For players chasing an NFL dream, the path is rarely as simple as getting drafted, making a roster and staying there for a decade.

For many players, the journey includes getting released, spending time on practice squads, waiting for phone calls, changing teams and finding another place to prove they still belong in professional football.

Increasingly, that place has been the United Football League.

The UFL has developed into an important second-chance and developmental league for players trying to reach — or return to — the NFL. The 2026 season provided another strong example.

According to the UFL, 118 league alumni participated in NFL training camps during the 2026 offseason, and 44 former spring-football players entered Week 2 of the NFL season on active rosters or practice squads.

Perhaps even more impressive is what happened with players who were competing in the UFL only a few months ago.

When NFL rosters were initially formed for the 2026 season, the UFL reported that 16 players from the 2026 UFL season had earned spots with NFL organizations, including two on 53-man rosters and 14 on practice squads.

Those numbers tell part of the story.

The individual journeys tell the rest.

Tay Martin: From Columbus to a Detroit Game Ball

There may not be a better example of what the UFL-to-NFL pipeline can accomplish in 2026 than Tay Martin.

Martin played wide receiver for the Columbus Aviators and became one of the team’s most productive offensive players. He led Columbus with 42 receptions for 483 yards and two touchdowns, ranking third in the UFL in receptions and seventh in receiving yards. He also contributed four tackles on special teams.

That versatility helped Martin earn an opportunity with the Detroit Lions.

Making Detroit’s roster was already a tremendous accomplishment, but Martin quickly showed why the Lions kept him.

During Detroit’s opening game of the NFL season, Martin played 24 special-teams snaps and recorded three tackles. Lions head coach Dan Campbell rewarded his performance with a game ball.

Think about that transition.

During the spring, Martin was playing for Columbus in the UFL.

A few months later, he was standing in an NFL locker room receiving recognition from one of the league’s most recognizable coaches.

That is exactly what developmental football is supposed to provide.

Ameer Speed: Another NFL Opportunity Earned in Houston

Defensive back Ameer Speed already understood what NFL football looked like before arriving in the UFL.

The New England Patriots selected Speed in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He later spent time with several NFL organizations, including Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland and Houston.

Instead of allowing those stops to end his NFL pursuit, Speed used the Houston Gamblers as another opportunity to put himself on film.

Speed appeared in five games for Houston during the 2026 UFL season, registering 20 tackles, 14 solo stops and two passes defended.

The Dallas Cowboys noticed.

Speed earned a spot on Dallas’ NFL roster and logged 16 special-teams snaps in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season.

His journey is a reminder that the UFL isn’t limited to players who have never experienced the NFL.

It can also serve as a proving ground for former draft picks and NFL veterans attempting to show teams that they deserve another opportunity.

Gary Jennings Jr.: Perseverance Pays Off With the Chargers

Few players on this list demonstrate perseverance better than Gary Jennings Jr.

Seattle originally selected Jennings in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. His professional journey subsequently included stops with Miami, Baltimore, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Carolina.

Spring football gave Jennings another avenue to continue his career.

With the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2026, Jennings earned All-UFL recognition as a core special-teams player. He led St. Louis with 19 kickoff returns for 439 yards while making 16 special-teams tackles. He also caught three passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Jennings then joined the Los Angeles Chargers.

After beginning the regular season around the practice-squad level, Jennings was signed to the Chargers’ 53-man roster during Week 2.

Seven years after being drafted, Jennings was still finding ways to keep his NFL career alive.

That’s an excellent story about persistence.

Kaden Davis Makes His Opportunity Count

Sometimes an NFL opportunity comes down to one play.

Former Houston Gamblers wide receiver Kaden Davis showed exactly why.

Davis joined Houston during Week 6 of the 2026 UFL season and contributed in multiple roles. He finished second on the Gamblers with 275 kickoff-return yards on 10 returns, added four special-teams tackles and caught four passes.

Chicago signed Davis to its practice squad and elevated him for Week 1.

He responded by recovering a fumble on punt coverage while also playing 10 offensive snaps.

For players fighting to establish themselves in the NFL, special teams can provide the quickest path onto the field.

