Luis Perez Bio
Luis Francisco Perez, born on August 26, 1994, in San Diego, California, is an American professional football quarterback widely known by the nickname “The Spring King.” Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing approximately 214 pounds, Perez has built one of the most unusual résumés in modern football, moving through multiple spring leagues while remaining a constant presence under center. He is best recognized for winning the 2023 XFL Championship with the Arlington Renegades, a performance in which he earned Championship Game MVP honors. Today, he is regarded as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in the history of alternative professional football leagues.
Perez currently plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL), where he was named the starting quarterback in May 2026. Over the course of his career, he has been part of the Los Angeles Rams, Birmingham Iron, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, New Jersey Generals, Los Angeles Chargers, Vegas Vipers, Arlington Renegades, and Dallas Renegades. His journey from undrafted free agent to record-setting spring football veteran has made him a notable figure among fans of the sport’s developmental and alternative circuits.
Early Life and Background
Luis Francisco Perez was born in San Diego, California, to Juan and Carla Perez. His father, Juan Perez, was a professional soccer player in his native country of Mexico, introducing athletics into the family at an early age. Perez grew up in the Rancho Del Rey neighborhood of Chula Vista, California, where he first began playing quarterback as a young teenager in junior high school. Despite his eventual focus on football, his childhood was filled with a wide range of activities, including basketball and bowling, the latter of which he pursued competitively for several years.
As a child, Perez joined a bowling league at age nine and quickly rose to become one of the top-rated amateur bowlers in California. He bowled 12 perfect games and once planned to pursue a university bowling scholarship before deciding to focus on football. He famously explained the decision by saying that he could still bowl at age 50 but would not be able to play football at that age. Perez attended Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista, where he played sub-varsity football and basketball for two years before being moved to tight end. He never played varsity football at Otay Ranch and graduated in 2012 without a clear path to a college football career.
Path to American Football
After high school, Perez worked on his quarterback fundamentals by studying YouTube videos, eventually walking on at Southwestern College in Chula Vista with no varsity experience. He began as the ninth quarterback on the Jaguars’ depth chart but earned the starting role after injuries and transfers opened opportunities. In his debut against Los Angeles Pierce College in the third week of the 2013 season, Perez threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, immediately showcasing the arm talent that would define his career.
The following season, Perez led the Southwestern Jaguars to a conference title and earned all-conference honors, throwing for more than 280 yards in multiple games. His strongest performance came against San Bernardino, when he completed 31 of 44 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Despite interest from NCAA Division I programs such as UC Davis and Oklahoma State, Perez chose to transfer to Texas A&M–Commerce, a Division II program in Northeast Texas, where he would eventually become one of the most decorated players in school history.
Luis Perez Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Perez redshirted during the 2015 season at Texas A&M–Commerce while the Lions won their second straight Lone Star Conference title. In 2016, he won the starting quarterback job and became the first Mexican-American or Hispanic player to start at quarterback for the Lions. He led the team to a 10-win regular season, a Lone Star Conference championship, and a victory in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs, earning first-team All-Conference and Harlon Hill Award nominee honors in the process.
The 2017 season represented the pinnacle of Perez’s college career. He led the Lions to a 10–1 regular season and an eventual NCAA Division II national championship, the program’s second in history and first since 1972. Along the way, he was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II, was named a First-team All-American, and earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. He finished the season with 5,000 passing yards and a 22–3 record as a starter at Texas A&M–Commerce.
AAF and XFL Breakthrough (2019–2020)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Perez signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent and saw action in the final preseason game before being waived. He then joined the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football, where he was selected fifth overall in the AAF’s quarterback draft. He threw for 252 yards in his debut and finished the shortened season with 1,460 passing yards and five touchdowns, leading Birmingham to a 5–3 record and a playoff berth before the league folded.
Following brief stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, Perez was assigned to the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 2020 XFL draft before being traded to the New York Guardians. He started multiple games for the Guardians, completing 18 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Wildcats, and led the team to consecutive wins before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later led the Jousters of The Spring League to the league’s only Mega Bowl championship in 2021.
