Professional football getting a fresh start in Louisville.
No joke, this is not a drill… definitely not a Fire drill either. In just a little under two weeks the lights of Lynn Family Stadium will be shining down on football players (the other football) as professional football gets another chance in the city of Louisville.
Sports fans in Louisville have shown for decades that they’re more than willing and able to support the teams that call “The Ville” home. The Louisville Bats, Louisville City FC, and Racing Louisville FC have all experienced firsthand what the support of Louisville fans can do. Now the United Football League is betting Louisville can support a fourth professional franchise.
As far as football goes, the Louisville Cardinals have long been the biggest show in town for the majority of Louisville’s history. But in the early 20th century, an NFL team named the Louisville Brecks called the derby city home. The Brecks trace their roots back to 1899 but did not join the NFL (then called the American Professional Football Association) until 1921.
Taking their place in 1926 was the Louisville Colonels. The NFL likely added the Colonels to keep them away from the rival American Football League. The team operated out of Chicago, but many considered them a continuation of the Louisville Brecks. Whether they played in Louisville or Chicago, the Colonels were an absolute disaster on the field, failing to score a single point during the 1926 season. Their final two games on record saw the Colonels defeated 34-0 by the Chicago Bears and 14-0 by the Green Bay Packers. Outside of a few other short-lived minor-league football franchises and a handful of arena league teams, that basically sums up the history of professional football in Louisville.
After many attempts of reviving pro football in Louisville, the city is finally ready for a team built to last. The Kings are one of three new teams in the United Football league, a spring professional football league designed to bring high quality football to cities starving for the game. The UFL was born out of the merger between the XFL and the USFL. The 2026 season will mark the third season for the UFL as it’s known now.
Friday, March 27, the Louisville Kings will take the field for the first time, determined to reign over a new era of professional football in the derby city.
Louisville Kings 2026 Schedule
The Louisville Kings inaugural season will consist of 10 games, with five of those coming at home at Lynn Family Stadium.
10 weeks. One mission. 👑
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) January 22, 2026
Get your season tickets NOW: https://t.co/GqGz9ZGuWP pic.twitter.com/2a5na1hNkB
The Kings Ready Their Court for Their Opening Campaign
It all starts with the head coach, and the Kings couldn’t have made a bigger splash than by hiring Chris Redman. Does it get more Louisville than that? A hometown standout, Redman helped lead Louisville Male High School to the 1993 KHSAA 4A state championship and earned two All-State selections. After a long recruitment, the Louisville-born quarterback elected to stay home and play for the Louisville Cardinals, where he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 1999. Drafted in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Redman spent nine seasons in the league and even earned a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.
Redman is Selling his Players on Getting Them to the NFL.
The blueprint is clear. 📈 pic.twitter.com/UctmuQ1th9
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) February 20, 2026
Motivating players with the allure of the next level could pay dividends. Redman isn’t just coaching a team he’s building a stable of players who are hungry to prove themselves, not only to fans but also NFL general managers. Some players are looking to get their first shot at the NFL; for others it could be their last chance to make it back.
The Kings Will Boast a Court Full of Familiar Faces
Fans won’t have to look far to spot familiar names and hometown heroes on the Kings roster. The front office clearly understood the assignment when assembling this team. While the roster is loaded with talent, several key pieces were forged right here in Kentucky, giving the Kings a strong local foundation. The two most notable signings are former Louisville standout Tyler Hudson and University of Kentucky all-time leading rusher Benny Snell Jr.
Don’t miss a moment of the action this season. Don’t forget to grab your tickets to witness history in the making at Lynn Family Stadium next Friday night.
Be sure to follow the Kings on social media linked below!
