting for the locals. Greatest crowd was in Week 1 with 31,191 robust.
Former Browns OG Javion Cohen was a participant the franchise assumed would develop into at the very least a reliable backup when he was listed on Cleveland’s roster. He has cemented the offensive line for the Battlehawks.
Common house attendance: 11,195 (#2)
Jun 12, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight finish Tre’ McKitty (87) catches a move throughout mini camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Necessary Credit score: Ken Blaze-Imagn Pictures Ken Blaze-Imagn Pictures
Louisville was certainly one of three new cities for the UFL, and the followers confirmed up. They performed their house video games at Lynn Household Stadium, a soccer-specific venue that’s house to Louisville Metropolis FC of the USLC, and the ladies’s group Racing Louisville FC of the NWSL.
This membership was the remnants of the Memphis Showboats, who completed 2-8-0 within the UFL final 12 months.
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