The Birmingham Stallions hired A.J. McCarron to be their next head coach on Thursday, following Skip Holtz's stepping away from the UFL to assess other career opportunities. Needless to say, Auburn Tiger fans weren't happy to see the former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback take the reins for the state's one professional football team.
In the wake of the hiring, some Tiger fans threatened to boycott the product. Under Holtz, the Stallions won two USFL Championships before the league merged with the XFL to form the UFL. Then, Birmingham won the first UFL Championship Game over the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 in 2024 to establish itself as the greatest spring league football team of all time.
Now, the Stallions are hiring an inexperienced coach, which is already an issue, but also seemingly choosing a side in the Iron Bowl rivalry. At least to these fans:
I am so out on this league now. Good luck, maybe you can go to Bama A-Day and sell tickets to all those high rollers.
— Auburnist (@TheAuburnist) December 18, 2025
It was a good run, Stallions #giddyup
— Pat McCroch (@Richard_Hare_) December 18, 2025
— Romalone (@romalone5150) December 18, 2025
Yeah I’m out ✌️
— 1-800CallTahaad🤙 (@AuburnTigers65) December 18, 2025
A.J. McCarron incorrectly claims state of Alabama always supported him
McCarron perhaps fed the trolls even more ammunition in his official press release statement after accepting the Stallions job by claiming that the state of Alabama has always supported him, ignoring the orange and blue contingent who always cheered against him.
“I am excited about this new opportunity with the UFL,” McCarron said in a release from the UFL, per AL.com. “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.”
McCarron has always been a bad guy behind the scenes. Birmingham just brought on someone who will turn Tiger diehards away from packing Protective Stadium every week.
If Holtz was always a goner, there were better options who could've galvanized more fans across both SEC fanbases in the state.
Now, without Holtz and former GM Zach Potter, the Stallions may never be the same.