In case you haven’t heard, there’s a brand new football league. Yes, the combination of FOX Corporation’s financial capital, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s star power/influence, and America’s need for year-round pigskin entertainment has resulted in the creation of the United Football League. True to its name, the first-year league—also known as UFL—is the combination of four teams from the XFL and four teams from the USFL, all of which were previously competing for players, personnel, and spring football viewers since each league was revived recently.

The UFL’s inaugural season kicks off on Saturday, March 30 and will continue until a Champion is crowned on Sunday, June 16. If you’re looking to learn more about the league in general and figure out a rooting interest, allow Milwaukee Record to get you up to speed on all the former Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers on UFL teams. As it turns out, every single franchise has at least one or two players with local affiliation. Here’s our guide!

Birmingham Stallions

Amari Rodgers — Wide Receiver
The Packers selected Clemson wideout Amari Rodgers in the third round (85th overall) of the 2021 draft. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hold onto a roster spot in Titletown, as the team’s chosen returner fumbled a total of seven punts (of the 40 he returned over a 26-game span). Following an especially shaky game against Dallas in Week 10, Rodgers was released and replaced by Keisean Nixon, who turned into an All-Pro returner.

Zack Johnson — Guard

Johnson went undrafted in 2020, but signed with Green Bay that spring. He spent most of that season on the team’s practice squad, but was added to the active roster for one game late in the season (in which did not play). He was released by Green Bay prior to the 2021 regular season.

Cole Schneider — Guard

Schneider was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2022, but was released before the beginning of the preseason. The Packers re-signed the offensive lineman in early August 2023, but released him again before the end of the very same month.

Jace Sternberger — Tight End
The Packers drafted Jace Sternberger in the third round (75th overall) in 2019. After two seasons abbreviated by injuries and a substance abuse-related suspension, Green Bay released the towering tight end prior to the 2021 season. He bounced around NFL practice squads since, but has found a home with the Stallions as an USFL All-Pro and the USFL’s leading receiver in 2023. During his time in Green Bay, Sternberger caught 12 balls for a total of 112 yards and a touchdown.

Chauncey Rivers — Linebacker
Undrafted linebacker Chauncey Rivers cracked camp with the Packers in 2021, making the team’s 53-man roster. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL after four games with Green Bay, during which he managed the only two tackles of his NFL career to this point.

Johnathan Garvin — Linebacker
As of this moment, Garvin’s entire NFL career has been spent with the Packers. In 38 total games (including one start) spread between three seasons, the linebacker managed 32 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two pass deflections. He was released by Green Bay prior to the 2023 season…on his birthday, no less.

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Houston Roughnecks

Olive Sagapolu — Defensive Tackle
The former Badgers nose tackle earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention acknowledgement in 2017 before missing much of his senior season in 2018 with a torn ACL. He signed with the Packers in the summer of 2019, but was released at the end of the preseason.

Kiondre Thomas — Cornerback
Cornerback Kiondre Thomas spent parts of the 2022 and 2023 season the Green Bay’s practice squad, but was elevated for one game along the way, managing a fumble recovery in that brief NFL cameo.

Carlo Kemp — Defensive End

Defensive end Carlo Kemp spent part of the 2021 preseason with Green Bay before being cut in late August.

Chris Odom — Defensive End
Over a span of seven games with Green Bay in 2017, Chris Odom tallied six total tackles (three solo and three assisted).

Memphis Showboats

Jordan McCray — Center

Undrafted center Jordan McCray signed with Green Bay in the spring of 2014, but was released by the Packers in the last round of cuts before the start of the regular season.

Daylon Mack — Defensive Tackle
Nose tackle Daylon Mack spent exactly one week on the Green Bay Packers practice squad in September 2020.

Dominique Dafney — Tight End
After going undrafted out of Indiana State, tight end Dominique Dafney signed to the Packers’ practice squad during the 2020 season. Before year’s end, we was promoted to the 53-man rosters, where he caught a total of four passes for 60 yards and one touchdown over a span of 15 games in 2020 and 2021. He was released prior to the 2022 season.

Michigan Panthers

Nate McCrary — Running Back
Running back Nate McCrary spent three weeks with the Packers in August 2023, but was cut before the regular season.

Danny Etling — Quarterback

When Jordan Love landed on the COVID-19 reserve list in late 2021, Danny Etling was signed to Green Bay’s practice squad, where he spent a total of six days. About six weeks later, he signed a future/reserve contract with the Packers and (following a nice training camp) eventually wound up on the Green Bay’s practice squad for the duration of the 2022 campaign. He was waived a few weeks prior to the 2023 season.

Arlington Renegades

Austin Allen — Tight End

Tight end Austin Allen, who was first-team All-Big Ten during his time at Nebraska, spent one preseason with the Packers in 2023. After being cut, he was part of Green Bay’s practice squad for two weeks before being outright released last September.

Sal Cannella — Tight End

Undrafted Auburn tight end Sid Cannella spent about four weeks with the Packers during the 2022 preseason before getting released.

Adrian Ealy — Offensive Tackle
Offensive lineman Adrian Ealy was on the Packers’ practice squad from December 29, 2021 through January 11, 2022. That’s it.

Jordan Steckler — Offensive Tackle
Okay, so Jordan Steckler didn’t play for the Badgers and he never spent a moment on the Packers, but he’s from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, so he’s on the list!

DC Defenders

Tim Ward — Defensive End
Tim Ward was on the Packers’ practice squad for part of the 2022 season.

Kentrell Brice — Safety
Signed by the Packers after going undrafted in 2016, Kentrell Brice earned a spot as one of Green Bay’s starting safeties by 2018. In three seasons in Titletown (his only three NFL seasons to this point), Brice had 105 tackles, a sack, and an interception in 39 total games including the postseason.

San Antonio Brahmas

Alizé Mack — Tight End

Mack was injured before the end of the 2022 preseason, then released after his brief stint on injured reserve was through.

Delontae Scott — Linebacker
Scott spent much of the 2020 season on Green Bay’s practice squad. He was waived at the end of training camp in August 2021.

Scott Nelson — Safety
Badgers safety Scott Nelson was signed by the Seahawks in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He spent that season on Seattle’s practice squad, followed by Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Nelson was then part of the practice squad for his hometown Lions for exactly one week in the summer of 2023, immediately chased by a spot on the Houston Texans practice squad for a spell last year.

St. Louis Battlehawks

Manny Wilkins — Quarterback

Arizona State standout Manny Wilkins wasn’t drafted in 2019, but was quickly signed post-draft by the Packers. He spent the entirety of that season as Green Bay’s practice squad quarterback, but was released in April 2020 after the Packers drafted some guy named Jordan Love and there was suddenly an abundance of quarterbacks.

Darrius Shepherd — Wide Receiver
Darrius Shepherd is one of the most accomplished players to appear on this list. In limited time spread between the 2019 and 2020 regular seasons, the wideout and returner had six catches for 47 yards. He also returned 20 kickoffs for a total of 374 yards. Unfortunately, he also had punt return issues and turned at least one should-be touchdown into an Aaron Rodgers interception before being waived by Green Bay on December 1, 2020.

About The Author

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Co-Founder and Editor

Before co-founding Milwaukee Record, Tyler Maas wrote for virtually every Milwaukee publication (except Wassup! Magazine). He lives in Bay View and enjoys both stuff and things.