Legendary former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron has been staying busy as of late, but his next step might just be the most surprising one yet.

According to the team, McCarron has been hired as the next head coach of the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions just days after former head coach Skip Holtz stepped down.

The news also comes the same week that McCarron announced the end of his bid for Lt. Governor for what he said was a football related opportunity.

“I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” McCarron said in a statement.

“This game has given me so much as a player, and now I am ready to give back as a coach. It’s even more special that I get to do that while representing my home state – a state that has supported me throughout my career. Our team will build upon the amazing legacy of Skip Holtz. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Holtz, what he has done for the league and for the Stallions. I am ready to put in the work that will continue producing championship wins for the city of Birmingham.”

It seemed like McCarron knew this was a possibility for him upon announcing his exit from the political race, saying that his upcoming football position will “require the same 100% focus, commitment and attention that I was prepared to give to the office of lieutenant governor, so it is time to end my campaign.”

The Stallions have won two USFL titles in 2022 and 2023 as well as the inaugural UFL title in 2024 before being defeated in the playoffs in 2025, so the standard of success McCarron is walking into is quite high.