2022 Michigan Panthers season
General managerJeff Fisher
Head coachJeff Fisher
Home fieldNone[lower-alpha 1]
Results
Record2–8
League place3rd in North Division
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 2022 season was the Michigan Panthers' first season as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the United States Football League, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2022 season. The Panthers technically played as a traveling team due to them playing at Protective Stadium and Legion Field. The Panthers were led by head coach Jeff Fisher, who also operated as the de facto general manager.

Offseason

Draft

Shea Patterson was selected first overall by the Panthers.
Paxton Lynch was selected in the twelfth round by the Panthers.

The 2022 USFL draft was conducted entirely on social media. Draft selections by the Michigan Panthers were announced on their social media.[1][2] The Panthers selected former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson first overall. The Panthers also selected former Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch, a first round draft pick in the NFL, in the twelfth round. Another notable player selected was wide receiver Jeff Badet, who played alongside Oklahoma and future Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield in his Heisman Trophy season.[3]

2022 Michigan Panthers Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
11 Shea PattersonQBMichigan
28 Adewale AdeoyeDEUtah
31 Cavon WalkerDEMaryland
48 Chase DeemorDECentral Washington
55 Keith WilliamsOTColorado State
64 Teton SaltesOTNew Mexico
75 Joshua DunlopOTUTSA
710 Joshua TaylorOTMississippi Valley StateReleased before regular season.
84 Tino EllisCBMaryland
95 Jameson HoustonCBBaylor
104 Dominique MartinCBTarleton State
115 Jalin BurrelCBNew Mexico
128 Paxton LynchQBMemphis
136 Quincy AdeboyejoWROle Miss
143 Lance LenoirWRWestern Illinois
156 Jeff BadetWROklahoma
163 Ray BoldenWRStony Brook
183 Orion StewartSBaylor
196 Kieron WilliamsSNebraska
202 Sean Richard PollardCClemson
217 Justin Lorenz HughesILBKansas City
2111 Taiwan JonesILBMichigan StateCompensatory selection.
228 Marquel HarrellOGAuburn
231 Daishawn DixonOGSan Diego State
241 TJ CarterDTKentucky
258 Jaquan BaileyDTIowa State
261 Kyshonn TysonDTGrand Valley State
274 Stevie Scott IIIRBIndiana
285 Reggie CorbinRBIllinois
295 Terry MyrickOLBEastern Michigan
304 Frank GindaOLBSan Jose State
315 Tre ThreatOLBJacksonville StateReleased before regular season.
336 Michael CarrizosaPSan Jose State
347 Joseph MagnificoTEMemphis
3411 La'Michael PettwayTEIowa StateCompensatory selection.

Supplemental draft

Marcus Baugh was selected in the third round of the supplemental draft. Baugh was on four NFL rosters but only received one ball in his NFL career.
2022 Michigan Panthers Supplemental Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
18 Warren SabaDBEast Carolina
21 Maea TeuhemaOGSoutheastern Louisiana
34 Marcus BaughTEOhio State
45 Sean WilliamsOLBNavy
53 Cameron ScarlettRBStanford
66 Connor DavisTEStony Brook
77 Joseph PutuCBFlorida
82 Devin RossWRColorado
93 Tejan KoromaOGBYU
106 Shane GriffinLSWest Chester

Free agency

Position Player Former team Date
OGCordel IwuagwuCleveland BrownsApril 1[4]
DTWalter PalmoreCarolina PanthersApril 1[5]
OTSyrus TuiteleFresno State BulldogsApril 12[6]

Personnel

Final roster

The Panthers, like all other teams, had a 38-man active roster with a 7-man practice squad.[7]

2022 Michigan Panthers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers
  •  4 Frank Ginda OLB
  • 32 Justin Hughes ILB
  • 44 Terry Myrick OLB
  • 10 Alexander Vainikolo

Defensive backs

  • 23 Jalin Burrell CB
  •  5 Tino Ellis CB
  •  1 Jameson Houston CB
  •  6 Sean Mahone S
  • 21 Dominique Martin CB
  • 14 Joseph Putu CB
  • 30 Cory Rahman S

