Since the United Football League is in its first season, there is no “Comeback Player of the Year Award.” But if officials decided to overlook that small detail, San Antonio Brahmas quarterback Chase Garbers would likely be the runaway winner.
Garbers, who’ll guide his team into action against the Birmingham Stallions on Sunday in the UFL Championship Game in St. Louis, suffered an injury to his left wrist on April 14.
It was so severe that the Brahmas announced it was season-ending, thus opening the door for Quinten Dormady to assume the starter’s role.
Dormady did well, but Garbers battled back – playing with a brace on his wrist – and returned to action against the Stallions on May 25.
He helped spearhead an 18-9 victory over the two-time defending United States Football League champions, and has played in every game since, albeit in pain.
His status was in question going into the XFL Conference Championship Game last Sunday, but he went the distance in San Antonio’s 25-15 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks.
“Chase had a great game,” San Antonio coach Wade Phillips said. “He handled the crowd noise really well. He had pain in that hand that had been broken, but he came out and was determined to do well. I could see it in practice.
“It showed in the game, obviously. I’m sure there was some pain in that left hand, but he really played well.”
While Garbers did have two turnovers – including a fumble that resulted in a scoop-and-score – he also went 15-21-1 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. A potent rushing attack helped the winners amass 410 yards of total offense and beat St. Louis for the first time since the clubs began XFL play in 2023.
A week earlier in the regular season finale, San Antonio fell to St. Louis, 13-12, with Garbers playing sparingly.
“It was a good team win in all three phases,” Garbers said. “It was really complementary in the run and passing game. Our running back room is really, really good. To go there two weeks in a row, face a hostile crowd and beat a really good team, means a lot.
“Overall, the offense played well. Obviously, there are some things to clean up, but we’re working on that going forward.”
During the regular season Garbers played in five games, going 96-140-2 for 765 yards and six touchdowns. Entering the biggest contest of the year, he insists he “feels fine.”
“Unlike the majority of guys on this team, I had five weeks off of football in the middle of the year, so I had time to relax and get the body right in time for this playoff run,” he said.
While the Brahmas (8-3) have shown they can win regardless of who is taking snaps, Birmingham coach Skip Holtz understands why Garbers will get the call when they face the Stallions (10-1) for the championship.
“I think he is probably one of the most underrated players in this league,” Holtz said. “Not because he’s flashy at what he does, but because he’s just solid at everything, and he does a great job of playing in their system.
“He doesn’t do anything to get them beat, so I think that’s a huge testament to him and to that football team.”