# 2022 Birmingham Stallions season

The 2022 Birmingham Stallions season was the first season for the Birmingham Stallions as a professional American football franchise. They play as charter members of the United States Football League, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2022 season. The Stallions play their home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field and are led by head coach Skip Holtz.
In week 8, the Stallions clinched the South division.

## Background and history

As is the case with all eight teams competing in the league, the Birmingham Stallions take their name and color scheme from a franchise of the same name that competed in the original USFL. The original Birmingham Stallions, who competed in the USFL from 1983 to 1985, finished at or above .500 in each of their three seasons and were led by head coach Rollie Dotsch for the duration of their existence.
The identical team names were the subject of a lawsuit brought to Fox by the owners of the original USFL, who claimed trademark infringement and false advertising on the part of the new league.

## Personnel
### Final roster

The Stallions, like all other teams, have a 38-man active roster with a 7-man practice squad. Their first picks in the 2022 USFL draft included quarterback Alex McGough (round 1, pick 6), defensive end Aaron Adeoye (round 2, pick 11), and offensive tackle Chauncy Haney (round 3, pick 22).

### Staff

The Stallions' first head coach and general manager is Skip Holtz, who will also lead Birmingham's offense. Holtz, who served in various positions on college coaching staffs from 1987 to 2021, served most recently in head coaching positions at East Carolina, South Florida, and Louisiana Tech. After finishing the 2021 season at Louisiana Tech with a record of 3–9, he was fired. The Stallions' defense will be led by John Chavis, whose most recent coaching positions include defensive coordinator spots at Tennessee, LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas.

## Schedule
### Regular season

The Stallions' 2022 schedule was announced on March 7. They opened the season against the New Jersey Generals in the league's inaugural game, which did simulcast by both NBC and Fox, with an additional broadcast on NBC's Peacock streaming service. This was the first simulcast of a live sporting event by rival television networks since 1967. Because the regular season is being held in its entirety at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the Stallions will play all of their games at their home stadium. The schedule format has each team playing a ten-game regular season, consisting of two games against each division opponent and one game against each team in the opposite division.
| Week | Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Result | Record | TV | Recap |
| 1 | April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | New Jersey Generals* | W 28–24 | 1–0 | NBC/Fox/Peacock | Recap |
| 2 | April 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Houston Gamblers | W 33–28 | 2–0 | FS1 | Recap |
| 3 | April 30 | 8:00 p.m. | New Orleans Breakers | W 22–13 | 3–0 | Fox | Recap |
| 4 | May 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Tampa Bay Bandits* | W 16–10 | 4–0 | Fox | Recap |
| 5 | May 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Philadelphia Stars | W 30–17 | 5–0 | NBC/Peacock | Recap |
| 6 | May 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Michigan Panthers* | W 33–17 | 6–0 | NBC/Peacock | Recap |
| 7 | May 29 | 2:00 p.m. | Pittsburgh Maulers | W 26–16 | 7–0 | Fox | Recap |
| 8 | June 4 | 3:00 p.m. | New Orleans Breakers* | W 10–9 | 8–0 | Fox | Recap |
| 9 | June 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Houston Gamblers* | L 15–17 | 8–1 | USA | Recap |
| 10 | June 18 | 4:00 p.m. | Tampa Bay Bandits | W 21–18 | 9–1 | Fox | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. * mean that they host the game, since all eight teams play at the same stadium

