– 17 UFL staff members take on opportunities across the NFL and college football following the 2026 UFL season
ARLINGTON, TX (September 9, 2026) – As the fall football seasons get underway and the previously announced 45 players from the 2026 UFL spring season are continuing their NFL journey, an additional 17 members of the league’s football and business personnel have earned opportunities with NFL clubs and college football programs. Together, their stories demonstrate the breadth of the UFL’s role in developing talent across the football industry.
The UFL has established a growing track record of providing professional football opportunities to players who use the league as a springboard to the NFL. But the same philosophy applies to the people working alongside those players.
“As 45 players from our 2026 UFL season enter the NFL season with opportunities ahead, we are also incredibly proud of the support staff who are continuing their careers with opportunities in the NFL and college football,” said Russ Brandon, CEO of the UFL.
“The UFL pipeline is bigger than just our players, and we value the role our league plays as a talent and innovation incubator. Whether players, coaches, equipment managers, athletic trainers, performance professionals, video managers, or any other football and business personnel, the UFL is a place that attracts talent and provides a unique opportunity to develop their craft, build relationships, leverage technology and innovation, and put their skills into practice. When anyone from the league carries that experience into their next opportunity, we take great joy in knowing that is part of the UFL’s success, too.” – Russ Brandon
The 2026 season provided these professionals with the opportunity to work in a professional football environment, manage the demands of a full season and learn alongside other experienced football personnel – adding to the experience and expertise that they will carry forward throughout their careers.
Among those building on their 2026 UFL experience are:
Luke Adelstein
Head Equipment Manager, Louisville Kings → Seasonal Equipment Intern, Carolina Panthers
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Adelstein has developed his career in football equipment operations through collegiate and professional opportunities, including his time with Syracuse University and the UFL. Following his season leading the Louisville Kings’ equipment operation, he now continues that development with the Carolina Panthers. His professional progression also includes previous NFL equipment training experience, including with the Baltimore Ravens.
Raphael “Rafe” Chierchio
Manager of Player Administration & Team Operations, UFL → Team Operations, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Chierchio has built his career on the football operations and player administration side of the industry, including his work with the UFL. A Cornell graduate with experience in sports media, he now takes that experience to the Jacksonville Jaguars as he continues his career in NFL team operations.
Ethan Evans
Assistant Equipment Manager, Louisville Kings → Head Student Manager, University of Memphis
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Evans entered the UFL after developing his equipment management experience with Memphis Football, where he had been part of the program’s equipment operation since 2023. After his first UFL season, Evans returned to Memphis with expanded leadership responsibilities, bringing back new leadership skills and approaches developed during his time with the Louisville Kings.
Mason Fishel
Video Manager, DC Defenders → Assistant Video Director, Stanford
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Fishel joined the DC Defenders after developing his football video experience through collegiate opportunities, including at Washington State University. Following the 2026 UFL season, he is continuing that development at Stanford, bringing professional football video experience into a college football environment.
Nicholas Girimonte
Assistant Video Manager, Dallas Renegades → Video Assistant, Dallas Cowboys
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Girimonte entered the UFL after building experience across sports media and football video, including work with TCU and the Dallas Cowboys. His 2026 season with the Dallas Renegades added to his experience in professional football video, and he now returns to the Cowboys, carrying forward the technical knowledge and relationships developed through the UFL season.
Jack Hevesy
Assistant Equipment Manager, Orlando Storm → Seasonal Equipment Intern, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Hevesy joined the Orlando Storm after developing his equipment management experience at Arkansas State University. Following his first UFL season, he is bringing that experience to the Jacksonville Jaguars, further building professional experience within an NFL equipment operation.
Makayla Kirven
Assistant Video Manager, Houston Gamblers → Video Assistant, Dallas Cowboys
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Kirven brought a strong background in video and media production to the Houston Gamblers, including previous experience with the Dallas Cowboys Football Video staff. After her UFL season, she returns to the Cowboys, adding another professional football experience to her development in video operations.
Nick Lacina
Video Manager, Houston Gamblers → Video Assistant, Minnesota Vikings
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Lacina has built his football video career through professional football opportunities, including with the Houston Gamblers and the Minnesota Vikings. After leading the Gamblers’ video operation during the 2026 season, he returns to Minnesota with additional experience from a full professional football season.
