Everyone has had their eyes on the Detroit Lions for the couple of seasons following their meteoric rise into one of the best teams in the National Football League (NFL). It’s no secret that football is a financial powerhouse, serving as one of the primary reasons many people still watch traditional television. But when football is off for the spring and summer, there is a football drought.
That’s where the UFL comes in, with the Michigan Panthers serving as another big cat-themed team to utilize Ford Field while the Lions are off. At least, they have been until news broke today that the UFL is pulling the Panthers out of Motor City in favor of a “bigger market”.
Houston Roughnecks v Michigan Panthers
Getty Images for UFLThe Panthers Are Leaving Detroit
James Larsen of PFNewsroom, an avid UFL/XFL journalist, reported the news late Tuesday night. It came as a shock to everyone in the league, including the coaches. Michigan is one of four teams being relocated to a larger market, with the Panthers likely moving to Florida. Houston, Birmingham, and Memphis are also being relocated. These are reportedly cost-cutting measures “for the survival of the league”.
It’s unfortunate that the UFL is pulling the plug on the Panthers’ presence in Michigan. This season was the best season the team has had, with the Panthers making it to the Championship game (losing to the DC Defenders). A quick look at the Panthers’ merchandise store shows that every single item is on sale, giving credit to Larsen’s reporting.
READ MORE: Michigan Panthers WR Caught on Video Slapping Fan in St. Louis |
The Panthers were featured by sports outlets like ESPN multiple times and experienced growth this season, unlike the other three teams being relocated. The players were skilled as well, with the current Detroit Lions kicker famously being signed from the Panthers in 2024. Already, players from the Panthers are getting attention from the NFL, with Panthers RB Toa Taua recently working out with both the Lions and the Browns.
Houston Roughnecks v Michigan Panthers
Getty Images for UFL
So, whether or not you followed the Panthers before this news broke, you can score yourself some cheap merch before the team heads south for the winter with all the retirees.
Old Michigan Sports Teams We Forgot Existed
Michigan’s had so many sports teams come and go over the years. Do you remember these?
Gallery Credit: JR
Defunct Major Baseball Teams From Michigan, Ohio, & Indiana
Indeed, there are dozens of leagues and hundreds of teams that are all but history and teams that you may have never even heard of before.