United Football Players Association Makes Strides as Spring Football Returns to the US
Association created and driven by former professional football players active in Birmingham and gearing up for new wave of prospective members with this week’s NFL Draft.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – What began as a 501c4 issue advocacy group in 2020 following the shutdowns of the AAF and last iteration of the XFL, last February, the United Football Players Association (UFPA) announced its formal affiliation with the United Steelworkers (USW) and its intention to seek to represent professional athletes in the United States Football League (USFL) who are not covered by contracts like those in the NFL Players’ Association.
As the new league kicked-off this month, UFPA reps not only were on the ground in Birmingham, the home of the USFL, to recruit new members, but also worked tirelessly to procure local-based and affordable or complementary health and living-based services for players, including:
- Complimentary chiropractic services through Dr. Woody of La Vie Chiropratique
- Massage therapist resources through NBSMassage
- Yoga studio discounts
- Discounts at local CBDStore
- Meal Prep options through 3 different local companies with custom player portals: BlueRootCo, 1918 Catering, and Miami Fusion
- Corporate Housing options with month-to-month leases and fully furnished spaces through AHI corporate housing
Said UFPA Chairman Kenneth Farrow, a former NFL, AAF and XFL running back, “Our focus as an organization is providing members access to and information about any element that will help them perform at an elite level. As leagues pop up and focus becomes on product and league marketing, often everyday player needs are ignored. These are professional football players performing on live TV each week and deserve to be treated as such. We’re here to make sure that happens.”
This Thursday kicks-off the three-day NFL Draft.
Noted former Arena Football League Players Union Board President and current UFPA Executive Ryan Cave, “With the NFL Draft just days away, hundreds of players are going to see their dreams of playing in the NFL realized, while thousands will be faced with the decision of whether to move forward with their playing careers or to move on. We want them all to know that we are here for them, and they have a voice and support in their journey.”
For more information on the UFPA, visit unitedplayers.org. ###