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| UFL official footballs (Photo: Gene Simmons/Ohsfbmedia.com file) |
ARLINGTON, TX – After six UFL players signed NFL contracts yesterday, seven more players from the 2026 United Football League season have signed NFL contracts, the league announced today, including two members of the Louisville Kings, two members of the Orlando Storm, and one each from the Birmingham Stallions, Columbus Aviators, and DC Defenders.
Birmingham Stallions linebacker Dyontae Johnson has signed with the Tennessee Titans, Columbus Aviators defensive end Ron Stone Jr. has joined the Denver Broncos, and DC Defenders outside linebacker Boogie Basham has signed with the Washington Commanders alongside Louisville Kings Safety Quindell Johnson. Additionally, Louisville Kings linebacker Antonio Grier has joined the Chicago Bears, while Orlando Storm punter Jack Browning and defensive back Josh Minkins have both signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
The additions bring the total number of players from the 2026 UFL season who have signed NFL contracts to 76, while the overall number of UFL alumni currently in NFL training camps reaches 107.
LB Dyontae Johnson | Birmingham Stallions → Tennessee Titans:
Johnson (6-2, 230, Toledo) played in nine games for the 2026 Birmingham Stallions, recording 35 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and one interception.
Johnson originally signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent the 2023 season on the Giants practice squad before appearing in two games for New York in 2024. He returned to the Giants in 2025 before joining Birmingham for the 2026 UFL season.
A three-year player at Toledo, Johnson finished his collegiate career with 293 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2022 after leading Toledo with 140 tackles.
DE Ron Stone Jr. | Columbus Aviators → Denver Broncos:
Stone (6-3, 257, Washington State) led the 2026 Columbus Aviators and tied for fifth in the UFL with 5.5 sacks. He also recorded 32 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
Stone signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft and spent the offseason and training camp with the club. He later joined the Michigan Panthers for the 2025 UFL season before moving to Columbus in 2026.
A five-year player at Washington State, Stone appeared in 53 games and finished his collegiate career with 172 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022 after recording 57 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks.
DE/OLB Boogie Basham | DC Defenders → Washington Commanders:
Basham (6-5, 274, Wake Forest) played in all 10 regular-season games with nine starts for the 2026 DC Defenders, recording 24 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Basham was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (61st overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with Buffalo. He later played for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers before joining the DC Defenders for the 2026 UFL season. He has appeared in 43 NFL games, recording 61 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one interception.
A five-year player at Wake Forest, Basham appeared in 52 games and finished his collegiate career with 174 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2019 and third-team recognition in 2020.
LB Antonio Grier | Louisville Kings → Chicago Bears:
Grier (6-1, 230, Arkansas) played in seven regular-season games for the 2026 Louisville Kings, recording 22 tackles, three pass breakups, and an interception he returned for 47 yards. Grier also recorded seven tackles in the postseason, helping the Kings to a United Bowl victory.
Grier signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with Tampa Bay, appearing in seven games and recording one tackle, while also spending time on the Buccaneers practice squad.
Grier began his collegiate career at South Florida, where he earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2020 and 2021. He transferred to Arkansas for his final season and recorded 36 tackles and an interception in 2023. Across his collegiate career, Grier recorded 214 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, six sacks, eight forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and three interceptions.
S Quindell Johnson | Louisville Kings → Washington Commanders:
Johnson (6-2, 208, Memphis) played in seven games for the 2026 United Bowl Champion Louisville Kings, recording 29 tackles and one pass breakup.
Johnson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Bears and appeared in three games as a rookie. Johnson later spent time with the Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburgh Steelers before joining Louisville.
A five-year player at Memphis, Johnson appeared in 51 games and finished his collegiate career with 284 tackles, six interceptions, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles. He earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2022 after recording 85 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.
K Jack Browning | Orlando Storm → Arizona Cardinals:
Browning (5-11, 190, San Diego State) appeared in all 10 regular-season games for the Orlando Storm in 2026, punting 28 times for 1,362 yards and averaging 48.6 yards per punt, with a long of 68 yards. He recorded two touchbacks and placed 11 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Browning also punted once in the postseason for 46 yards.
Browning signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and also spent time with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. He was elevated to Tampa Bay's active roster late in the 2024 season and made his NFL debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, handling the team's punting duties.
Browning began his college career at Grossmont College before transferring to San Diego State, where he handled punting, placekicking, and kickoff duties. He finished his Aztecs career ranked first in school history with a 45.8-yard punting average and made 35 of 47 field-goal attempts. Browning was named Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and First-Team All-Mountain West in 2022 before earning Second-Team All-Mountain West honors in 2023.
DB Josh Minkins | Orlando Storm → Arizona Cardinals:
Minkins (6-2, 207, Cincinnati) played seven games for the 2026 Orlando Storm, recording 39 tackles, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.
Minkins originally signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and spent the offseason and training camp with the club.
A five-year college player at Louisville and Cincinnati, Minkins appeared in 51 games and finished his career with 144 tackles, four interceptions, seven passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He spent four seasons at Louisville before transferring to Cincinnati for his final season, where he recorded 45 tackles and two interceptions in 11 games.
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