The 2026 UFL season kicks off this week, with the beloved St. Louis Battlehawks in motion Saturday towards the defending champion DC Defenders. Newly minted Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl joined “First Issues First” to debate his group’s season opener, his strategy to teaching and what degree of expertise the league has to supply.
“These guys can play,” Proehl started. “The extent is so excessive right here. … A few of them have not had the chance to showcase their expertise and talent set. … Coaching camp is so completely different than once I performed. … Plenty of these guys, they simply have not had the alternatives to do the issues that they are able to doing.”
Proehl, who performed 17 seasons within the NFL and gained two Tremendous Bowls, went on to say that he is assured his group can win all of it regardless of beginning the season with simply the fifth-best odds to take residence the championship title.
“Completely,” Proehl replied when requested if he thinks the Battlehawks are underrated heading into the yr. “However that is OK. That is type of an excellent place to be. I am enthusiastic about our soccer group. … These guys are a lot enjoyable to educate.”
Battlehawks HC Ricky Proehl talks UFL opener, assist from St. Louis, teaching Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze and training affect | First Issues First
Expertise is about to be maximized this season with a handful of latest offensive-friendly rule adjustments. Proehl, who referred to himself as “an offensive man,” is happy about all of the completely different choices and revealed which UFL rule he likes greatest.
“The fourth-and-12,” he mentioned with out hesitation. “A few years in the past, the Battlehawks … scored 16 factors in a minute and a half due to that rule.”
Groups trailing within the fourth quarter can try to convert this single play — a 4th-and-12 play from a group’s personal 28-yard line — to retain possession as an alternative choice to the normal onside kick. A profitable conversion ends in the group preserving the ball, whereas a failed try provides possession to the opposite group at that spot.
Proehl could have loads of star energy on his roster to make performs like this attainable. The Battlehawks will probably be led by beginning quarterback Brandon Silvers, who has performed in each the UFL and legacy XFL. Hakeem Butler returns at receiver for St. Louis, together with standout exterior linebackers Pita Taumoepenu and Travis Feeney whereas All-UFL defensive sort out Carlos Davis joins the combination.
“Who needs to observe a 10-7 ballgame?” Proehl added. “We need to see the 42-38 additional time video games. That is what this league does. That is what it brings [with] the brand new guidelines. We’re on the leading edge of adjusting the sport.”
Proehl changed Anthony Becht, who moved from the Battlehawks to grow to be the top coach of the Orlando Storm — one of many league’s three brand-new franchises this season. Proehl says St. Louis followers have embraced with totally.
“We are the staple of the league,” he mentioned. “It is an ideal environment. St. Louis is among the greatest sports activities cities in our nation. They assist each sport in that metropolis, and the Battlehawks aren’t any completely different. … It is thrilling to be part of.”
