BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 18: Pittsburgh Maulers head coach Kirby Wilson during the USFL game between the Pittsburgh Maulers and Tampa Bay Bandits on April 18, 2022 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)
BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 18: Pittsburgh Maulers head coach Kirby Wilson during the USFL game between the Pittsburgh Maulers and Tampa Bay Bandits on April 18, 2022 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)
The 2022 re-boot of the USFL took pains to mimic the original product as closely as possible. For the Pittsburgh Maulers, that has meant orange and purple uniforms and a familiar sledgehammer-wielding logo to go along with the spring date on the calendar.
Unfortunately for the Maulers, they’re following their predecessor’s script a little bit too closely. The original Maulers finished their one and only season in the USFL at 3-15. This year’s squad has started 0-4 with Saturday’s loss to New Jersey, with three of the losses coming by more than one score. Twice, the Maulers have failed to score a touchdown and they are the only team in the league to be shut out.
Despite the fact that all 2022 games will be played in Birmingham, Alabama, there seemed to be some local interest in the squad coming into season. But between the hubbub of the Steelers drafting Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett in the NFL Draft, the Penguins starting their Stanley Cup hunt against the New York Rangers, the Pirates being slightly more watchable than expected and the 0-4 start for the Maulers, it seems that Pittsburgh has mostly moved on from minor-league football.
The Steelers are expected to begin their second round of interviews for their vacant general manager position this week. Alan Saunders
With some NFL teams holding their rookie minicamps this weekend, players that left without contracts may be looking for another shot, and we could see more tryout invitees to Pittsburgh’s camp this weekend. Saunders
