Sunday, January 12, 2025, 9:39PM |  32°
MENU
Advertisement
3
MORE

Full schedule set for Pittsburgh Maulers in new USFL

Via @USFLMaulers on Twitter

Full schedule set for Pittsburgh Maulers in new USFL

A holiday weekend for many will also be the grand opening for the new Pittsburgh Maulers, who cap the first week of games for the inaugural season of the rekindled USFL, a pro football league that will play all its games this spring in Birmingham, Ala., with playoffs in Canton, Ohio.

The season begins with a Saturday night game April 16 on NBC and Fox, but the Maulers kick off at 8 p.m. April 17, which is Easter Sunday, against the Tampa Bay Bandits on Fox Sports 1. That’s a savvy bit of scheduling by the USFL, as the Bandits are coached by former Steelers offensive coordinator and Upper St. Clair native Todd Haley.

Here’s the full slate for the Maulers and head coach Kirby Wilson, who overlapped with Haley in Pittsburgh as the Steelers running backs coach (dates, times and broadcast information will be announced later):

Advertisement

Week 1

Former Pitt safety Paris Ford in a 2019 game at Duke.
Brian Batko
Maulers bolster roster with USFL supplemental draft; Paris Ford picked by Generals

Opponent: Tampa Bay Bandits (FS1)

The skinny: In addition to Haley calling the shots, the Bandits have a notable Steelers alumnus in wide receiver Eli Rogers, who hasn’t played in the NFL since he had 12 catches for 79 yards in three games for the Steelers in 2018.

Week 2

Advertisement

Opponent: Philadelphia Stars

The skinny: The Stars are quarterbacked by Bryan Scott from tiny Occidental College, a Division III program in Los Angeles, and Scott already has had stints in the Canadian Football League, the Spring League and now the USFL as he chases an NFL spot.

Week 3

Opponent: Michigan Panthers

De'Veon Smith of Michigan runs from Maryland defensive back Josh Woods (10) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016.
Brian Batko
Five questions for the Pittsburgh Maulers as training camp opens

The skinny: Jeff Fisher is likely the biggest name among all the coaches in this league, having spent 21 seasons in the NFL with the Oilers/Titans and Rams, even taking Tennessee to the Super Bowl.

Week 4

Opponent: New Jersey Generals

The skinny: The Generals secondary is set to include Aliquippa and West Virginia product Dravon Askew-Henry at safety.

Week 5

Opponent: Houston Gamblers

The skinny: With former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin running the show, the Gamblers offense should be a fun one.

Week 6

Opponent: New Orleans Breakers

The skinny: Coach Larry Fedora had Pitt’s number when he was at North Carolina, but he drafted a couple Panthers for his front four in defensive linemen Shakir Soto and James Folston.

Week 7

Opponent: Birmingham Stallions

The skinny: The all-time home team used one of its running back draft picks on Tony Brooks-James, who gained 7 yards on eight carries for the Steelers in 2019.

Week 8

Opponent: Generals

The skinny: New Jersey will be the first of three rematches for the Maulers.

Week 9

Opponent: Stars

The skinny: Back in the first iteration of the USFL, no franchise had more success than the Stars, who appeared in all three championships and won the final two.

Week 10

Opponent: Panthers

The skinny: Shea Patterson, a Michigan Wolverine, was the first overall pick in the draft but pushing him for the starting quarterback gig will be Paxton Lynch, a 2016 first-round pick by the Broncos who had a brief cameo with the Steelers and bailed on the CFL for this opportunity.

Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.

First Published: March 7, 2022, 3:38 p.m.
Updated: March 7, 2022, 4:15 p.m.

RELATED
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kyle Lauletta warms-up before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Cleveland.
Adam Bittner
USFL draft: Meet the Pittsburgh Maulers' inaugural class
The Pittsburgh Maulers' new uniforms
Adam Bittner
Social media reacts as Pittsburgh Maulers unveil uniforms
SHOW COMMENTS (10)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scrambles during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Besides finding a new coach, Steelers must find a franchise quarterback — by any means necessary
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on as time expires during the fourth quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
2
sports
Gerry Dulac: Steelers don't plan to move on from Mike Tomlin despite another one-and-done postseason
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin walks off the field after losing to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Ravens won 28-14.
3
sports
Jason Mackey: After another collapse and one-and-done postseason, the Steelers must make actual changes
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) interferes with Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) pass did not count.
4
sports
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers report card: F is for 'flat' in yet another uninspiring postseason effort
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Michael Bunting (8) looks to pass during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers on Monday, April 1, 2024 in New York.
5
sports
Penguins’ Michael Bunting involved in car crash, misses game against Lightning
 (Via @USFLMaulers on Twitter)
Former Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson now leads the Pittsburgh Maulers.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a 2017 game. Haley now leads the USFL's Tampa Bay franchise.  (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
Via @USFLMaulers on Twitter
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story