Quarterback AJ McCarron took a pay cut — from $4 million to $60,000 — so his sons could watch him play in the XFL instead of sitting on a bench in the NFL

• AJ McCarron, a former Alabama star quarterback, is now a player in the rebooted XFL spring league.
• McCarron says he passed on being a backup in the NFL so his sons could watch him play.

AJ McCarron is now throwing footballs in the rebooted XFL spring league, and while some might look at it as a step backward, the quarterback sees it as a huge opportunity for him and his sons on a personal level.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide star led the St. Louis Battlehawks to a 7-3 record, just missing the playoffs while starting nine games. Despite missing one game, McCarron was second in the league with 2,150 yards, led the XFL with 24 touchdown passes, with just six interceptions.

After one game early in the season, an emotional McCarron spoke about his decision to take a spot in the XFL over a chance to make more money by continuing his career as a backup in the NFL.

"Ever since I came out of college, I've been kind of counted out a little bit," he told ESPN. "It's just fun to come out here and play. I missed playing. Not always just being a backup — and that's a great living, it really is, and I absolutely love it — but I love playing. This is special, and I can't thank the XFL enough."

McCarron led Alabama to two national championships, in 2012 and 2013, and then spent six years as a backup in the NFL before injuring his knee in a 2021 preseason game. He sat out for 2021 and 2022 before signing with the XFL.

Before the season, he talked more about his decision to move to the XFL, saying it was driven in part by his wanting his three sons to be able to see him play instead of just standing on an NFL sideline.

"My 6-year-old loves watching tape of me on YouTube. That's a big reason I chose to return this way," McCarron told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I probably could've tried to come back with an NFL team and had a chance to probably made bigger money, but no one knows what the future holds. I'm enjoying this, and it's a great way to create some memories for me and my boys."

This earned special praise from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who was part of a group that purchased the XFL for $15 million in 2020 and revived the league.

"Takes less money signing with us over the @NFL because he wanted his little boys to see him play," Johnson wrote on Twitter. "Now he's 2-0 and led his team to back to back exciting last minute wins. I'd say he's creating some memories for his boys. AJ's decision means a helluva lot to me, personally."

McCarron made $15.6 million during his time in the NFL with five teams, including $4 million in his last full season.

In the XFL, McCarron is expected to make about $60,000 per season, with a salary of $5,000 a week and $1,000 bonuses for each win, according to ESPN.

While McCarron is excited that his sons will see him play, he's a little worried about playing in front of his mom again, especially with the players mic'd up during games.

"I feel bad for my mom, who I'm sure will be texting me about this or that bad word that I say during the game," McCarron told the Post-Dispatch. "Hopefully there's a bleep button."