The 2023 USFL season is officially over. The Birmingham Stallions are your 2023 champions after winning two years in a row. The season had a lot of fun moments, but what were the best plays of the year? With the kick-off return rate and big plays on both sides of the ball, it has been an exciting year. Here are some of the best moments from the 2023 USFL season.
2023 USFL Best Moments
Of course, not every moment of the season will be highlighted here. This list could go on for ages if that were the case. These are just a select few events in no particular order. It will highlight plays from all eight teams in the league as well. It will be these moments that help the league grow each year.
Former LSU WR Derrick Dillon (19) – Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Derrick Dillon Field Goal Return
One of the most notable and fun moments of the season was when Derrick Dillon returned a field goal attempt for a touchdown. The Pittsburgh Maulers attempted to kick a 59-yard field goal. The kick was in the last few seconds of the second quarter and was the last play of the half. Dillon was able to catch the ball because it was too short. Then Dillon returned it for a 109-yard touchdown. Dillon was clearly a strong return man, and getting the chance to run the ball going against players not prepared for a speedster made for a fun Memphis Showboats play.
The Kick Return TDs
There were too many great kick returns to highlight just one. This 2023 USFL season had numerous kick returns for a touchdown. This is something so rare in football, but never impossible. When it happens, no matter the league, fans get hyped up. The fact that this happened numerous times in the year made this season 100 times more exciting. According to the USFL, there were five returns from a kickoff that resulted in a touchdown. Of course, the number does not seem high, but understanding that it does not happen often, and there are only ten weeks in a season, is exciting.
Even when the returns did not go for a touchdown, there were rarely touchbacks. Many players had high return yards from kickoffs alone. This made the game much more enjoyable to watch and definitely a highlight of the 2023 USFL season.
Pittsburgh Maulers Championship Fumble Recovery
The Maulers may not have won the 2023 USFL Championship, but this play was a fun one to watch for them. It is always fun to see defensive linemen get a chance to run down the field. The Birmingham Stallions quarterback, Alex McGough, tried to extend a play while under pressure, which is something he has usually done well with, but it did not go well for him. Reuben Foster forced a fumble which was recovered by Olive Sagapolu on the Maulers’ 38-yard line. Sagapolu ran with the ball until being tackled at the Birmingham 28-yard line.
Of course, Sagapolu then handed the ball off but did it forward, which is illegal. Although if that was a return for a touchdown, it would have been much more fun; it is always enjoyable when plays go on for this long and is done by a defensive lineman.
Michigan Panthers RB Reggie Corbin (3) – Jason Miller/USFL/Getty Images
Michigan Panthers Blocked Punt vs. Stars
Many fans believed, based on how the season was going, that it would have been the Philadelphia Stars that made the 2023 USFL playoffs. Instead, the Michigan Panthers had a big win against the Stars, placing them in the playoffs instead. In the third quarter of the game, the Stars were up 20-9 but had to punt the ball away. When the Stars punted the ball, Panthers’ Marcus Simms blocked the kick. AJ Richardson recovered it for a 15-yard touchdown. This put the Panthers up to 15 points, shifting the momentum.
NJ Generals Week 9 Trick Play TD vs. Stars
The New Jersey Generals somehow made it to a win-and-in scenario despite their record. In week nine, they needed the win against the Philadelphia Stars in order to still have a chance. The Generals brought out everything they had on the offense, which struggled for most of the season. In the second quarter of the game, the teams were tied 10-10. The Generals had the ball in the endzone. The ball was snapped straight to running back Darius Victor. Right away, that threw the defense off, as they could have thought De’Andre Johnson would be rushing the ball on a 3rd and one.
While running to his right, Victor ended up throwing the ball to Braedon Bowman for a touchdown to take the lead. This was a big play for the Generals and a factor that led to their victory over the Stars. This win also prevented the Stars from clinching the 2023 USFL playoffs in week nine.
Gamblers Scramble Turns to Fumble to Stallions TD
The Houston Gamblers quarterback, Kenji Bahar, was known to scramble out of the pocket when needed. In week nine of the 2023 USFL season, Bahar was under a lot of pressure from the Birmingham Stallions’ defense. Bahar did an excellent job scrambling and getting away from the defense in what could have been a loss of yards. The quarterback was able to get passed the line of scrimmage for a couple of extra yards, but when he went down, he ended up fumbling the ball instead.
The fumble was returned by Matt Hankins on the Stallions. Hankins returned the ball for a touchdown. What could have been a great play by the Gamblers turned into a great play by the Stallions. Birmingham ended up clinching playoffs with their win.
Philadelphia Stars 55-Yard FG for the Week 5 Win
Yes, there was more than just one field goal that went for over 50 yards. This was not the only impressive one, but it was for the win. A 55-yard field goal for the win is always a fun one to watch. In week five of the 2023 USFL season, the Philadelphia Stars faced the New Jersey Generals. The two teams were tied 21-21 in the last seconds of the game. With one second left, the Stars attempted a 55-yard field goal. Luis Aguilar was able to make the kick and get the win for the Stars.
Houston Gamblers RB Mark Thompson- Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Houston Gamblers Week 4 One-Handed Interception
In week four of the 2023 USFL season, the Houston Gamblers faced the Philadelphia Stars. In the second quarter of the game, the Gamblers were up 27-7. Things were not looking good for the Stars and continued to get worse. Stars quarterback, Case Cookus made a deep pass, which was intercepted by Elijah Jones. This interception was a great one-handed catch by Jones, making it a great play. Everyone loves a one-handed catch, but it being by a defender makes it even more exciting.
Breakers Tight End Sage Surratt on a 35-yard Completion Set Up the Win
In the first week of the 2023 USFL season, the New Orleans Breakers faced the Houston Gamblers. The two teams were tied 15-15 with a little more than four minutes to go in the game. With just over two minutes to go, the Breakers’ quarterback, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, made a short pass left to the tight end, Sage Surratt. Surratt turned that play into a gain of 35, being tackled at the five-yard line. This play led to the Breakers eventually scoring a touchdown to put them in the lead. New Orleans won the game 22-15.
Of course, these were not the only great moments of the 2023 USFL season. But these were some of the plays that got fans excited to watch. These are the moments that will draw in new fans and help the league grow. The Birmingham Stallions are the 2023 USFL champions, and now it is time to prepare for the 2024 season.
