UFL relocation rumors: What we know about Michigan Panthers, Birmingham Stallions futures
The United Football League is set to play its third season as a unified spring football league in 2026. It could undergo significant changes before that happens.
Rumors emerged Tuesday the UFL was planning to relocate four of its franchises ahead of the 2026 season. Multiple reports indicated the impacted teams would all come from the USFL conference: the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers.
Will the UFL actually be relocating several of its teams ahead of the 2026 season? Here's what to know about the league's response to the relocation rumors.
UFL relocation rumors
The UFL insisted it remains in an evaluation phase as it prepares for the upcoming campaign. The league did not, however, rule out the possibility of relocating franchises before the 2026 season.
"Every year, the League office looks at planning for next season and beyond. At this point, we have nothing to report on any unauthorized speculation," a league spokesperson told Paste BN.
Meanwhile, UFL News Hub's Mike Mitchell reports "nothing has been finalized" for the 2026 UFL season and the league's plans for its third season remain "fluid." However, he noted the league "shifted focus to exploring relocation options" instead of expansion amid the in-market struggles of some of their existing teams.
UFL president Russ Brandon told Paste BN at the 2025 UFL championship game the league was "looking heavily" into the expansion process.
"We're taking a lot of rigor to it," Brandon said. "We're taking a lot of time and effort to do it the right way."
It isn't clear which markets the UFL probed for expansion or whether they will be among the top options for any potential franchise relocations ahead of the 2026 season.
Current UFL teams
The UFL played its 2025 season with eight total teams. They were split into two conferences, named after the USFL and XFL, and were as follows:
USFL conference
- Birmingham Stallions
- Houston Roughnecks
- Memphis Showboats
- Michigan Panthers
XFL conference
- Arlington Renegades
- DC Defenders
- San Antonio Brahmas
- St. Louis Battlehawks
It isn't clear how many of those eight teams will return in their current forms, or whether the USFL and XFL conference brands will remain intact for 2026.