The UFL has announced its inaugural All-UFL team, and three former Steelers received recognition for their efforts this spring in their first season in the United Football League. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler of the St. Louis Battlehawks, tight end Jace Sternberger of the Birmingham Stallions, and defensive lineman Carlos Davis, also of the Birmingham Stallions, received All-UFL nods.
The St. Louis Battlehawks electrifying wide receiver Hakeem Butler led the UFL this season in receiving 652 and finished second in the league with 5 touchdowns. Butler signed with the Steelers in May of 2023. Many fans were excited to see what he could bring to the receiver room due to his freakish size(6 ‘6, 220 pounds) and blazing 40-yard dash time at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine(4.48 seconds), but their hopes didn’t last long. Butler battled through injury during training camp, which resulted in him finishing the preseason with 1 reception that went for 17 yards. He was ultimately released on August 25, 2023, not making the 53-man cut. Butler’s Battlehawks will face the San Antonio Brahmas this Sunday, June 9 at 7 PM (eastern time) on FOX.
Tight end Jace Sternberger also had a solid 2024 UFL campaign with the Birmingham Stallions. Sternberger finished the regular season with 25 catches, 454 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Number 12 on the Stallions was dominant, and if the UFL is anything like the NFL, Sternberger can be a serious X-factor for the Stallion’s quest of capturing the 2024 UFL title. If you look at the final four teams this past NFL season, four of the best tight ends remained standing: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), George Kittle (49ers), Mark Andrews (Ravens, and Sam LaPorta (Lions), and the best one (Travis Kelce) went on to win the Super Bowl. Sternberger stuck with the Steelers for a little longer than Hakeem Butler did. Sternberger was signed during the 2021 season to the practice squad and remained on the roster until roster cut-down day before the 2022 season.
The last former Yinzer to make the All-UFL squad is Carlos Davis. Of the three former Steelers, Davis spent the most time in Pittsburgh and may also be the most NFL-ready out of the three who made the All-UFL team. Davis finished the 2024 season with 21 tackles and 7 sacks, which was second in the UFL. Davis was drafted by the Steelers with their seventh round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played in seven regular season games during his rookie year in Pittsburgh, finishing the season with 6 tackles. Davis got hurt during his sophomore season, only playing in four games while racking 5 tackles. Davis was cut on the same day Sternberger was cut in 2022, but Davis stuck with the practice squad during the 2022 season. Davis and Sternberger are set to face the Michigan Panthers tomorrow, June 8 at 3 PM (eastern time) on ABC.
Will the Steelers look to bring any of these 3 players back after their stellar seasons in the United Football League? This weekend will be crucial for them to put the cherry on top as NFL scouts tune into the competition.