From Cut to Comeback: Lukas Denis Embraces the Uncomfortable
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - March 26, 2026
By Steve Irvine
It sounds strange for someone accustomed to being on the football field but Lukas Denis’ journey in the sport was saved by getting uncomfortable.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Birmingham Stallions safety was about two years removed from earning Walter Camp All-American honors as a junior at Boston College when his first NFL opportunity ended after being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late August of 2019. Denis, who had earned his degree in general management, went to work in finance in downtown Boston.
“When you're out the game, you know, you're sitting there with a whole bunch of hindsight and a whole bunch of I wish I could, you know, all that,” Denis said. “But it was a very interesting moment for me. You know, you've got to put your pride aside if you really want to elevate. That's something I truly believe.”
But it wasn’t an overnight trip back to football.
“I spent about a year and a half, maybe up to two years at home,” said Denis, who grew up in the Boston Suburb of Everett. “I was training. And then one thing I really realized is things aren't going to happen for you unless you go do them yourself. That's something that I learned, I think, (over) time. But I wish I learned that as soon as I had gotten cut from the from Tampa Bay.”
Eventually, he found a spot to return to football. That’s where the uncomfortable part – at least on the football field - creeps into his journey. He signed to play with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League. It certainly wasn’t the football that he was accustomed to playing.
“Playing in the indoor, you gain a lot of perspective on things that you might not have thought about before,” Denis said. “It forces you to train certain techniques. You know, in the indoor game, it's a very small, small arena, so leverage is extremely key. There are not a lot of outbreaking routes. So really focusing on your leverage and your technique, I think, is something that you're able to carry to the outdoor game. It really helped me in an unimaginable way.”
His next stop was in the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks, where he was a teammate of current Stallions head coach AJ McCarron. Denis was credited with 37 tackles while adding two interceptions and a sack. That helped lead to a move back into the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. He spent the 2023 season on the Falcons practice roster and signed a reserve/future contract with the organization in January of 2024. However, he was cut the following August.
It was back to the St. Louis Battlehawks last season, this time in the UFL, where he had 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and seven pass breakups. Now he’s adjusting to life with the Stallions and getting ready for Friday’s UFL opener against the Louisville Fire a Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville.
“It's actually been great,” Denis said. “You know, some of these guys we've played against a lot against in prior seasons. Just being able to work with them now and understanding parts of their game is great. Obviously we all learn from each other, the communication has been through the roof. Everyone's been really helpful towards each other, just trying to make sure that we're the best unit that we can be. Honestly, this is a great organization, history of winning multiple championships. So I'm just glad to be here.”