Birmingham Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough breaks away on a touchdown run against the Philadelphia Stars during the USFL Championship Game on July 3, 2022, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.(Photo by Jason Miller/USFL)
On March 8, 2024, Birmingham Stallions running back Bo Scarbrough officially announced his retirement from football.
On May 9, 2022, Scarbrough signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, at the midway point of the season. He took over the starting running back position and shared carries with C. J. Marable, while helping the Stallions win the first USFL Championship over the Philadelphia Stars, 33–30, where he an amazing 13 carries for 135 yards (10.4-yard avg.), including a 70-yard run and a 36-yard touchdown. In the 2022 season, Scarbrough appeared in six games with five starts, making 84 carries for 352 yards and one touchdown.
On April 20, 2023, Scarbrough was placed on the injured reserve list after the Stallions season opener. He re-signed with the Stallions on September 14, 2023, and was selected by the Stallions in the seventh round of the Super Draft portion during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.
As reported by AL.com, when asked about Scarbrough as Birmingham opened UFL training camp last week, Stallions coach Skip Holtz said, “Bo is still trying to recover a little bit from the knee. Bo has had a couple of surgeries on that knee. He ran around; he looked good yesterday. But right now, it’s probably going to be a process where I just don’t know how much he can go day in and day out.”
Hailing from Eutaw, Alabama, Scarbrough leaves an enduring legacy following an illustrious collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. His time at Alabama was marked by powerful performances, showcasing exceptional strength, agility, and an uncanny ability to break tackles, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
“You can love this game all you want. But at the end of the day, the game can’t love you back because it’s not a person; it’s a ball,” said Scarbrough. “I have so much respect for the people still playing. And when it’s your time, you’ll know it’s your time.”
“We were blessed to have Bo as a part of our football family, he is a champion on and off the field,” said UFL Head of Football Operations Daryl Johnston. “He is an outstanding representative of his community and the state of Alabama. We wish him the very best in his retirement and know he will be successful using his passion for the game in the next chapter of his journey.”
Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Scarbrough was on NFL rosters with the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders over the course of four seasons. In his NFL career, he rushed for 408 yards and one touchdown in seven games.
As a collegiate player, Scarbrough was part of two national championship teams at Alabama (2015 and 2017). He rushed for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns in 32 games for the Crimson Tide. He was named the Offensive Player of the Game in the 2016 Peach Bowl, leading Alabama to a 24-7 win over Washington. The next season, he had rushed for 93 yards and two scores in the College Football Playoff National Championship game, helping lead Alabama to a 26-23 overtime win over Georgia, before leaving the game with a broken fibula.
A video of Bo Scarbrough’s retirement speech is included below:
Ugh. Not too surprised, but is not good to hear it officially. Its a tough sport and when injuries in the knee happen its not good.
Hope things turn out for the best for Bo.