The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of the 2026 offseason, signing new gamers and delivery off the face of the franchise: . 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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to maintain their dream alive of as soon as once more taking part in 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 in opposition to the defending league champions, the #4 seed DC Defenders, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. (Jap). The sport shall 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 recreation is known as the United Bowl, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at 3:00 p.m. (Jap) broadcast on ABC.
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The Orlando recreation has been switched to the ten,000-seat Daytona Stadium in Daytona Seashore, Florida, about 50 minutes east of Orlando. The Storm play their dwelling video games at Inter&Co Stadium, an MLS stadium that’s dwelling to Orlando SC, plus the NWSL membership Orlando Delight. A previous-committed worldwide soccer match prevented the Storm from utilizing their dwelling stadium, so a brand new venue was discovered. Orlando’s Tenting World Stadium, dwelling of the Citrus Bowl, is present process an enormous $400 million renovation.
The UFL is a league that enables former gamers in all associations to come back collectively and carry out, get further movie, obtain notoriety, collect further stats, and receives a commission to proceed their profession taking part in 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 have been on an NFL roster starting Week 1, both on the principle roster, apply squad, or on some sort of damage listing.
The Browns’ 2025 roster had a number of former UFL gamers at totally different intervals on their squad, together with two starters: Okay and LS . Different UFLers included TE , RB Toa Taua, CB , and LB Charlie Thomas III.
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Former Browns linebacker Tony Fields completed second within the league this 12 months in tackles with 77 whereas taking part in for the Columbus Aviators.
There are eight groups within the UFL, and a number of other former Clevelanders are concerned on this 12 months’s playoffs.
Orlando Storm (8-2-0)
Common dwelling attendance: 9,830 (#4)
S OT Joey FisherOT Jason Ivey
It’s wonderful simply what number of professional soccer groups have known as Orlando dwelling. However what has occurred is that after just a few seasons, the league they performed in evaporated. So, Orlando followers weren’t precisely slamming down the turnstiles with this new membership. The consequence was a sterling efficiency and the #1 seed.
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Former Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson started the season as their beginning quarterback, however was later traded to the Birmingham Stallions, who didn’t make the postseason. took over and led the league in passing yardage whereas DTR completed #5.
DC Defenders (5-5-0)
Common dwelling attendance: 9,000 (#5)
RB Deon JacksonK DC coach Blake WilliamsO-Line coach Brian BraswellST/LB coach Jerod Kruse
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 recreation, then dominated each playoff video games to seize the league title.
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They function former Browns’ kicker Matt McCrane, who transformed a number of 60-yard area targets for the brand new four-point area purpose rule and completed #2 in area purpose conversions. One other former Browns participant, operating 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 dwelling attendance: 23,239 (#1)
WR OG Javion CohenLB O-Line Coach Todd Washington
The Metropolis of St. Louis is effectively conscious that when the NFL goes by way of one other spherical of growth, they are going to be listed on the prime. Superb displaying for the locals. Finest crowd was in Week 1 with 31,191 robust.
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Former Browns OG was a participant the franchise assumed would develop into no less than a reliable backup when he was listed on Cleveland’s roster. He has cemented the offensive line for the Battlehawks.
Louisville Kings (6-4-0)
Common dwelling attendance: 11,195 (#2)
TE Tre McKittyDT LB OT
Louisville was considered one of three new cities for the UFL, and the followers confirmed up. They performed their dwelling video games at Lynn Household Stadium, a soccer-specific venue that’s dwelling to Louisville Metropolis FC of the USLC, and the ladies’s workforce 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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