It’s been a little while, but the Detroit Lions have dipped their feet back into spring football. On Sunday, they signed Birmingham Stallions CB Ryan Cooper, who is fresh off a solid campaign in the UFL.
Ryan “Bump” Cooper was a fresh addition to Birmingham’s roster. Under the leadership of A.J. McCarron, we saw quite a few defensive backs who were new to the team, with Cooper being one of them.
Bump made a name for himself. He started in the final five games of the year, seeing action in all ten. Cooper racked up 28 tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup across that span.
Ryan Cooper is headed to the Motor City 😤#UFLtoNFL pic.twitter.com/nbOTWFKmoE
— United Football League (@TheUFL) August 10, 2026
Cooper entered the NFL in 2024, as an UDFA signing with the Baltimore Ravens. He played in a couple of regular season games that year. He’s a journeyman, with practice squad stints for three other teams prior to joining the UFL.
Bump played his college football at Oregon State, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors in 2022 and 2023.
This signing is just another testament to what the UFL platform stands for: giving athletes another chance to chase their dreams. You can stay up to date with all UFL to NFL movement with our official tracker.
What are your thoughts on Ryan Cooper signing with the Detroit Lions? Which Stallions player should be next? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
