The UFL has become a lifeline for players dreaming of an NFL comeback—but few have as much to prove as Damon Arnette. The former Raiders first-round pick didn’t just fumble his shot at stardom. He watched it unravel in a haze of legal trouble and squandered chances. Released by Las Vegas after a threatening video went viral, cut by Kansas City following an arrest, and sidelined by more off-field issues, his career seemed over before it ever really began. The Houston Roughnecks gave Arnette a shot, and he delivered. With 18 tackles, a sack, and a 51-yard pick-six, the 27-year-old flashed the talent that made him a first-rounder.
And the NFL teams took notice again. The UFL execs admit they weren’t sure he’d changed. But after a standout season, one coach’s gamble on Arnette is about to pay off—big time. A year ago, UFL executive Daryl Johnston – the former Cowboys fullback who now oversees football operations – had serious doubts about Damon Arnette. The troubled CB needed to prove he’d changed after legal issues derailed his NFL career. Johnston told him to wait.
This spring, everything changed. After vetting Arnette’s growth, Johnston greenlit his Roughnecks signing. The result? A standout UFL season that caught NFL eyes. “I put a lot of effort into making sure Damon was in the right spot mentally,” Johnston told KPRC 2 at a Houston clinic. “There was genuine remorse. We felt he earned this second chance.”
“I put a lot of effort into just making sure that Damon was in the right spot mentally, had put his past behind him,” Daryl Johnston told @KPRC2 during @TheUFL football clinic this week at TDECU Stadium. “There was genuine remorse about what had happened and then you get with… https://t.co/uVDrwNEW9S
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 27, 2025
The Texans took notice. Last week, they signed Arnette to a one-year, $1.03 million prove-it deal. No guarantees. Just a chance. Johnston’s message to Arnette after the signing was clear: “Congratulations, but this is just the start. I’ll be checking in through camp.” For a player who nearly lost it all, this isn’t just another contract. It’s a lifeline – and the ultimate test of whether second chances can last.
The UFL gave Arnette a platform. The Texans are giving him an opportunity. Now the ball’s in his court.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned…
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