Reviewing The Louisville Kings 2026 UFL Season

All hail the Louisville Kings. One of the most intriguing franchises to join the United Football League’s (UFL) fold this past offseason, the Kings went on a historic run – cementing their success in history in their first year of existence.

Under the Mike Repole regime, Louisville was a city to receive one of the relocated teams this year. The Memphis Showboats were moved to Louisville, rebranded to the Kings, and given an entirely new coaching staff.

Chris Redman earned the title as Head Coach, the former Louisville quarterback who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. While it took a bit of time for Chris to decipher exactly who he was going to be as a coach, his poise and leadership is ultimately what helped take Louisville from worst to first in the UFL.

Let’s take a look back on what was an incredible year for the Kings.

The 0-3 Start

Entering the season, there was no denying the sheer amount of talent that the Louisville Kings rostered. With former Kansas Jayhawks QB Jason Bean at the helm, and a team that had plenty of former NFL draft picks on the team, they were one of the new organizations that we had high hopes for.

Early on, though, the Kings would struggle. Jason Bean was inconsistent, having a difficult time making the easy plays that contributed to losses. Their offensive line unit was an absolute disaster. Louisville couldn’t run the ball at all – relying on their stout defense to keep things close the first few weeks.

Week one was bittersweet. In the debut of the Kings in Louisville, they couldn’t hang on late against Birmingham – falling 15-13 in heartbreaking fashion to the Stallions.

The Kings would then go on to lose two in a row to the Orlando Storm. Both games were in arms reach. In week two, we saw Chandler Rogers see a bit of playing time – but their offense remained dead in the water, and a couple of explosives out of Orlando’s offense gave them enough cushion. Week three told a different story. Louisville’s offense came alive in the second half, forcing overtime.

What followed would ultimately change the entire landscape of the UFL moving forward. The Orlando Storm won in overtime because of two defensive penalties out of the Kings. It was a wild, controversial way to lose again at home – in front of a home crowd that was very loyal to begin the year.

Redman’s Willingness To Be Tough

Chris Redman learned very quickly what it meant to be a Head Coach in professional football. It isn’t easy. He was faced with some difficult decisions early on, some of which brought on serious criticism from the fanbase.

After just one game, Redman made the call to fire OL coach Breno Giacomini – one of his close friends who also played at Louisville. In his place was Charlie Eger, an experienced coach who came in and immediately made a difference getting the ground game up and running in the right direction.

Cutting Benny Snell was another tough one. On paper, fans were disappointed that the former Kentucky star was let go – with some threatening to leave the fandom simply because of the transaction. However, it was a necessary move for Redman. Benny’s quality of play was not up to par with what Louisville needed, to be quite frank. On top of that, the Kings released starting OT Leroy Watson IV – a former NFL draft pick with the Vikings – and OG Nash Jensen.

Of course, the major change that shocked the spring football world: trading Jason Bean. After a week four win over Houston in overtime, Redman opted to send Bean to the DC Defenders – because he had such a strong belief in Chandler Rogers, the former North Texas standout who hadn’t played a snap of pro ball prior to the UFL.

The Chandler Rogers Era

After a myriad of moves entering week five, no one knew exactly what to expect out of the Kings. On the road, playing the 3-1 Dallas Renegades, Louisville shook up the entire league yet again. Four interceptions out of Jamie Sharper’s defense, paired with four touchdowns from RB Ian Wheeler were far too much for the Renegades to overcome. A convincing 47-25 victory for the Kings started to raise the question: could Louisville actually make a bit of a playoff push?

The spark of excitement was put to bed the following week. At home, the Kings fell entirely flat against St. Louis, managing to score just three points. Even with some explosives out of the returners, Louisville couldn’t capitalize. At 2-4, the Kings needed all the cards to fall their way the following weeks.

Back-To-Back vs. DC

That’s exactly what would happen. Louisville did their part, as this team played incredibly cohesive football over the coming weeks. Down 10 on the road in DC, a massive hit from Derick Roberson on Rogers ignited this organization. They went on to score 27 unanswered points, shocking the Defenders 30-13.

At home the following week against the Defenders, the Kings put together another complete performance. Sparked with a kickoff return for a touchdown from Tyler Hudson, and a few turnovers generated by their defense, the Kings held on to win 33-30 at home – their first victory at Lynn Family Stadium.

Finishing Strong

All of a sudden, it was possible for the Kings to make a legitimate playoff run. If this organization could secure a couple more wins, their destiny was in their own hands.

At home against Dallas, a 21 point explosion in the fourth quarter lifted the Kings to a crucial victory – one that essentially would clinch them a spot in the playoffs.

Riding hot into Columbus, the Kings would win in convincing fashion over the Aviators, scoring 42 points despite playing all three of their quarterbacks. This organization was red hot – poised to be a problem for every single team in the playoffs…and that’s exactly what they were.

The Championship Run

In a rematch against the St. Louis Battlehawks in the semi-finals, the Kings got their sweet revenge. It wasn’t at all times pretty, but Chandler Rogers came alive in the second half, and Louisville played their brand of football. In a hostile environment on the road, the Kings drowned out the noise, making all the right plays down the stretch – as Steele Chambers came away with the game-sealing interception with outstanding coverage of WR Hakeem Butler in the end zone.

You could not have scripted a more intriguing Championship game for Louisville. They would face off against the Defenders again – who had recently inserted Jason Bean into the starting lineup due to Jordan Ta’amu’s ACL tear.

In the first half, it was all DC on their home turf. Aside from a fumble six courtesy of Eric Garror, the Kings were shutout across the first two quarters, down 16-7 at halftime.

