From mentoring future NFL superstars to leading a rising UFL contenderāRicky Proehl is quietly building something bigger than anyone expected.
And if youāre not paying attention yet⦠you might already be late.
š A New Season, A New Statement
As the UFL 2026 season kicks off, St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl isnāt just preparing for another openerāheās setting the tone for a team that believes itās being overlooked.
And that might be exactly how they like it.
Proehl made it clear: this isnāt a team chasing attentionātheyāre chasing results. But behind that calm confidence is a growing belief that the Battlehawks could surprise a lot of people this season.
š„ Underrated⦠Or Just Getting Started?
Thereās a quiet buzz around St. Louis.
While national conversations may not always spotlight the Battlehawks, inside the organization, thereās a different narrativeāone built on discipline, preparation, and a chip on their shoulder.
Proehl didnāt outright claim theyāre underratedābut he didnāt dismiss it either.
Because sometimes, being underestimated is the most dangerous advantage in football.
šļø St. Louis: The Energy That Fuels Everything
If thereās one thing Proehl didnāt hesitate to highlight, itās the city itself.
St. Louis has embraced the Battlehawks with a level of passion rarely seen outside the NFL. The energy, the loyalty, the noiseāit all creates an environment that players feed off.

For Proehl, that support isnāt just appreciatedāitās a weapon.
And heading into the opener, that connection between team and city could be a difference-maker.
š Coaching the Next Generation: Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze
But Proehlās story isnāt just about the UFL.

Itās also about the stars heās helped shape.
Working with talents like Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Proehl has had a front-row seat to elite potentialāand a direct hand in developing it.
What stands out isnāt just their ability, but their mindset. According to Proehl, coaching players like that requires more than strategyāit requires understanding how to elevate greatness without limiting it.
And that experience now feeds directly into how he leads his current team.
š§ The Coaching Philosophy Behind It All
Proehlās approach is built on influenceāboth given and received.
He openly acknowledges the mentors and experiences that shaped him, and that humility shows up in his coaching style. Itās not about controlāitās about connection.
Players donāt just play for him. They believe in what heās building.
And that belief can be the difference between a good team⦠and a dangerous one.
šØ The Bigger Picture
The UFL may still be carving out its place, but leaders like Ricky Proehl are giving it something invaluableācredibility, identity, and momentum.
And as the season begins, one question is starting to echo louder:
Are the Battlehawks really underrated⦠or are they about to prove everyone wrong?
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