Minor football leagues such as the UFL offer players a platform to display their skills and gain visibility, especially for those who might not have initially thrived in the NFL. As the 2025 UFL season kicks off, seven out of the eight teams have at least one former Green Bay Packers player on their lineup. Of these, five teams boast multiple ex-Packers, including three former quarterbacks.
One of these quarterbacks, now playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks, is drawing attention with impressive performances early in the season. Manny Wilkins has led the Battlehawks to a 2-0 start, achieving a 76.3% pass completion rate, an average of 9.2 yards per attempt, and a league-leading passer rating of 104.6.
He earned the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Week title for his Week 2 performance, completing 12 of 16 passes for 162 yards and adding 58 yards on the ground. Following the Battlehawks’ 26-9 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas, Wilkins expressed his gratitude to his teammates for their support. “It’s a blessing to compete with a group who puts in the effort,” Wilkins stated. “We keep our heads down and work tirelessly.
It’s a blessing to have these guys backing me, encouraging and supporting each other; it’s a strong family effort.” Manny Wilkins joined the Green Bay Packers for the 2019 training camp, competing with DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle for a backup quarterback position. During preseason, he completed 2 of 5 passes over 10 dropbacks and added 24 rushing yards on seven attempts. Wilkins was released at the end of August but was brought back the next day to the practice squad.
He signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers in January 2020 but was released three months later. Wilkins joined the Battlehawks in 2023 and has remained with them since. Should Wilkins sustain his current form, he might attract interest from NFL teams for a tryout. As the quarterback is the most crucial role in football, Wilkins, with his previous NFL exposure, could contribute significant value and enhance the competitiveness of a roster.
