One of last year’s breakout stars, Chris Rowland is back for his second season with the UFL. Is Rowland the UFL’s next superstar?

Chris Rowland Could Become The Next UFL Superstar

As the league’s most exciting and prolific return specialist, Rowland soon distinguished himself as a force to be reckoned with on the field.  When the UFL’s inaugural season ended, Rowland was singled out as the league’s best return specialist and named to the All-UFL Team.  Now, he’s back for a second year with the D.C. Defenders.  Could Rowland be even better this year?  

Rowland’s NFL Years

A native of Tennessee, Rowland attended Tennessee State University. As a collegiate athlete, he showed flashes of brilliance. Rowland was the only Division 1 player to record a rushing, kick return, punt return, and receiving touchdown in a single season. He broke the HBCU record held by Jerry Rice for the most receptions in a single season. Named first-team all-conference as both a receiver and kick returner, Rowland was awarded the Deacon Jones Trophy.  

He joined the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in April 2020, but he was waived the following September. Signed to their practice squad the next day, Rowland was active for two games that season.  Although he was signed to a future/reserve contract the following January, Rowland was waived by the Falcons in August.  Three months later, Rowland signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad. However, Rowland experienced frustration with the NFL practice squad carousel once again when he was waived after a few weeks. 

Rowland Finds Success With the UFL

After languishing on NFL practice squads and seeing little actual game time, Rowland was ready for a change.  Deciding to give spring football a try, Rowland signed with the USFL Philadephia Stars in March of 2022.  When the league merged in December 2023 to become the UFL, Rowland became part of the dispersal draft when the Stars folded.

Selected by the D.C. Defenders in the second round of the draft, Rowland soon earned a reputation as a dangerous return man after an explosive 84-yard touchdown return against the Arlington Renegades. It was the UFL’s first kickoff returned for a touchdown.

Leading the league with 1,224 yards from 45 kickoffs, Rowland earned another 142 yards from 12 punt returns. He became the first UFL player to break 1,000 yards during the 10-game regular season.  Recognized as an outstanding return man, the Defenders also benefitted from Rowland’s skills as a wide receiver.  Adding another 262 receiving yards with three touchdowns, Rowland finished the season ranked number one with 1,657 all-purpose yards.    

Why Has NFL Success Proved Elusive For Rowland?

Rowland has speed and agility but admittedly his small stature may have worked against him. He doesn’t have the tall, lean build typically associated with a wide receiver.  Standing 5’8″ and weighing 180 pounds, Rowland is built more like a running back rather than a receiver. 

When a player comes into the NFL as an undrafted free agent, the deck is stacked against him. He’s competing against talented NFL veterans and carefully chosen rookies for a roster spot. Sometimes all a player needs to get to the next level, is dedicated coaching and constructive criticism. But an undrafted free agent is unlikely to find that singular time and attention in the highly competitive NFL atmosphere.

Instead of waiting on the bench from week to week, hoping to get in on a play or two, the UFL offers the opportunity for consistent game time experience. An athlete will develop much quicker on the field, making decisions in the heat of a game, as opposed to being on the practice squad or watching from a distance.  More than anything else, the UFL offers players the opportunity to keep playing the game they love in a professional and competitive league.  

Dallas Cowboys star returner KaVontae Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey are two of the spring football alums headed to the 2025 Pro Bowl. Former Michigan Panthers and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates was named as an alternate.  Becoming superstars in spring football brought these three players to the attention of their NFL teams.  Could Rowland find himself in a similar situation a year from now?