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: vs. New Jersey Generals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Generals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| Stallions | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
* Date: April 16, 2022
* Game time: 7:30pm EST
* Referee: Larry Smith
* TV announcers (NBC/Fox/Peacock): Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
NJ – Randy Satterfield 3-yard pass from Luis Perez (Nick Rose kick), 11:45. Generals 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 3:15.
BHAM – Osirus Mitchell 35-yard pass from Alex McGough (Brandon Aubrey kick), 11:09. Tied 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:36.
Second quarter
NJ – Braedon Bowman 13-yard pass from Luis Perez (Nick Rose kick), 9:08. Generals 14–7. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 4:00.
Third quarter
BHAM – C. J. Marable 3-yard run (Brandon Aubrey kick), 0:37. Tied 14–14. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:13.
Fourth quarter
NJ – De'Andre Johnson 4-yard run (Nick Rose kick), 9:14. Generals 21–14. Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:23.
BHAM – Cary Angeline 28-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick), 5:51. Tied 21–21. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 3:23.
NJ – Nick Rose 47-yard field goal, 1:54. Generals 24–21. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 4:02.
BHAM – J'Mar Smith 2-yard run (Brandon Aubrey kick), 0:23. Stallions 28–24. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 1:26.
Top passers
NJ – Luis Perez – 13/18, 143 yards, 2 TD
BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 11/21, 156 yards, TD
Top rushers
NJ – De'Andre Johnson – 12 rushes, 98 yards, TD
BHAM – Tony Brooks-James – 8 rushes, 27 yards
Top receivers
NJ – Randy Satterfield – 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
BHAM – Osirus Mitchell – 5 receptions, 96 yards, TD :
The Stallions started their first season in the inaugural opener for the USFL against the New Jersey Generals. The Stallions won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Generals scored on their first drive to put the Stallions down 0–7. The Stallions answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell to tie the game 7–7. The rest of the quarter saw the teams trade punts. The Generals scored the only points of the second quarter with a touchdown after an Alex McGough interception, putting the Stallions behind 7–14. The Stallions then scored the only points of the third quarter with a C. J. Marable 3-yard rush, tying the game 14–14. In the fourth quarter the Generals scored first, putting the Stallions down 14–21. The Stallions would respond with a 6 play 67-yard touchdown, tying it up again at 21–21. The Generals responded with a 38-yard field goal drive, ending in a 47-yard field goal, putting the Stallions at 21–24 with 1:54 remaining. The Stallions responded by driving 59 yards downfield for a touchdown that would give them their first lead at 28–24, which would be the final score.

#### Week 2: at Houston Gamblers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Stallions | 10 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 33 |
| Gamblers | 9 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 28 |
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
* Date: April 23
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Referee: Duane Heydt
* TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Kugler, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard
Game information :
First quarter
BHAM – Brian Allen interception return (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 14:13. Stallions 7–0.
HOU – Nick Vogel 50-yard field goal, 11:46. Stallions 7–3 Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:22.
HOU – William Likely interception return (Nick Vogel kick no good), 8:12. Gamblers 9–7.
BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 31-yard field goal, 3:33. Stallions 10–9. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:29.
Second quarter
HOU – Isaiah Zuber 25 yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Clayton Thorson pass failed), 14:19. Gamblers 15–10. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16.
BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 37-yard field goal, 6:07. Gamblers 15–13. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 4:01.
HOU – Nick Vogel 31-yard field goal, 3:03. Gamblers 18–13. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16.
Third quarter
BHAM – Osirus Mitchell 34-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Victor Bolden Jr. rush failed), 13:33. Stallions 19–18. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:34.
BHAM – C. J. Marable 3-yard rush (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 5:38. Stallions 26–18. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 6:48.
HOU – Nick Vogel 24-yard field goal, 1:11. Stallions 26–21. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:16.
Fourth quarter
BHAM – Marlon Williams 64-yard pass from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 13:04. Stallions 33–21. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 3:14.
HOU – Tyler Simmons 44-yard pass from Clayton Thorson (Nick Vogel kick good), 12:24. Stallions 33–28. Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:42.
Top passers
BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 20/30, 229 yards, 2 TD, INT
HOU – Clayton Thorson – 12/27, 141 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
BHAM – C. J. Marable – 16 rushes, 76 yards, TD
HOU – Mark Thompson – 16 rushes, 93 yards
Top receivers
BHAM – Marlon Williams – 3 receptions, 88 yards, TD
HOU – Tyler Simmons – 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD :
For a second time in as many weeks, Stallions quarterback J'Mar Smith led Birmingham to three consecutive second half drives that ended with touchdowns. The reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Week, Smith went 19-of-29 for 214 yards on Saturday. His 34-yard, third quarter touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell gave the Stallions a 19–18 lead. His 64-yard strike to Marlon Williams stretched Birmingham's lead to 33–21 with just over 13 minutes left.
Houston, who took an 18–13 halftime lead on the strength of Will Likely's 63-yard pick-six, made it a one-possession game when Clayton Thorson connected with Tyler Simmons for a 44-yard touchdown with 12:24 left. The Gamblers comeback bid came up short, however, when Lorenzo Burns recorded his second pick of Thorson with 1:13 left.

