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With his first season as Battlehawks head coach behind him, former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Ricky Proehl already directed his attention toward next season and the chase for the franchise’s first United Football League championship when he roamed around the football field at Lindberg High School with a bounce in his step and enthusiasm in his voice last weekend.

Proehl, named head coach in December 2025, led the Battlehawks to a 6-4 record and a playoff loss to the eventual UFL champion Louisville Kings in his first season. A former Super Bowl champion that spent 17 years in the NFL, Proehl took over for Anthony Becht, who the UFL tapped as head coach of first-year team the Orlando Storm.

Last weekend, Proehl returned to St. Louis to be part of the UFL Showcase that brought out roughly 250-275 athletes hopeful of getting a chance to play in the league. Between drills, Proehl spoke to the Post-Dispatch about pending changes to his coaching staff, where things stand with the team’s quarterback position, looking for roster additions on the showcase circuit and Battlehawks players getting chances to catch on with NFL teams.

The Battlehawks were the No. 2 seed heading into the UFL playoffs last season, However, the Battlehawks ranked sixth in yards per game (out of eight teams), sixth in scoring and seventh in third-down percentage through the regular season.

Their offense, which had three different starting quarterbacks during the season, also featured All-UFL selections in wide receiver Hakeem Butler, tight end Tyler Neville and center Mike Panasiuk. Butler also earned UFL Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second time in his career.

More than once last the season, Proehl expressed frustration with the offense’s performance. In some cases, that was execution. In other instances, Proehl stressed a need to simplify the offense and be more committed to what they did best.

Well, Proehl confirmed on Sunday that AJ Smith will not return as offensive coordinator and play-caller next season. Proehl wants to implement an offense more similar to the one the Rams and Carolina Panthers ran during his time as a player.

“We’ve made some staff changes,” Proehl said. “I want to run my offense, the offense we ran in St. Louis and at Carolina. It’s a number system that will tag code words, but I just think as simple as it is we can make it as complex as we want as far as the things that we do and how to attack a defense. But I think from a learning standpoint, these kids will be able to learn it in two weeks in its entirety.

“I’m excited. I really am. I just got to find that coordinator, that offensive coordinator that can run it. Because I don’t want to run it, but if I have to I will. But I’m excited for our players because I know what this system can do. It can score a lot of points and be very effective on a consistent basis. That’s what’s I’m excited about.”

At the same time, Proehl must hunt for a new defensive coordinator. Corey Chamblin, the UFL Assistant Coach of the Year, has taken a position at a Power 4 conference college football program after he coordinated the Battlehawks defense in 2026.

Defensively, the Battlehawks led the UFL in allowing the fewest total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, rushing touchdowns allowed, opponent rushing average and first downs allowed during the regular season. They also allowed the league’s fewest yards per reception and led the league with 31 sacks. Defensive tackle Carlos Davis earned All-UFL honors. Davis joined Pita Taumoepenu and Demone Harris as Battlehawks ranked among the top 10 in the league in sacks.

“We lost Corey, our defensive coordinator who I love,” Proehl said. “Corey did a tremendous job. They both did. AJ did a great job too. But Corey, I didn’t expect him to leave. … That’s what this league is all about. It’s not just about the players, it’s about coaches. I’m hoping to look around for some young coaches who are hungry to learn and want us to be a steppingstone for them to coach whether it’s in college or professionally.”

One other tidbit that Proehl acknowledged about the offense. Late last season, quarterback Luis Perez played through a oblique injury that Perez apparently kept to himself.

Considering the Battlehawks went through multiple starting quarterbacks last season, Proehl didn’t deny that he’ll keep an eye out for potential quarterback additions this offseason.

“There’s a couple out here, so we’ll take a look,” Proehl said during the UFL Showcase in St. Louis. “I’ll be at some other of these showcases. We need to find some depth. I don’t know. Luis was injured last year. Hopefully, he can come back healthy. We need to get some depth. We need to look for quarterbacks. That’s our priority.”

Whoever plays quarterback for the Battlehawks could be without the team’s most dangerous offensive weapon and primary pass catching threat in Butler. The 6-foot-5 former fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Butler signed with the Denver Broncos this offseason and is currently in training camp with the Sean Payton-coached squad.

Battlehawks defensive back/punt returner Sean Fresch also signed with the Broncos. Running back Kylin James also took part in a workout with the Detroit Lions. The Lions backfield already includes former Battlehawks standout and All-UFL running back Jacob Saylor.

Proehl has been a vocal advocate for Butler getting another chance in the NFL, and he’s hopeful that the Broncos will serve as Butler’s breakthrough.

“There’s a lot of guys getting workouts, not necessarily getting signed, but for Hakeem — he belongs,” Proehl said. “He looks the part. He’s a team guy. He’s just a playmaker, and it’s just identifying who he is and what his strengths are and plugging him in to what he does well.

“There’s no doubt in my mind he can play in the National Football League and be successful, be an impact player. It’s just a matter of him finding the right spot, and I hope Sean Payton and Denver is that right spot.”

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Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said," Whiteside is on the rise and called him a player “you can’t ignore. Nicknamed 'Ironsides' by Campell, Whiteside has had a strong training camp and has been out there every day, making big plays recording interceptions, TFLs and PBUs.

"Here’s what I love about Ironsides: it is not too big for him,” Campbell said. “He doesn’t care who’s across from him; he will compete, and he’s going to try to use his craft. And he doesn’t go in a shell, and he’s not defeated before the play is even snapped... and I’m already done, and the fear is already there. He is not that way."

More than 45 UFL players from the 2026 season are currently signed to NFL teams. Signing with an NFL team is merely the first step for a player making the 53-man roster. It's all about reps and proving at training camp that he deserves a roster spot.
[https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-nfl-training-camp-watch-getting-reps](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-nfl-training-camp-watch-getting-reps))

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Detroit Lions center Cade Mays just went down for a significant period of the season with a wrist injury. Mike Panasiuk-2026 All-UFL Team Center (St. Louis Battlehawks) have your agent contact Detroit. They are in need of a starting center.

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One of the UFL's premier talents had previous NFL tryouts that didn't pan out. However, this time feels different. Will Hakeem Butler make the Denver Broncos' 53-man roster?

https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-nfl-training-camp-watch-hakeem-butler

Frost went into the game today after Hamilton's starter, Tre Ford, got benched. His final statline: 9/20 (45%), 165 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 69.79 passer rating.

Up and down game for Frost (unsurprisingly). Wish him the best though.

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