Houston Roughnecks trade Lionel Vital for Will Lewis as general manager

As the UFL offseason continues, we’re already seeing some personnel moves. The Houston Roughnecks have fired Lionel Vital as general manager after just one year. Sources tell Pro Football Newsroom that Will Lewis will take over as general manager, returning to spring football after several months away.

URGENT: The Houston Roughnecks are parting ways with general manager Lionel Vital, sources say.

Sources say Will Lewis, former DPP for the @XFLBrahmas under the leadership of Hines Ward, is expected to take over as general manager of the @XFLRoughnecks.

Houston is making changes after a 1-9 campaign. #UFL pic.twitter.com/3wmHpNnB5U

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) July 5, 2024

This is the third general manager for the Houston franchise in three years. When the team was under the Houston Gamblers banner, Bob Morris was the one who led the team for the first two seasons.

During the 2023 USFL offseason, head coach CJ Johnson made the decision to bring in Lionel Vital to replace Morris. After a tumultuous season for Houston, which ended with a 1-9 record, the Roughnecks are making another change.

Breaking News: Houston Gamblers general manager Robert Morris has resigned, sources say.

His replacement is Lionel Vital, the source confirms. Vital has extensive professional experience in the CFL and NFL, and joins the team @USFLGamblers ahead of the #USFL Season 2024.

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) August 14, 2023

Will Lewis

Will Lewis is no stranger to the spring football scene. He was the general manager of the Memphis Express during the 2019 AAF season. After that league folded, Lewis was then hired by the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020, serving as an assistant director of player personnel under Randy Mueller.

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Lewis ended up joining the San Antonio Brahmas staff in 2022, along with Hines Ward. Will was the DPP until the merger forced Ward out. While they only went 3-7 in 2023, San Antonio had a lot of talent as a team, but just couldn’t execute on the field that year. They also made some phenomenal offseason acquisitions that haven’t really made an impact since Ward and the staff left the league.

Will played in the NFL for several years, totaling 26 games after being signed by the Seattle Seahawks as a UDFA. He also has plenty of experience in the NFL as a talent evaluator/scouting, having worked with the Packers, Seahawks, and Chiefs at various positions.

Lionel Vital’s move to the UFL

The Houston Roughnecks have not lived up to the expectations of the UFL this year. Vital has brought a lot of new talent into the organization, and some have performed quite well. Among those players is Markel Roby, who has excelled in the defensive secondary as one of the best in the UFL. Kirk Merritt, Kiondre Thomas, and JJ Molson are a few others who have been bright spots this year.

That said, Houston has had some serious issues in 2024, and there’s a reason they were at the bottom of most power rankings entering the year. At quarterback, they didn’t draft anyone who necessarily stood out. Reid Sinnett, Jarrett Guarantano, and Nolan Henderson all struggled to hold their own as QB1 throughout the season.

Additionally, the Roughnecks were one of the oldest teams in the UFL. Their age showed at times, with some key veterans out with injuries. Additionally, some of the young talent they targeted in the offseason or during the regular season wasn’t the same caliber as what other UFL franchises were attracting. Add to that the lack of diversity in the WR room, plus an offensive line that never really took shape, and it’s clear to see why this franchise won just one game in 2024.

Final Thoughts

There’s no way to sugarcoat it, things haven’t gone well for Houston in 2024. As Coach Johnson put it, it’s been “a season full of winters.” Obviously, changes need to be made in order to improve on a 1-9 record. While roster turnover is certainly expected when player contracts expire in August, CJ is starting to make some moves of his own, with this latest personnel adjustment.

With the UFL Rookie Draft fast approaching, Johnson and Lewis will need to get to work quickly. There is plenty of quality talent available, and many draft-eligible players are looking to join a UFL team for the 2025 season.

What do you think about Lionel Vital leaving the UFL? Will the Houston Roughnecks improve with Will Lewis and his leadership? Let us know in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!