Current NFL players who used spring league success in XFL, AAF to earn second chances

The USFL will wrap up its inaugural revival regular season this weekend with the playoffs set for next week. While the Michigan Panthers, Pittsburgh Maulers, Houston Gamblers, and Tampa Bay Bandits will finish their respective campaigns over the next few days, football (most notably, the NFL) might still be in the immediate plans of some of their players.

Pro Football Network Insider Aaron Wilson first reported on Thursday that USFL players who are not on postseason rosters can immediately sign with NFL teams next week. While some players will be viewed as “camp bodies,” more than a dozen current NFL players have set a precedent for legitimate second chances from spring league success.

Current NFL players who used spring league success to earn second chances

While the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and XFL revival failed to stick landings during their short-lived operations, a few of their standouts were able to latch onto NFL rosters. The spring leagues gave perennial practice-squad players the chance to create additional game tape beyond the final preseason game. Those opportunities led to second chances in the NFL.

K Younghoe Koo

Younghoe Koo is the biggest success story in recent spring league history. Koo, a Seoul, South Korea native, made all 14 of his field-goal attempts with the Atlanta Legend during the 2019 AAF season. He turned that success into a practice-squad stint with the New England Patriots, which lasted just two weeks.

After leaving New England, Koo quickly returned to Atlanta with the Falcons in the middle of the 2019 season, and he has spent the past 2½ seasons as their starting kicker. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract extension in March. During his time with the Falcons, Koo’s converted on 90 of the 100 field goals that he has attempted.

K Nick Folk

Even longtime NFL vets can get a second chance off a spring league stint. After building a solid 11-year career in the NFL, Nick Folk spent 2018 out of the league. So, he decided to try his hand with the AAF in 2019, and his work with the Hotshots paid off. Shortly after the spring league disbanded, the Patriots came calling and Folk was able to latch on.

Folk has spent the past three seasons as the Patriots’ kicker. He has converted on 76 of his 84 field-goal attempts (90.4%) with the franchise.

QB Garrett Gilbert

While Garrett Gilbert was recently released by the Las Vegas Raiders, his success with the Orlando Apollos of the AAF clearly prolonged his career. Perhaps the most popular player during the AAF’s one-year run, Gilbert parlayed his success in the spring league into a backup job with the Cleveland Browns.

Even though Gilbert only lasted a little over a season in Cleveland, his name recognition from his AAF stint helped him latch on with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders over the past two years. Gilbert started a game in each of the past two seasons, completing 41 of 69 pass attempts for 437 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He’s likely to get a camp invite from a team seeking QB depth this summer.

QB John Wolford

After failing to make the New York Jets’ 53-man roster as a rookie, John Wolford joined the AAF and was drafted by the Arizona Hotshots. In eight games (seven starts), Wolford completed 63.4% of his passes, while producing 1,616 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. When the AAF folded, Wolford joined the Los Angeles Rams and eventually landed on their practice squad.

In 2020, Wolford became the primary backup QB on the Rams’ roster and even started a game. He held onto the role when the Rams traded for Matthew Stafford and earned a Super Bowl ring in February as Stafford’s clipboard-holder. In four games of action, Wolford has thrown for 236 yards and two interceptions on a 54.8 completion percentage.

QB Logan Woodside

A 2018 seventh-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, Logan Woodside failed to make the 53-man roster as a rookie. Following final cuts, Woodside signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad but only lasted a few weeks. With no NFL contract in sight, Woodside joined the AAF and became the starting QB for the San Antonio Commanders.

In seven AAF starts, Woodside completed 58.3% of his passes for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. That output was good enough to earn a return invite to Tennessee for training camp. Woodside managed to impress the staff and earn a spot on the practice squad through the 2019 season. He then became the backup QB in 2020.

RB D’Ernest Johnson

Similar to Koo, D’Ernest Johnson is one of the more notable NFL players to come out of the AAF. After failing to sign with an NFL team as a rookie, Johnson headed to the AAF and joined the Apollos. In eight games, he produced 372 rushing yards and 220 receiving yards. He was then invited to training camp with the Browns and made the 53-man roster.

