JoJo Tillery returns To Birmingham to Chase 4th Title With Stallions
MARCH 28, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
By Steve Irvine
It takes more than one hand when counting the current Birmingham Stallions with three championship rings. However, it doesn’t take much more than one hand.
Six Birmingham players – safety JoJo Tillery, punter Colby Wadman, long snapper Ryan Langan, defensive end Willie Yarbary, wide receiver Marlon Williams and running back CJ Marable - begin the 2025 UFL season in search of a fourth consecutive spring football championship. The roster includes a bunch of players looking for a second and third championship ring. But those are the six who helped the Stallions win each of the titles.
“I think it’s a big deal for us to be here and step up and you know kind of show these guys the ropes,” said Tillery, who will join his Birmingham Stallions in Sunday’s season opener at the DC Defenders with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at Audi Field. “You know, just give them advice here and there on what's to come.”
Tillery can also show his teammates what perseverance looks like after missing half of each of the past two seasons because of injuries. In 2023, he fractured an ankle in the season opening win over the New Jersey Generals. He missed the next five games before returning to help the Stallions win their second USFL championship. He had a sack and forced fumble to ice the win over the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL championship game. Last season, Tillery suffered a hamstring injury while heading to what looked like a possible interception return for a touchdown at Houston. Once again, he missed five games before returning for the playoffs to help the Stallions win another championship. “
Enduring two difficult seasons helped Tillery grow as a person and a player.
“Mentally, I know for me, it was big to overcome that,” Tillery said. “When I'm not playing, especially in season, it's a big deal for me. And football is kind of my way out. So like everything is going on its course and perfect once I'm actually playing. For me to sit out that amount of time for the second year in a row (was tough). For me to go through that, once again, the adversity hit hard. But it's very important for me. I've grown mentally from that.”
Football has helped carry the 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety from Chattanooga through life. He had 160 tackles, 14 pass breakups and four interceptions while playing in 51 games with 27 starts at Wofford. He’s been in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and the Canadian Football League with Calgary. In his first season in the USFL, Tillery had 56 tackles for the Stallions.
“I've been playing football since I was four years old,” Tillery said. “My only year not playing football was 2021. I'm 27 now, I'll be 28 in June. So, I've been playing football a long time. My dream was always to go to NFL and I've accomplished that dream. Now the dream is to get (back) to the NFL.”
He’s been able to chase that dream thanks to the Birmingham Stallions, the UFL and the USFL.
“I mean, I'm sure I can speak for everybody else in the league when I say this, it's another opportunity and you know we're forever grateful,” Tillery said. “Some people want to be in this league and aren't able to make it because of the resources or whatever. I'm forever grateful anytime I'm able to put these pads on and just step foot into this building for one. Anytime going on that field plan I'm just forever grateful for it.”
Hopefully he’ll be on the field for every game this season as the Stallions fight for another championship ring.