In the heart of Ohio, the Columbus Aviators are all set for a takeoff in the United Football League with a familiar face in the cockpit—Ted Ginn Jr., the former Ohio State receiver, has been tapped as the team's inaugural head coach. According to WKYC, UFL President and CEO Russ Brandon announced the decision on Wednesday, praising Ginn as the embodiment of Ohio's rich football heritage.
"A proven winner, Ted combines a winning performance on the field and a deep knowledge of the game with tremendous pride for his home state," Brandon remarked, his statement evident of his high hopes for Ginn not only to lay the team's groundwork but also to ink a new chapter in Ohio’s football annals, the Columbus Aviators set to commence their first season in March 2026 as they play their home games at Historic Crew Stadium, Ginn, eager to create a new winning tradition in Columbus told NBC4i.
With a career that spanned 14 years in the NFL, playing for teams like the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers, Ginn's professional experience is complemented by his collegiate prowess—having propelled the Buckeyes to the BCS National Championship Game in 2006, and Ginn's appointment has sparked enthusiasm among local football fans and former coaches alike. "Teddy will be a great influence on the young men and he will represent the Buckeye State and the UFL with class," former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel told WKYC, evidencing his confidence in Ginn's capabilities.
Ginn Sr., himself a legendary figure in Ohio's football tapestry as the longtime coach of Cleveland Glenville with three state titles in the last four years, will see his son step into the spotlight in a different capacity to cultivate a culture of success in a city with a spotty history of professional football, from the Columbus Tigers' disbandment post 1926 season to the Ohio Glory's brief and winless existence in the World League of American Football, Ginn's hire by the Aviators seemingly a smart move to align with the city's foremost sports entity as noted by Sports Illustrated.
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