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • -- Quincy Adeboyejo WR (Did not report)
  • -- Ray Bolden WR (Did not report)
  • -- Marquel Harrell G (Did not report)
  • -- Taiwan Jones ILB (Did not report)


Rookies in italics
 50 active, 8 inactive

Staff

Jeff Fisher was chosen as the Panthers' head coach. As an NFL head coach, he led the Tennessee Titans to a Super Bowl appearance.
2022 Michigan Panthers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Daniel Carrel
  • Defensive line – Kwahn Drake
  • Assistant defensive line – Tony Brown
  • Defensive backs/Special teams – Jeff Imamura



Schedule

Regular season

The Panthers' 2022 schedule was announced on March 7. They opened the season against the Houston Gamblers.[8]

Week Date Time (ET) Opponent Result Record TV Recap
1 April 17 12:50 p.m. Houston Gamblers* L 12–17 0–1 NBC/Peacock Recap
2 April 22 8:00 p.m. New Jersey Generals L 6–10 0–2 USA Recap
3 May 1 2:30 p.m. Pittsburgh Maulers* W 24–0 1–2 USA Recap
4 May 6 10:20 p.m. Philadelphia Stars* L 25–26 1–3 FS1 Recap
5 May 13 8:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Bandits L 20–27 1–4 USA Recap
6 May 21 7:30 p.m. Birmingham Stallions L 17–33 1–5 NBC/Peacock Recap
7 May 28 9:00 p.m. New Orleans Breakers* L 27–31 (OT) 1–6 FS1 Recap
8 June 5 12:00 p.m. Philadelphia Stars L 24–46 1–7 Fox Recap
9 June 11 1:00 p.m. New Jersey Generals* L 23–25 1–8 NBC/Peacock Recap
10 June 19 12:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Maulers W 33–21 2–8 USA Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. * mean that they host the game, since all eight teams play at the same stadium

Game summaries

Week 1: at Houston Gamblers

Week 1: Houston Gamblers at Michigan Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Gamblers 3 14 0017
Panthers 0 0 6612

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: April 17
  • Game time: 12:50 p.m. EST (delayed)
  • Referee: Bryan Banks
  • TV announcers (NBC/Peacock): Jac Collinsworth, Jason Garrett, Lewis Johnson
Game information

The Panthers started their season against the Houston Gamblers. The Gamblers scored the only points of the first quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Nick Vogel. In the first play of the second quarter, the Panthers were poised to score the first touchdown at 2nd & goal before a Shea Patterson fumble was returned 90 yards for a touchdown by Gamblers Reggie Northrop which, after a successful 2-point conversion, put the Panthers down 0–11. The Panthers forced a Gamblers 3 and out, and on the ensuing punt, returned the punt 40 yards for touchdown. However, an unnecessary roughness call on the Panthers negated the touchdown, putting them on their own 45 yard line. The Gamblers stretched out their lead with a 65-yard drive topped off by an Isaiah Zuber 12-yard touchdown reception, putting the Panthers down 0–17 after a failed 2-point conversion.

We came out hot, on fire. We executed that first half. Second half, it got a little rocky. We had to get back, get our mindset right. A win is a win.

— Reggie Northrup, April 17, 2022, Fox Sports

The Panthers came out strong after halftime, driving 74 yards downfield for a touchdown. However, they missed the 2-point conversion, keeping the Panthers down 2 scores and a 6–17 deficit. They had a chance to put the game within 1 score with a 43-yard field goal, but it was missed. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers drove downfield 66 yards for the touchdown, which included a clutch 4th and 6. They again missed a 2-point conversion to put the game within 3. The Panthers had a chance to take the lead with 5:12 remaining in the 4th, but failed to convert a 4th and 26 with 0:09 remaining, and turned it over on downs to lose 12–17.