Gunner Miller
Assistant Video Manager, Columbus Aviators → Football Video Intern, Seattle Seahawks
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Miller entered the UFL with football video experience and served as Assistant Football Video Manager during the inaugural season of the Columbus Aviators. After a season that he described as an important opportunity to learn and grow in the profession, he joins the Seattle Seahawks as a Football Video Intern.
Sam Plumb
Assistant Equipment Manager, Birmingham Stallions → Seasonal Equipment Intern, Philadelphia Eagles
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Plumb entered the UFL after gaining experience in football operations and equipment management, including his time with the University of Iowa football team. His UFL experience with the Birmingham Stallions added to his development within football as he joins the Philadelphia Eagles’ equipment operation.
Mike Radle
Head Athletic Trainer, Louisville Kings → Fellowship Athletic Trainer, Green Bay Packers
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Radle brought athletic training experience to the Louisville Kings, helping oversee the health and preparation of players throughout the 2026 season. His UFL experience has now positioned him for a fellowship opportunity with the Green Bay Packers, continuing his development within an NFL athletic training environment. The Packers currently list Radle among their seasonal fellows.
Cam Ramnarine
Assistant Video Manager, DC Defenders → Video Assistant, Minnesota Vikings
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Ramnarine brought prior NFL video experience with the Minnesota Vikings to his work with the DC Defenders, where he supported the team’s video operation during the 2026 season. He now returns to Minnesota, carrying additional professional football experience from his UFL season into the Vikings’ video operation.
Anthony Sarao
Head Strength & Performance, Birmingham Stallions → Assistant Strength & Conditioning, Buffalo Bills
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A former USC football player who served as a team captain and three-year starter, Sarao also spent time playing professionally for the Indianapolis Colts before transitioning from the playing field into strength and performance. Taking what he learned as an athlete, Sarao interned with the TCU Horned Frogs and continued his career alternating seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the UFL.
Clay Schmitz
Head Equipment Manager, Birmingham Stallions → Assistant Equipment Manager, Green Bay Packers
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Schmitz brought previous collegiate and professional equipment experience to Birmingham, including time with Kansas State and the Kansas City Chiefs. After leading the Stallions’ equipment operation during the 2026 season, he now continues his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Yasmeen Shannon
Assistant Video Manager, Birmingham Stallions → Video Assistant, Dallas Cowboys
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Shannon brought football video experience from Baylor University and previous work in the UFL to the Birmingham Stallions in 2026. After serving as an Assistant Video Manager during the season, she now returns to the Dallas Cowboys as a Video Assistant, continuing her development within an NFL video operation.
Brendan Taylor
Video Manager, Orlando Storm → Video Assistant, Las Vegas Raiders
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Taylor has built extensive experience in professional football video through multiple seasons in the UFL, including his work with the Orlando Storm. After leading the Storm’s video operation in 2026, he now brings that experience to the Las Vegas Raiders as a Video Assistant.
Cody Teevens
Assistant Equipment Manager, Columbus Aviators → Director of Equipment Services, Eastern Washington University
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Teevens joined the Aviators for the franchise’s inaugural UFL season after working in the Eastern Washington equipment operation. Following the season, Teevens returned to Eastern Washington as Director of Equipment Services, taking on an expanded leadership role after gaining professional football experience with the Aviators. In reflecting on his UFL experience, Teevens called it an “amazing experience” and credited the opportunity with providing valuable learning while working alongside the Columbus equipment staff.
Together, the 17 staff members represent a cross-section of the people critical to the success of the UFL, working behind the scenes to prepare the league and its teams every day. From managing equipment and uniforms, and capturing game film to maintaining player health, developing performance programs, and managing the administrative infrastructure that supports teams and the league, their work is essential to the UFL’s ability to operate at a professional level.
And now, they are carrying the experience, relationships, and expertise gained in the UFL forward into the next chapter of their careers.
About the United Football League
The United Football League (UFL) is the premier professional spring football league, powered by the visionary leadership and investment of Mike Repole and Impact Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, FOX, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and ESPN. Built on innovation, accessibility, and competitive excellence, the UFL delivers the most engaging professional football experience in the world – for both players and fans. The league features eight teams: the Columbus Aviators, Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Louisville Kings, Orlando Storm, St. Louis Battlehawks, and two new markets to be announced for 2027.