Davis took advantage immediately.

Major Burns Turns an All-UFL Season Into a Dolphins Opportunity

Defensive back Major Burns was one of the UFL’s best defensive players in 2026.

Playing for Houston, Burns led the league with four interceptions while adding eight pass breakups. He finished second on the Gamblers with 48 tackles and added five tackles for loss.

The performance earned Burns All-UFL recognition.

After previously spending time with the Chicago Bears organization, Burns used his outstanding spring season to land with the Miami Dolphins practice squad.

For a defensive back looking to establish himself at the highest level, leading a professional league in interceptions is about as strong an audition as possible.

Sean Fresch Shows the Value of Versatility

NFL teams are always searching for players capable of contributing in more than one area.

Sean Fresch did exactly that with St. Louis.

Fresch led the UFL with 333 punt-return yards and added 85 yards on kickoff returns. Defensively, he recorded 33 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and four pass breakups.

The performance earned him 2026 All-UFL honors.

Fresch then earned a place on the Denver Broncos practice squad.

A defensive back who can cover, tackle, rush the passer and return punts gives NFL coaches multiple reasons to keep him around.

Lucky Jackson Goes From UFL Champion to Detroit

Lucky Jackson already had extensive spring-football experience before helping the Louisville Kings capture the 2026 United Bowl championship.

Jackson led Louisville with 32 receptions for 392 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season while also handling punt-return duties.

Detroit gave him an NFL opportunity, and Jackson made the most of the preseason.

He caught seven passes for 109 yards in three preseason games, helping him earn a place on the Lions’ practice squad.

Detroit has become one of the NFL organizations most willing to utilize players with spring-football backgrounds.

Jackson is another example.

Bryce Hall Uses Louisville to Return to the NFL

Bryce Hall’s story is slightly different.

Hall wasn’t an unknown prospect looking for his first NFL opportunity. The New York Jets selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he accumulated considerable NFL experience before eventually landing in the UFL.

Hall joined the Louisville Kings in 2026 and recorded 14 tackles and an interception that he returned 83 yards for a touchdown in eight games.

His performance helped Louisville win the United Bowl and gave NFL teams fresh film.

The Houston Texans signed Hall, and he produced nine tackles and a pass breakup during two preseason games before landing on their practice squad.

For former NFL players, the UFL can provide something extraordinarily valuable: another chance to demonstrate that they can still play.

Jalen Moreno-Cropper Brings Big-Play Ability to New Orleans

Wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper gave Houston an explosive element during the spring.

He caught 22 passes for 291 yards in seven games but was even more dangerous returning kicks.

Moreno-Cropper returned five kickoffs for 213 yards, an average of 42.6 yards per return, including a 93-yard touchdown.

New Orleans brought him into camp, where he caught five passes for 83 yards during the preseason and earned a position on the Saints’ practice squad.

Explosive plays get noticed.

Moreno-Cropper created enough of them to earn another NFL opportunity.

Jacoby Windmon Needed Only Three Games

Sometimes players don’t need an entire season to make an impression.

Jacoby Windmon joined the Columbus Aviators late in the 2026 campaign and appeared in only three games.

He still managed to record 3.5 sacks, eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Pittsburgh brought Windmon back into its organization, and he made six tackles during the preseason before earning a spot on the Steelers’ practice squad.

Three UFL games helped open another NFL door.

Gottlieb Ayedze Provides Value in the Trenches

Offensive linemen don’t receive the same statistical attention as receivers, defensive backs or pass rushers, but NFL teams are constantly searching for depth up front.

Gottlieb Ayedze started all 10 games for the Houston Gamblers during the 2026 season.

Houston averaged 128 rushing yards per game with Ayedze helping anchor the offensive line.

That performance helped him earn an opportunity with Miami, where he saw preseason action on both offense and special teams before earning a place on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

Eugene Asante and Shawn Bowman Continue Their NFL Pursuits

The Arizona Cardinals also found help from the 2026 UFL.

Linebacker Eugene Asante played nine games for Houston and recorded 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He later produced nine tackles during three NFL preseason games.

