The UFL’s purge continues. Mike Nolan, who took the Michigan Panthers to the playoffs in 3 straight years and the 2025 UFL Championship game, confirmed today he will not return in 2026.
It’s clear that this was a decision by the UFL from Nolan’s statement saying, “I have been informed that I will not be returning as head coach as the league moves forward in a new direction under new ownership. As it was put to me, they are ‘restructuring and starting fresh.’”
Disappointing, Not Surprising
Nolan is not being retained by the UFL despite having just brought the Michigan Panthers to the Championship game. From a distance, this move is incredibly surprising. The Michigan Panthers were an abysmal 2-8 in 2022. Then Nolan took over, and the Panthers became a playoff team in each of his 3 seasons coaching the team. He was also the league’s 2024 Coach of the Year.
However, this move was predictable when you consider that this offseason has been marred by losses. The UFL is not keeping the Michigan Panthers as a competing franchise moving forward, despite showing a 30.1% attendance increase and having tremendous hooks with the Detroit fanbase after Jake Bates became a fan favorite among Detroit Lions fans.
Official Statement from former Michigan Panthers Head Coach Mike Nolan on his departure from the United Football League.
He will not be returning to the #UFL in 2026. pic.twitter.com/Ot8NlGEDhW
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) November 28, 2025
Nolan’s departure feels like a gut punch delivered to one of the most successful and likable leaders from the UFL front office, especially after he described coaching in the UFL as “one of the greatest joys of my 40-plus years in this game” and “the most fun I’ve had coaching football.”
In Repole’s vision, centralized scouting, no more GMs, territorial protections, and a philosophy that views players who spend 4-5 years in the UFL as failures and liabilities rather than veteran stabilizers and fan favorites, Nolan became collateral damage as the league looks to “restructure and start fresh.”
Nolan subtly nodded to the cost on his peers, saying, “During this transition, I’ve seen people I respect deeply, good people, dedicated people, also have their roles affected.” Echoing the purge of all 8 general managers and centralizing roster decisions, a move I called out as turning the UFL into an “NFL temp agency” that prioritizes churn over culture. It’s as if the league is allergic to the continuity that built its early buzz.
The Irony of “Starting Fresh” in a League Building on Nolan’s Revival
Nolan wasn’t a placeholder in a temp league, but an architect of the Panthers’ resurgence, bringing an NFL pedigree, professionalism, and a spirit of friendliness to everyone he impacted. We saw roster stability under Nolan as key players and the coaching staff wanted to come back year after year, contributing to a winning format. Yet here we are, mere months after a championship appearance, with Nolan shown the door for the crime of succeeding too steadily. Repole’s blueprint has already demonstrated a pursuit of instability involving ditching GMs to cut costs (despite claims it’s not about finances), limiting veteran longevity, and tying rosters to regional college drafts. Now the new blueprint has removed one of the most successful and loved head coaches.
Echoes of a League in Freefall
UFL fans have been through a lot in its short 2-year span. When the XFL and USFL merged, each league brough in only 4 of their current 8 teams, scrapping half of the teams. This offseason, we have seen the UFL move to relocate 3 of the 8 UFL teams just 2 seasons after the hectic merger offseason.
The separation of Mike Nolan from the UFL is a sequel to the announced relocation of franchises and the firing of all the GMs. The UFL doesn’t see any value in continuity, and it even celebrates the lack of it. Following the announced departure of Mike Nolan, Mike Repole went to Twitter saying, “Change isn’t a risk, staying the same is.”
Change isn’t always good. The UFL’s instability and failure to extend key players has led to players begging to sign in increasing numbers with the CFL, like UFL All-Star DT Joe Wallace (now with Toronto), leading receiver Saiosi Mariner (Saskatchewan), and defensive lineman Levi Bell and Bradlee Anae (BC Lions), who have already left for the CFL’s more stable pastures.
Recently, on Tuesday, reigning UFL MVP quarterback Bryce Perkins signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers are committed to paying their quarterback top dollar this season, thus, Perkins is electing to be a CFL backup (at least for now) over being a UFL starter.
The league was already regarded as one that produced an impressive amount of NFL signings; now it is trending to one that has increasing numbers opting to play in the CFL rather than the UFL.
Repole is getting his wish in increased change, as he changes the league into one where MVPs would rather be a CFL backup than return to the UFL.
A Nod to Nolan
Mike Nolan was a class act, beginning every post-game interview by firstly thanking the fans for their support, and now recently showing grace in his departure after being cast off from an organization that he has greatly improved.
Mike Repole may understand horses that race for 1–5 years and are done. Football isn’t horse racing. Fans fall in love with players and coaches who stick around. If Repole keeps shooting the horses the fans love, eventually no one will show up to the track.
Jonathan Clink will work as UFL News Hub’s primary correspondent covering the Michigan Panthers for the 2024. He has written over 250 articles covering the Canadian Football League prior to joining UFL News Hub.
Clink is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba and currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has a background in several other sports as well having played soccer, basketball, and hockey competitively.