In the three years since arriving in Cleveland, Johnson has played in all 49 games and produced 721 rushing yards, 222 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Johnson’s averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per carry during his career.

WR Greg Ward

The former University of Houston QB spent two summers and a season-long practice-squad stint (2017) with the Philadelphia Eagles while converting to wideout upon entering the NFL. After a second failed summer, Greg Ward went to the AAF to hone his skills at his new position. That decision paid off, as Ward caught 22 passes for 214 yards with the San Antonio Commanders, and was welcomed back to Philly for a third summer.

The third try was the charm for Ward, who made the Eagles’ practice squad again but was eventually elevated to the main roster. Through three seasons on the active roster, Ward has caught 88 passes for 768 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Eagles.

TE Colin Thompson

After bouncing around NFL practice squads for a couple of seasons, Colin Thompson signed up for the AAF and joined the Birmingham Iron. After a short stint in the AAF, he tried his hand with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers. Shortly after the XFL folded, Thompson was signed by the Carolina Panthers.

While Thompson was reunited with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule, he probably wouldn’t have gotten another shot in the NFL if he hung up his cleats. He has since played in 26 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons.

DE Bunmi Rotimi

Bunmi Rotimi has bounced around in the NFL and in spring leagues. He played for the AAF, XFL, and TSL before landing with the Washington Commanders last season. Rotimi’s stints with the Hotshots and New York Guardians allowed him to keep his career afloat, and his work in the TSL kept the dream alive. He signed with Washington last summer and made the practice squad. Rotimi eventually got called up and played in nine games, recording nine tackles and a sack.

DE Austin Larkin

After failing to make the Cowboys’ roster as an undrafted rookie in 2018, Austin Larkin signed up for the AAF in 2019 and joined the San Antonio Commanders. He played well enough to earn an invite to the Atlanta Falcons training camp, which led to a stint on the practice squad, and eventually the active roster.

Larkin lasted just a year in Atlanta, but eventually, he signed on with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He’s been with the Panthers ever since and has appeared in 11 games since his return to the league.

DE Alex Barrett

Alex Barrett spent a couple of seasons bouncing on and off the Lions’ practice squad to start his career. After an inconsistent start in the NFL, Barrett joined the Fleet in the AAF and played well, recording 15 tackles and two sacks in eight games. That production set him up for a stint with the Raiders in 2019. However, Barrett suffered an injury during training camp and was shelved on IR.

After recovering from injury, Barrett — who was released by the Raiders — signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 2019. He’s appeared in seven games for the 49ers but has primarily been a practice-squad player for the franchise.

DT Mike Purcell

Following a four-year stint with the 49ers, Mike Purcell’s early NFL career took a weird turn. He bounced around the NFL on five different practice squads over the span of two years. So, with little recent game tape on his résumé, Purcell tried his luck with the AAF and joined the Salt Lake Stallions. After a solid stint in Salt Lake, he signed a contract with the Denver Broncos and never looked back.

Purcell has spent the past three seasons as a rotational nose tackle for Denver. He’s appeared in 32 games (23 starts) and produced 96 tackles (11 for loss) and a sack.

G Daniel Brunskill

After spending two years on the Falcons’ practice squad, Daniel Brunskill tested his might in the AAF with the San Diego Fleet. The bet paid off, as he was one of the top offensive linemen in the spring league, shining during an eight-game stint.

Following that tenure, Brunskill signed with the 49ers, and he eventually became a starter for the perennial NFC contender. Through three seasons, Brunskill has played in 47 games and started in 40 of those matchups. He’s been a full-time starter over the past two seasons.

LS Scott Daly

It’s pretty tough to make it in the NFL as a long snapper. There are only 32 jobs in the league, so sometimes specialists have to look elsewhere for work. Scott Daly did just that, as he played in both the AAF and XFL. Daly played for the San Antonio Commanders and New York Guardians before signing with the Detroit Lions last year. He’s now the established long snapper for Detroit.