#### Week 3: at New Orleans Breakers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Stallions | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 22 |
| Breakers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
* Date: April 30
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Referee: Larry Smith
* TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Joel Klatt, Brock Huard
Game information :
Second quarter
BHAM – Marlon Williams 47-yard catch from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 8:23. Stallions 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 3:16.
NO – Johnnie Dixon 2-yard catch from Kyle Sloter (Austin MacGinnis kick no good), 1:12. Stallions 7–6. Drive: 13 plays, 85 yards, 5:07.
BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 33-yard field goal, 0:07. Stallions 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 1:09.
Third quarter
NO – Johnnie Dixon 11-yard catch from Kyle Sloter (Austin MacGinnis kick good), 6:10. Stallions 10–6. Drive: 17 plays, 77 yards, 8:50.
Fourth quarter
BHAM – Victor Bolden Jr. 19-yard catch from J'Mar Smith (Brandon Aubrey kick good), 7:56. Stallions 17–13. Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:06.
BHAM – Kyle Sloter sacked in endzone, 7:43. Stallions 19–13.
BHAM – Brandon Aubrey 32-yard field goal, 1:19. Stallions 22–13. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:23.
Top passers
BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 15/38, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT
NO – Kyle Sloter – 26/47, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
BHAM – J'Mar Smith – 8 rushes, 59 yards
NO – Jordan Ellis – 25 rushes, 90 yards
Top receivers
BHAM – Victor Bolden Jr. – 6 receptions, 70 yards, TD
NO – Johnnie Dixon – 2 receptions, 53 yards, TD :
The 2–0 Stallions played against division rival, the 2–0 New Orleans Breakers. In what started off as a slow offensive performance for both sides, the Stallions got a 7–0 lead on a J'Mar Smith screen pass to Marlon Williams. Later into the 2nd quarter, the Breakers scored on a 10-yard pass from Kyle Sloter to Johnnie Dixon which made the Stallions lead trim down to 7–6. With 7 seconds left in the half, Brandon Aubrey made a 33-yard field goal to give Birmingham a 10–6 lead at the half.
Coming out of the half, the Breakers conducted an 8:50 17 play drive to regain the lead at 13–10 on an 11-yard pass from Sloter to Dixon. This would be the last time the Breakers would score all game. Birmingham would score 12 points in the final quarter of play. A touchdown from Smith to Victor Bolden Jr, a safety forced by Dondrea Tillman, and a Brandon Aubrey field goal. Birmingham would end up winning 22–13, which put them in sole possession of first place in the South Division with a 3–0 record.

### Standings

South Division :
| # | viewtalkedit | W | L | PCT | GB | DIV | PF | PA | STK |
| 1 | (y) Birmingham Stallions | 9 | 1 | .900 | - | 5–1 | 234 | 169 | W1 |
| 2 | (x) New Orleans Breakers | 6 | 4 | .600 | 3 | 3–3 | 196 | 164 | L1 |
| 3 | (e) Tampa Bay Bandits | 4 | 6 | .400 | 5 | 2–4 | 162 | 195 | L2 |
| 4 | (e) Houston Gamblers | 3 | 7 | .300 | 6 | 2–4 | 196 | 208 | W2 |
| (x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention ||||||||||||

### Postseason

| Round | Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Result | Record | TV | Recap |
| Division Finals | June 25 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. New Orleans Breakers | W 31–17 | 1–0 | NBC/Peacock | Recap |
| USFL Championship | July 3 | 7:30 p.m. | at Philadelphia Stars | W 33–30 | 2–0 | Fox | Recap |