{
  "id": 10973637,
  "title": "Rhode Island UFL team adds former Alabama star AJ McCarron as coach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/rhode-island-ufl-team-adds-former-alabama-star-aj-mccarron-as-coach",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T15:23:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rhode-island-ufl-team-adds-152321048.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The new Rhode Island UFL team has acquired championship experience with the appointment of former Alabama star AJ McCarron as head coach. McCarron, a three-time national champion quarterback, will lead the club alongside Nick Saban, who coached him during Alabama's 2011-2012 and 2009 seasons. Prior to his NFL career, McCarron played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, leading them to the playoffs in 2024. He also set league records in passing touchdowns, completion percentage, and passer rating in 2023. The UFL’s President & CEO, Russ Brandon, praised McCarron’s leadership and connection to the markets he will guide. The Rhode Island team, along with its colors, logos, and brand identity, will be unveiled on October 18 at Centreville Bank Stadium, where they will host five home games in 2027. The move to Rhode Island is part of the league’s expansion, with Colorado and Oklahoma also joining the UFL in the upcoming season. The team is set to kick off its inaugural home game on April 2, 2027, at 8 p.m. at the Pawtucket stadium, broadcast on FOX UFL Friday.",
  "summary": "AJ McCarron will coach the new UFL team in Pawtucket, the league announced on Wednesday morning.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}