Todd Archerapr 4, 2025, 06:00 at
Closetd Archer is ESPN’s NFL reporter and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Lewis Perez was like many young boys. His dream was to become an NFL quarterback. He remembers sleeping on soccer when he was a little girl.
But the path he wants is to take him to the NFL one day — even at 30 — unlike the others, he has little to do with being an UFL’s starting quarterback at Arlington Renegedes, or a former XFL alumnus of Spring League, USFL, American Football Alliance, and former XFL alumni.
Second week schedule
Friday
Panthers stallion, 8pm (Fox)
Saturday
Showboat on the Defender, 8pm (ABC/ESPN+)
Sunday
Rough neck of RENEGADES at noon (ESPN/ESPN+)
Battlehawks Brahmas, 6:30pm (FS1)
That path was incredibly unbelievable, so Perez wrote his autobiography, “The King of Spring,” which was released last week. The title nods to the nickname he was given for success in the spring professional league.
“If I don’t share my story and everything I’ve experienced, I feel like I’m going to do harm to the people there,” said Perez, who plays the Rough Neck (0-1) in Houston on Sunday (Noon ET, ESPN/ESPN+). “I continue to think that it can have a positive impact on a lot of people and can change their lives.”
Renegades Tight End Sal Cannella has been Perez’s teammate for the past three years. He knows Perez’s background, but he still can’t understand it.
“It seems like it’s going to turn into a Netflix documentary or something,” Canela said. “It has to be done. It’s just one of those stories that feel almost fictional, you couldn’t believe it.
Perez played a quarterback who grew up in youth football, but he was also a tight end and an offensive lineman. He never played varsity football at Otai Ranch High School in Chula Vista, California. Instead, he was a skilled bowler. He had 12 perfect games. He may have gone to college on a bowling scholarship.
It rekindled his quarterback dreams as he watched his friends play their last high school football game.
“I always knew I could go back to bowling,” Perez said. “It’s like riding a bike. You can bowl when you’re 50 or 60. The windows to go to the NFL are so small. You can’t wait for that dream.”
He went to YouTube to learn how to play quarterback. Yes, YouTube.
“I don’t know what quarterback coaches are. I don’t even know how to get these people, so ‘Let me ride on YouTube’, I started watching a basic basic tutorial,” Perez said. “All I knew was that I could throw a nice spiral and I had a big arm. That’s it.”
Veteran QB Lewis Perez is the power of galvanized in the locker room at Arlington Renegaze. Sam Hodde/UFL/Getty Images
For hours he watched the highlights of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. He bought a full-length mirror to make sure his form was like theirs. He was practicing taking five drops in his bedroom.
He did it for four or five months when he connected to Akili Smith, the previous third overall pick for the Cincinnati Bengals, who became quarterback trainer in 1999.
“After that time I was like, ‘Hey, what shall we do now? I want to be an NFL quarterback.
Smith spoke to him about Southwestern University, Chula Vista’s junior college. Perez remembers walking to coach Ed Carbery’s office and saying he will become his starting quarterback.
“Where did you play? Where’s your tape?” he said Carberry asked him.
Carberry laughed when Perez told him he wasn’t playing high school soccer.
“He said, “Practice is what it is. It’s junior college. I can’t cut you, but you can come and give it a try,” Perez said. “That’s how it started.”
When he showed up at first practice he was the ninth quarterback on the depth chart.
“I’m the first person there and I’m not in charge of trying out theatre and learning, rather than leaving at the end,” he said.
He came in fourth on the list when athletes left school or chose another sport. At fall camp, he won a backup spot. In the fourth game of the season, starter Frank Foster suffered a shoulder injury and forced Perez into the game. He threw a touchdown pass in the Southwestern victory.
Louis Perez has gained a reputation as a smart, savvy quarterback who knows how to lead a team. Sam Hodde/UFL/Getty Images
With the perfect script, he would have been a starter forever.
“Ah, no, no, no. And there’s more,” Perez said.
of course.
He broke his leg after a few games and missed the rest of the season. He will not be able to return to the field until summer camp. By then, Oceanside High School star Tofi Pao Pao had moved to the southwest and became a starter before attending Florida International. Paopao was injured and Perez took over as a starter. He finished the season with 18 touchdown passes and three interceptions, splitting the time with Paopao.
However, when the season ended until the last minute offer from UC-Davis, there were no scholarship offers. But it was pulled after he told him he didn’t have a math class that he could transfer from the Southwest.