Week 2: at New Jersey Generals

Week 2: Michigan Panthers at New Jersey Generals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 6 006
Generals 3 7 0010

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: April 22
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • TV announcers (USA): Paul Burmeister, Michael Robinson, Lewis Johnson
Game information

The Panthers played against their division rival New Jersey Generals to open Week 2. The Generals struck first on a 21-yard field goal to put the Panthers down 0–3. In the second quarter, Panthers safety Orion Stewart intercepted Luis Perez and brought it back to the Generals 20 yard line. The Panthers capitalized, scoring a touchdown three plays later, putting the Panthers up 6–3. After trading punts, the Generals drove downfield that was capped off by a Darius Victor 1 yard rush, putting the Panthers down 6–10.

We've got to settle down at the quarterback spot. Offensively, we have an extra day this week, and we need it. We have got to figure out who we are and what we can do best, and focus in on those type of things.

— Panthers head coach, Jeff Fisher, April 22, 2022, Fox Sports

The Panthers received the ball to start the second half. They drove downfield on a 15 play, 53 yard drive that ate up more than half the third quarter. On the Generals 21 yard line, the Panthers attempted a 39-yard field goal, but it was missed. In the fourth quarter, the Generals had a chance to go up 13–6, but they also missed a 34-yard field goal. Both teams failed to score in the fourth quarter, ending up in a 6–10 Panthers loss, dropping to 0–2.

Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Maulers

Week 3: Pittsburgh Maulers at Michigan Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Maulers 0 0 000
Panthers 16 0 0824

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: May 1
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
  • Referee: Larry Smith
  • TV announcers (USA): Jac Collinsworth, Jason Garrett, Corey Robinson

The Panthers played against division rival Pittsburgh Maulers in week 3. The Panthers earned their first win with a 24–0 shutout against the Maulers. The Panthers scored two touchdowns in the first half, one coming off an opening drive touchdown capped off by a 2-point conversion to bring the Panthers to 8–0. After a muffed punt by the Maulers which set the Panthers up at the Maulers 5 yard line. Three plays later, starting quarterback Paxton Lynch rushed for 1 yard, bringing the Panthers to a 1 score lead at 16–0.

We didn't throw it as well as we would have liked, but the passing game is complemented by the run game. Now I think people have respect for our run game.

— Panthers head coach, Jeff Fisher, May 1, 2022, Fox Sports

The teams did not score for forty-six minutes. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers scored off a 63-yard touchdown drive with a successful 2-point conversion, bringing the score to 24–0 for the Panthers, which would be the final score.

Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Stars

Week 4: Philadelphia Stars at Michigan Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Stars 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

  • Date: May 6
  • Game time: 10:20 p.m. EST
  • Referee: Bryan Banks
  • TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Brock Huard

The Panthers will play against division rival Philadelphia Stars.

Standings

North Division
# W L PCT GB DIV PF PA STK
1 (y) New Jersey Generals 9 1 .900 - 6–0 232 182 W9
2 (x) Philadelphia Stars 6 4 .600 3 4–2 262 243 L1
3 (e) Michigan Panthers 2 8 .200 7 2–4 211 236 W1
4 (e) Pittsburgh Maulers 1 9 .100 8 0–6 147 243 L5
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Postseason

After the 2022 USFL season, the Panthers ended up with a 2–8 record, as they were able to get the 1st round pick and the 1st pick of every other round in the 2023 USFL draft after beating 1–9 Pittsburgh Maulers in week 10. Michigan was eliminated from playoff contention after a 46–24 loss against the Philadelphia Stars.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Panthers technically play as a traveling team, since the entirety of the regular season has been played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

References

  1. ↑ "USFL DRAFT DETAILS: TIME, DRAFT ORDER, SELECTION PROCESS". foxsports.com. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  2. ↑ "USFL DRAFT 2022: MICHIGAN PANTHERS' ROUND-BY-ROUND PICKS". foxsports.com. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  3. ↑ "SHEA PATTERSON, PAXTON LYNCH TOP LIST OF USFL'S 10 MOST EXCITING PLAYERS". April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Michigan Panthers Twitter; Cordel Iwuagwu". www.twitter.com. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Michigan Panthers Twitter; Walter Palmore". www.twitter.com. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Michigan Panthers Twitter; Syrus Tuitele". www.twitter.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  7. ↑ "USFL to have a "player selection meeting" on February 22–23". Pro Football Talk. January 4, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ "2022 Michigan Panthers Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
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