Tight end Shawn Bowman, meanwhile, appeared in all 10 games for the Orlando Storm, finishing with seven receptions for 53 yards before receiving his latest NFL opportunity with Arizona.

Neither story may generate the same headlines as an NFL starter, but simply remaining inside an NFL organization keeps the dream alive.

Deantre Prince Gets Another Shot With Chicago

Another former NFL draft pick who benefited from the UFL was defensive back Deantre Prince.

Jacksonville selected Prince in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

In 2026, Prince played six games for the Louisville Kings and recorded 13 tackles, an interception and five passes defended.

Chicago brought him to camp, where he earned a practice-squad position.

Once again, spring football provided meaningful snaps, current game film and another chance.

The UFL-to-NFL Pipeline Is Bigger Than One Class

The players who competed in the UFL during 2026 represent only part of the league’s NFL impact.

Several players from earlier spring-football seasons have developed into legitimate NFL contributors.

Perhaps the most famous is Brandon Aubrey.

After kicking for the Birmingham Stallions, Aubrey became the Dallas Cowboys’ kicker and developed into one of the NFL’s best at his position. Entering the 2026 season, he had earned multiple Pro Bowl honors, and Dallas signed him to a four-year, $28 million extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid kicker at the time.

Dallas teammate KaVontae Turpin followed another remarkable path. After earning USFL MVP honors with the New Jersey Generals in 2022, Turpin joined the Cowboys and became a multiple-time Pro Bowl return specialist.

Kicker Jake Bates went from the Michigan Panthers to the Detroit Lions and has developed into Detroit’s NFL kicker.

Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond went from the spring league’s Renegades to becoming an important piece of Minnesota’s defense. He started 15 games in 2025, finishing with 62 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

Denver linebacker Dondrea Tillman became another defensive success story. After helping Birmingham win championships in spring football, Tillman recorded 41 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions for Denver in 2025 and opened his 2026 campaign with six tackles and a tackle for loss.

Green Bay punter Daniel Whelan, former St. Louis kicker Andre Szmyt, Rams kicker Harrison Mevis, Lions running back and return specialist Jacob Saylors and numerous others further demonstrate that the pipeline is no longer based on one or two unusual success stories.

It has become a legitimate source of NFL talent.

Why These Stories Matter

NFL careers can end quickly.

A player can be released because of numbers at his position, an injury, a coaching change, a scheme change or simply because another player fits what a team needs at that particular moment.

The UFL gives those players something extremely important.

Film.

Repetitions.

Coaching.

Competition.

And another chance to remind NFL scouts why they were professional prospects in the first place.

NFL coaches have noticed. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton publicly discussed the value of leagues where players can continue developing, while Detroit’s Dan Campbell and Dallas’ Brian Schottenheimer have also acknowledged the importance of the UFL talent pipeline.

The numbers support that growing relationship.

Following the 2026 UFL season, 23 players signed NFL contracts within five days of the season ending. By late July, 30 players from 2026 UFL rosters had signed NFL contracts, and by August the number had climbed even higher as NFL clubs continued searching for roster help.

Not every player who signs will become an NFL starter.

Not every practice-squad player will eventually reach a 53-man roster.

But that’s not the point.

The opportunity exists.

More Than a Second Chance

The UFL shouldn’t simply be viewed as a place for players who weren’t good enough to make the NFL.

For many players, it has become another stage in professional development.

Tay Martin went from catching passes for Columbus to receiving a game ball from Dan Campbell.

Ameer Speed went from Houston to the Dallas Cowboys.

Gary Jennings Jr. turned an All-UFL special-teams season into a spot on the Chargers’ active roster.

Kaden Davis turned an NFL elevation into a special-teams takeaway.

Major Burns led the UFL in interceptions and earned an opportunity with Miami.

Lucky Jackson won a championship in Louisville and then impressed Detroit.

Those stories demonstrate why spring football matters.

The NFL dream doesn’t always travel in a straight line.

Sometimes it runs through Birmingham, Houston, Columbus, Louisville, St. Louis or Orlando first.

And for another group of players in 2026, the UFL didn’t represent the end of their NFL aspirations.

It helped provide the road back.