Wiggins Sees UFL As Viable Alternative for Former NFL Players

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Jermaine Wiggins entered professional football when the New York Jets took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent 11 years ago and signed him to their practice squad.

It was the beginning of a long NFL career for Wiggins, during which he caught a Vinny Testaverde pass for a touchdown as part of the Jets’ Monday Night Football comeback dubbed the “Miracle at the Meadowlands,” won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, and played against the Patriots with the Panthers two years later in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Wiggins left Carolina and spent three years with the Vikings before signing with the Jaguars in March of 2007. He suffered a concussion during a preseason game in August that same year and was released. In short, by almost any definition, Wiggins has had a successful and impressive NFL career.That success leads one to ask an obvious question. Why would a player who achieved the highest honor of his sport sign with an unproven league, which Wiggins did after being drafted by the Florida Tuskers in the UFL’s Premiere Season Draft in 2009?

“It’s the opportunity to continue doing what it is that I do, and that’s playing professional football,” Wiggins said. “It’s a way to keep my career going and have the opportunity to make a living. The NFL only has so many jobs and the UFL is giving guys the opportunity to continue their careers, whether on the field, as a coach or working in the front office.”

After signing with the Tuskers, Wiggins had only an abbreviated time in training camp to get familiar with the offense. Luckily, he had some help from a former teammate.

“When I was in Minnesota I worked with [quarterback] Brooks [Bollinger],” Wiggins said. “I had a good relationship with him there. He’s smart, he’s a competitor, and he knows the game of football. He was able to come in and make the transition very smooth. He didn’t miss a beat, he just got into it.”

That chemistry and experience helped lead the Tuskers to an undefeated regular season and a chance for Wiggins to play in a third championship game. An overtime loss to the Las Vegas Locos was not what Wiggins and the team had envisioned, though.

“We played well last year but we obviously didn’t attain our goal, which was winning a championship,” Wiggins said. “To me, in order to be successful you have to win a championship.”

Wiggins is enthusiastic about the opportunity the UFL has given him and other players. “The one thing I really want to get out there is that the UFL is a great opportunity for guys to create a career,” he said. “Look at the UFL and say ‘Hey, I’m fortunate enough to be in the UFL. Let me try to build a career here.’ If you’re blessed enough to get that opportunity [to play in the NFL], that’s great but the main focus is building that career with the UFL.”

Tuskers Head Coach Jay Gruden understands what it means to the veterans in the UFL. “I think one, they love to play the game and two, they feel like they have a lot more football left in them despite people telling them they don’t,” Gruden said. “Jermaine proved he has a lot more football left in him.

For his part, Wiggins sees the opportunity long-term. “I’m trying to build a fan base where fans will look at like ‘Hey we’re going to get to know these guys who will play for our teams for four, five, six years,’” Wiggins said. “I’m a sports fan myself. I’m a die-hard Red Sox and Celtics fan and it’s good to see some consistency with your players.”