The Birmingham Stallions re-signed tight ends Jace Sternberger and La’Michael Pettway on Thursday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Jace Sternberger is six foot four and weighs 251 pounds. The 28-year-old from Kingfisher, Oklahoma, re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions on November 21, 2023. In 2024, he made 25 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. In the 2024 UFL playoffs, he made six catches for 67 yards helping the Stallions win their third championship 25-0 over the San Antonio Brahmas. He was named to the All-UFL Team in 2024.
The Green Bay Packers drafted Sternberger in the third round (75th pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Green Bay with 12 catches for 114 yards and one touchdown in 18 games. After Green Bay, Sternberger had stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Birmingham Stallions signed Sternberger on January 26, 2023. In 2023, he made 33 catches for 517 yards and 7 touchdowns in ten games. In the playoffs, Sternberger made six catches for 77 yards, and one touchdown in two games helping the Stallions win their second straight USFL Championship over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2023. After the season, the Stallions released him on July 24, 2023, and he signed with the Buffalo Bills a day later. He played three preseason games with two catches for 44 yards.
Collegiately, Sternberger played one season at Kansas in 2016 with one catch for five yards, and two tackles on special teams in 10 games for the Jayhawks. Next, Sternberger transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2017 with 21 catches for 336 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games for the Golden Norsemen.
Then, he transferred to Texas A&M in 2018 48 catches for 832 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one carry for four yards in 13 games for the Aggies. He was named First Team All-SEC and All-American in 2018.
La’Michael Pettway is six foot one and weighs 230 pounds. The 27-year-old from Nashville, Arkansas, went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. In 2021, he played for the Aviators (TSL), and he worked out for the New England Patriots in 2022.
The Michigan Panthers drafted Pettway in the 34th round (274th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Pettaway made 24 catches for 307 yards, and two touchdowns in ten games, of which four were starts.
The Birmingham Stallions signed Pettaway on April 20, 2023. In 2023, he made eight catches for 99 yards, and two touchdowns in seven games, of which three were starts for the Stallions in 2023. In the playoffs, Pettway made four catches for 37 yards helping the Stallions win their second USFL Championship over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
After the season, Pettaway signed with the Indianapolis Colts but did not play the preseason due to an injury. The Stallions re-signed him on November 21, 2023, but released him on December 26, 2023, as he signed with the New England Patriots on December 27, 2023. In 2024, Pettaway played three preseason games targeted two times but made no catches. The Patriots released him on August 26, 2024.
Collegiately, Pettaway played four seasons at Arkansas (2015-19) making 37 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns in 19 games for the Razorbacks. Then, Pettaway transferred to Iowa State in 2019 making 55 catches for 676 yards, and six touchdowns in 13 games for the Cyclones. He was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019.