USFL Era (2022)
Perez signed with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League on April 1, 2022, after starter Ben Holmes was injured. In the league’s kickoff game on April 16, he threw the first touchdown in USFL history, finishing with 143 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-18 passing. He later entered a Week 6 game against the Gamblers in relief and led a game-winning drive capped by a quarterback sneak with two seconds left, securing a 26–25 victory.
Perez led the USFL in passer rating and completion percentage during the 2022 season. He returned briefly to the Los Angeles Rams during training camp before being released, capping a year in which he cemented his reputation as one of the most reliable quarterbacks in spring football.
Vegas Vipers and Renegades (2023–2025)
Perez was selected by the Vegas Vipers in the 2023 XFL draft and opened the season with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns before being traded to the Arlington Renegades on March 28, 2023. With the Renegades, he led the team to a 35–26 upset victory over the D.C. Defenders in the XFL Championship Game, earning Championship Game MVP honors. He re-signed with the Renegades in February 2024 and led the league in passing yards, touchdowns, passer rating, and completions during the 2024 UFL season.
After a short stint with the Los Angeles Chargers in August 2024, Perez returned to the Renegades in January 2025, leading the team in passing yards, completions, attempts, and completion percentage for the second consecutive year. Despite his individual statistics, the Renegades missed the postseason again. Following the season, Perez re-signed with the franchise after it reverted to the Dallas Renegades name, before losing the starting role to Austin Reed early in the 2026 season.
St. Louis Battlehawks (2026–Present)
On April 21, 2026, Perez was traded to the St. Louis Battlehawks in exchange for offensive tackle Corey Stewart. He was named the starting quarterback ahead of the team’s May 8 game against the Columbus Aviators, marking the latest chapter in a career that has spanned more than a dozen professional stops. His arrival in St. Louis adds another veteran presence to a Battlehawks roster aiming to compete in the UFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Perez’s career is marked by several historic moments, including throwing the first touchdown in USFL history in 2022 and earning XFL Championship Game MVP honors in 2023. He is also recognized as the longest-tenured spring football quarterback to have never started an NFL regular-season game, a distinction that has only added to his cult status among alternative football fans.
Luis Perez Career Wins
Luis Francisco Perez has compiled one of the most decorated résumés in spring football history, highlighted by a 2023 XFL Championship, an NCAA Division II national title in 2017, and multiple individual statistical awards.
Spring League Highlights
Perez led the New Jersey Generals to a memorable comeback win over the Houston Gamblers in 2022, capped by a walk-off quarterback sneak. He also led the Jousters to The Spring League’s only Mega Bowl championship in 2021 and guided the Arlington Renegades to the 2023 XFL title, throwing for the game-winning performance against the D.C. Defenders.
Other Wins & Performances
Perez was named USFL passer rating leader and completion percentage leader in 2022, and he repeated as UFL passing yards leader in both 2024 and 2025. He also led the UFL in completion percentage in 2025 and was the UFL’s passing touchdown leader and passer rating leader in 2024.
Luis Perez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Perez was raised in a close-knit family with strong athletic roots. His father, Juan Perez, was a professional soccer player in Mexico before moving to the United States, and his mother, Carla Perez, raised the family in the Chula Vista area of California.
Personal Life
Luis Francisco Perez has been married to his wife, Brenda, since 2015. The couple began dating in junior high school and share the same birthday. Brenda graduated alongside Perez from Texas A&M–Commerce on December 14, 2017, one day before his national championship victory. In 2025, Perez released an autobiography titled “The Spring King,” chronicling his unconventional journey through professional football.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 UFL season, Luis Francisco Perez served as the starting quarterback for the Arlington Renegades, ahead of Holton Ahlers and Lindsey Scott. He led the league in completions, attempts, passing yards, and completion percentage, posting one of the most efficient statistical seasons of his career. His individual numbers stood out as some of the best in the UFL, reinforcing his standing as one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
Despite Perez’s statistical excellence, the Renegades missed the postseason for the second consecutive year, making it a frustrating year for a player at the peak of his powers. Following the season, both Ahlers and Scott retired, leaving Perez as the clear veteran leader in the locker room.
Perez re-signed with the Renegades on October 9 after the franchise reverted to the Dallas Renegades name, signaling organizational confidence in his experience. Heading into the next chapter of his career, Perez remains a respected figure whose combination of durability, accuracy, and championship experience continues to make him a valued asset at every stop.