However, this group would once again find a way. Fueled by the outstanding playmaking abilities of Isaiah Winstead and Ian Wheeler, this offense came alive. Wheeler ripped off a long touchdown run to begin the fourth quarter, and James Robinson followed that up with a score of his own. Just like that, the Kings led by 11. It was too much for a battered DC team to overcome, and the Kings solidified a United Bowl victory in their very first year as a franchise.

Standout Playmakers

QB Chandler Rogers: Chandler Rogers put together one of the most impressive stories for a Championship quarterback we’ve seen in a while. Despite the odds, he believed in himself and this team – and put in the necessary work to push the Kings to the pinnacle of success.

RB Ian Wheeler: Deservedly so, Ian Wheeler has signed with the Buffalo Bills following the UFL season. Wheeler rushed for 541 yards and eight! touchdowns this year, primarily in the final several weeks following the release of Benny Snell. He also had 427 kick return yards.

RB James Robinson: The former Jaguars standout was a sparkplug for this Kings organization. He effectively replaced Benny Snell, rushing for 422 yards and five scores of his own.

WR Tarik Black: Black has signed with the Detroit Lions, after what was a stellar campaign for the former Michigan Wolverine. Black had 468 receiving yards and three touchdowns, showing up in a plethora of big moments for the Kings all year long.

WR Isaiah Winstead: Speaking of big moments, Isaiah Winstead made the most of his opportunity in Louisville. He’s been one of the better receivers with the Renegades, but saw a larger role with the Kings – exploding for 564 yards and four touchdowns – despite missing a couple of weeks due to injury.

DE Cam Gill: Gill, formerly a Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, immediately found a home in the UFL with the Kings. He ended up setting a UFL record with 10 sacks this season, dominating off the edge each and every week. Cam should be on an NFL roster sooner than later.

LB Jaheim Thomas: Quietly, Jaheim Thomas was one of the top linebackers in the UFL, with 82 tackles including the postseason. He had a strong 71.1 Defensive Grade via PFF, with 30 Defensive Stops to his name.

CB Corey Mayfield Jr.: Mayfield earned All-UFL honors this year, and rightfully so. He led the league with four interceptions, creating all sorts of plays down the stretch of the season. Despite his size, Corey was inserted into the starting rotation on the outside, taking on tough assignments and making the most of his opportunities.

CB Eric Garror: Garror is another player who had a strong campaign that went under the radar a bit. After a slower start to the year for the former Tennessee Titan, Garror proved to be one of the top slot corners in the UFL. He generated a few turnovers late in the year, each of which were pivotal in Louisville’s championship run.

Special Teams, Special Players

We can’t forget about Louisville’s special teams unit – one that was elite all season long. Tanner Brown was a league leader in field goals, setting a UFL record with 25 made attempts during the regular season. He also connected on three 60+ yarders, two of which came in their semi-finals win over St. Louis. Those eight points were key difference makers in a nine point victory. Brown has already signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Punter Mac Brown made his return to spring football, showcasing why he deserved to be here all along. The former Orlando Guardians specialist had a solid year, although we didn’t get to see him throw any touchdowns this time around. Additionally, long snapper Jordan Silver was an outstanding addition to the UFL. He was arguably the top LS this season – and deserves an NFL look.

Major Takeaways

The Louisville Kings are the definition of a team that was “bought in”. When Redman made those tough calls early in the year, it easily could have fallen apart. Instead, the Kings rallied behind Rogers. Pair that up with the addition of Eger to the staff, who helped Steve Logan ignite their offensive production, and we see why the Kings scored 30+ points per game the final several weeks.

Louisville navigated some tough waters early, especially in regards to their offensive line. This staff overcame multiple injuries – and a couple of releases due to underperforming starters. They pushed through, regardless, ultimately configuring the correct assortment of pieces who established a winning culture in the trenches. Dohnovan West, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, and Chim Okorafor were a few key additions during the year at the position.

How about Jamie Sharper’s defense? The Kings rode that momentum all season long. Sharper, in his first year as a Defensive Coordinator, excelled. It helped that Louisville was incredibly deep in every room. This defensive line was excellent, led by Cam Gill, Jaylon Allen, and Travis Bell. On the backend, Cam Dantzler, Corey Mayfield, Keaton Ellis, Mekhi Garner, and others held down the fort. The Kings generated 17 takeaways across the last six games (regular season) – a ridiculously high number.

What’s Next For Louisville?

Louisville Kings fans can breathe a sigh of relief: Chris Redman plans to stick around. He made it clear following the season that he loves the UFL, what it stands for, and his ability to represent the city of Louisville professionally.

While we should expect to see the same coaching staff return, the Kings will have some holes to fill from a talent standpoint. Ian Wheeler, Tanner Brown, Lucky Jackson and Tarik Black have already signed to the NFL, and it’s expected that other standouts such as Cam Gill, Isaiah Winstead, etc. will be on their way as well.

This is a team that isn’t just built to win now, they are set for the future. Chandler Rogers is the perfect prototype of a UFL quarterback, who probably needs another year or two in the league before getting an NFL look. That’s excellent news for the Kings, as Rogers immediately provides them with stability heading into the 2027 season.

Final Thoughts

Across the board, the Louisville Kings had one of the most triumphant seasons in recent memory for any spring football league. The team entered the UFL with plenty of hype, as one of the strongest new markets – with loads of potential as an organization.

Even with the early growing pains and disappointing losses, the Kings faithful remained steady. Louisville averaged over 11,000 fans per game, as they watched Louisville win eight of their final nine games en route to what was a historic run and finish.

Louisville won’t just be a flash in the pan, either. You better believe this team will be ready to run it back in 2027.

What are your thoughts on the Louisville Kings 2026 UFL season? Did they deserve to hoist the trophy? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!