After former UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers in late April during the organization's coaching change, Plumlee was signed by the United Football League's Houston Gamblers ahead of Sunday's home game against the Orlando Storm.
Providing a spark for a Gamblers quarterback group battling the injury bug this year, Plumlee ran twice for 12 yards and his only completion of the day came on a 49-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jalen White in the third quarter.
JRP back at it again!
🎥 @UFLGamblers pic.twitter.com/uvUhToIW9E
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) May 11, 2026
Former Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers played the majority of the snaps at quarterback for Houston on Sunday, completing 24 of his 41 passes for 268 yards and an interception, adding a rushing touchdown as well. Though the Gamblers had plenty of opportunities, they would end up losing by one point, 24-23 as a 60-plus-yard field goal try by John Hoyland would be short, and wide right.
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Plumlee began his college career at Ole Miss, where spent three seasons from 2019 to 2021. He spent his final two college seasons at UCF (2022-2023), where he appeared in 23 games, completing 63 percent of his passes en route to 4857 yards through the air with 29 touchdown passes to 16 interceptions. Plumlee also made an impact with his legs, rushing 265 times for 1367 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning an All-Big 12 Honorable mention in 2023. He also caught one pass for 16 yards.
Plumlee was also a member of the baseball programs at both Ole Miss and UCF during his college career. In the spring of 2023, Plumlee made waves by playing in UCF football's spring game the same day after posting two RBIs in a baseball game for the Knights against the Memphis Tigers.
After college, Plumlee had stints, mostly on practice squads, with the Steelers (twice), Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks. Those teams mostly attempted to utilize Plumlee as a wide receiver. He has yet to appear in an NFL regular season game, playing in five total preseason games. Plumlee was also previously drafted by the UFL's Arlington (Now Dallas) Renegades, but never suited up for them.
With Sunday's result, Houston's record moves to 2-5 on the season. Next on the schedule, the Gamblers will face the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET.
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