Devastated, Perez took him back to the internet. He checked whether Division II quarterbacks reached the NFL. He found the name Dustin Vaughn. Dustin Vaughn starred in West Texas A&M and spent time with the Cowboys. Colby Carcel is an assistant at West Texas A&M and took over the job at Texas A&M Commerce, so he called Carcel.
The coach went to California and saw Perez do well and offered him a scholarship. He redshirted his first year and became a starter for two seasons. In 2016 he set a school record for touchdown passes (32) and took commerce in the Division II playoffs, losing to Grand Valley State in the semi-finals.
In his final season, the Lions won the national championship. He threw for 5,001 yards and had 46 touchdown passes. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II, equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.
He played in the NFLPA College Bowl and scored starting jobs at John O’Conne in Michigan and Kenny Hill in TCU, but there were no invitations to the NFL Combine. He was with Johnny Manziel on Pro Day at Texas A&M, as the former Heisman Trophy winner was trying to make a comeback.
“I can oppose the first round pick and they can see what I’m like,” Perez said. “That put me on the map.”
However, he was not drafted. Two weeks later, he didn’t even have an invitation to rookie camp when the Los Angeles Rams called. The quarterbacks have retreated from their camp.
“I’ll go and kill it,” Perez said. “I probably had one of the best throwing days I had. And I remember Les Snead, GM, he brought me in and said, ‘You really impressed me. We’re going to sign you.’ That was my opportunity. ”
Five years after he began his journey on YouTube, Perez was an NFL quarterback for about four months. He was cut off by the Rams at the end of training camp. Two weeks after the season, he was released from the practice squad.
Perez returned to the rebels after leading the UFL to pass the passing yards and TDS in 2024. Aric Becker/Icon Sports Wire
Perez has since had a short stop with the other teams. Three weeks in the spring of 2019, and the Philadelphia Eagles later that summer with the Detroit Lions and the four days. In 2022 he ran another run with the Rams, who finished during training camp.
He was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers after leading the UFL with passing yards and touchdowns last summer. He played the second half of his second preseason game, but it was one of the final cuts after the Chargers traded for Taylor Heinicke.
“I mean you’re that close, but you try not to stick to adversity,” Perez said. “Five or six years ago, I would have been devastated. That’s the team in my hometown. That’s what I think.”
Spring football continues to live out the NFL dreams.
He can recite his resume every year.
Birmingham at AAF in 2019. The Los Angeles Wildcats traded for the Guardians of New York in 2020 in the original XFL before the league was closed due to Covid.
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In 2022 he played for the USFL’s New Jersey General. The following year he returned to the XFL with the Vegas Vipers before he was traded with the Renegades.
He led the Renegades to the XFL Championship.
“We weren’t a real, cohesive team. We struggled before we got four games. “He brought everyone together, brought everyone to the same page, brought a lot of positive energy and brought us to the championship.”
Long was compliant with Bo Jackson for the Heisman Trophy in 1985 as Iowa quarterback. He was the Detroit Lions’ first round pick. He coached Josh White in the Heisman Trophy, and Josh Hapel coached the national championships in Oklahoma. Over the past three seasons he has been reunited with Arlington manager Bob Stopes.
“This is the most unique quarterback story I’ve ever heard,” Long said of Perez’s journey. “And I’ve heard a lot of them. …He’s really strong-willed and he’s willing to succeed in learning football games.”
Perez says he is only trying to support his family, including his wife and two young daughters. Richard Rodriguez/UFL/Getty Images
Canela has a similar professional path to Perez. He noticed him when they played against each other in the Spring League. During his short time with a small number of NFL teams, Cannella has also played in the XFL, USFL and UFL.
Last year he led the UFL tight end as his quarterback with catches (53), yards (497) and touchdowns (6). He won him a contract last summer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of their final cuts.
“He’s probably the smartest quarterback I’ve ever played,” Canela said. “It’s really impressive to see how he prepares, being with him every day, analyzing the game, reading his daily work ethics, defenses, seeing why he’s choosing this side of the (route) concept for others.”
Perez will turn 31 in August. He and his wife, Brenda, have two children. He knows people think they are against him, but he won’t stop.
“I enjoy getting up at four in the morning every year? Do I enjoy my work and enjoy training? Yes. I still play at a high level? Yes. “So I’m fine. So I’m just continuing to play. My goal is to go to the NFL. I’m not just enjoying it. Obviously, it’s fun for me, but my goal is to go to the NFL and provide a good life for my family.
