What happened to AJ McCarron? Why long-time NFL backup QB, former Alabama star joined XFL’s Battlehawks
The XFL has recruited an intriguing group of quarterbacks for its second restart of 2023, but football fans will recognize none more than AJ McCarron.
McCarron was a star in Alabama. He won three national championships in college in the early 2010s — two as a starter — and established himself as one of the most successful quarterbacks in school history.
After that, McCarron embarked on an NFL career and managed to hang around as a backup for eight seasons.
So why does McCarron play in the XFL? Here’s a look at the longtime NFL backup’s comeback attempt, starting in St. Louis.
MORE: Full list of players selected in the 2023 XFL Draft
What happened to AJ McCarron?
McCarron plays in the XFL after missing the 2022 NFL season while recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture he sustained in the 2021 preseason.
The knee injury occurred in the Falcons’ week two preseason match against the Dolphins. McCarron was trying to get a first down when his knees seemed to buckle just before he was tackled.
McCarron was able to leave the field, but it quickly became apparent that his season would be over. So was his quest to earn the backup job behind Matt Ryan.
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The good news was that McCarron was able to recover before the start of the 2022 season. In a June interview with NFL Network, he said he felt “really great” and wanted to play again.
“You never know what your future holds, what it is in this game, so I’m just ready and waiting for a call,” McCarron said, as transcribed via AL.com. “But for now I’m enjoying my free time and the opportunity to be a father and to be with my three boys for the first time in a while.”
McCarron never received that call and so remained on the sidelines for the 2022 season. He was assigned to the Battlehawks in November and immediately became one of the most recognizable names in the XFL.
Now the 32-year-old will look to prove to NFL teams that he’s back to full strength and capable of being a quality backup.
AJ McCarron NFL Teams
McCarron was considered a rock solid backup prior to his knee injury. He hasn’t played much in the NFL, but he has been on the rosters of five teams:
- Bengal (2014-17)
- Bills (2018)
- Robber (2018)
- Texans (2019-20)
- Falcons (2021)
MORE: Full schedule, dates, times for 2023 XFL games
AJ McCarron NFL Stats
McCarron has appeared in 17 games (four starts) and thrown 174 passes in his eight NFL seasons.
Still, McCarron has proven to be an efficient substitute, leading his teams to a 2-2 record on his starts. A look at his career stats:
| category | Stat |
| completion percentage | 62.6 |
| Past farms | 1.173 |
| Touchdowns happen | 6 |
| intercept | 3 |
| meters per attempt | 6.7 |
| passer rating | 86.7 |
McCarron also started one playoff game in his career. That happened during the 2015 season when Bengals starter Andy Dalton was injured. McCarron completed 23 of 41 passes for 212 yards, a touchdown and an interception in an 18-16 loss to the Steelers.
Those numbers are decent considering McCarron’s limited action. However, they pale in comparison to what he was able to achieve during his time in Alabama.
AJ McCarron Alabama Statistics
McCarron was a starter in Alabama for three years and helped lead the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national championships. After his 2013 senior season, he also finished second in Heisman Trophy voting.
How good was McCarron in college? A look at his stats from his four seasons under Nick Saban:
| Year | comp. | pass yds | TDs exist | INT’s | Yds/att | Evaluation |
| 2010 | 62.5 | 389 | 3 | 0 | 8.1 | 151.2 |
| 2011 | 66.8 | 2,634 | 16 | 5 | 8.0 | 147.3 |
| 2012 | 67.2 | 2,933 | 30 | 3 | 9.3 | 175.3 |
| 2013 | 67.3 | 3,063 | 28 | 7 | 9.1 | 167.2 |
Some questioned if McCarron had the talent to stay in the NFL, but the Bengals liked his accuracy enough to make him a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft. He showed staying power before his knee injury so the choice seems to have worked.
Career Earnings by AJ McCarron
McCarron has done well as a pro. He has only started four games but still made more than $15.6 million over the course of his career. And that’s despite earning less than $1 million in each of his first five seasons.
A good chunk of McCarron’s net worth came from the two-year, $10 million deal he signed with the Bills during the 2018 offseason. He was traded to the Raiders before he even played for Buffalo, but still got paid $5 million for that season, which he threw just three passes.
Here’s a breakdown of McCarron’s earnings by season, according to Spotrac.com:
| Year | merits |
| 2014 | $601,652 |
| 2015 | $510,000 |
| 2016 | $600,000 |
| 2017 | $690,000 |
| 2018 | $5,000,000 |
| 2019 | $3,000,000 |
| 2020 | $4,000,316 |
| 2021 | $1,212,500 |
| In total | $15,614,468 |
McCarron will add approximately $59,000 to that total, which he will earn in the XFL. Still, he’s likely hoping to find success with the Battlehawks, make it back to the NFL, and cash in on another seven-figure deal.