The Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), Mexico’s professional football league, has been in existence since 2016. While it remains small, it’s beginning to carve out a niche as a viable option for players whose professional careers never took off in the U.S. With modest salaries and limited exposure, the LFA offers a chance to continue playing the game at a professional level, but with an entirely different set of challenges. This spring, 27 former NCAA FBS athletes, including players from Power Five schools, joined the league’s ranks, seeking to extend their careers after setbacks in the NFL, injuries, or off-field issues. And there’s one name among them who has vanished from under the NFL lights for quite some time now.

Trevone Boykin has played football on some of the sport’s biggest stages, from lighting up Big 12 defenses at TCU to briefly backing up Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks. But in 2025, the once-promising quarterback is finding a second chance in an unlikely place: LFA.

Boykin, now 31, is the starting quarterback for the Galgos de Tijuana, one of the LFA’s newest and most intriguing franchises. It’s a surprising turn for a player whose career once seemed destined for stardom, and then nearly vanished altogether. At TCU, Boykin was a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who shattered school records. He finished his college career with 10,728 passing yards, 86 touchdowns through the air, and another 27 on the ground. In 2014, he led the Horned Frogs to a share of the Big 12 title and a 12-1 season, earning second-team All-American honors and a fourth-place finish in Heisman voting.

Undrafted in 2016, Boykin signed with the Seahawks and appeared in five games over two seasons. But off-the-field issues soon overshadowed his potential. A 2018 assault charge led to a three-year prison sentence in 2020 after Boykin pleaded guilty, halting his professional career at its midpoint. Boykin even recently admitted that adapting to the Mexican pro game has been “eye-opening.” 

Now, in Tijuana, Boykin is writing an unexpected new chapter. The Galgos, who failed to win a single game in their inaugural LFA season, signed Boykin ahead of the 2023 campaign. His arrival signaled a shift: this was no longer an experimental expansion team, but one aiming to compete. For a league still carving out its identity, Boykin’s presence adds not only credibility but visibility.

From Russell Wilson’s shadow to a new spotlight

The LFA (Liga de Fútbol Americano) has come a long way since it started in 2016, and it’s starting to turn heads. NFL stars like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are all in with having invested in teams, which is a big deal. It’s a clear sign that the league is heading in the right direction, and it’s no longer just a backup plan for players—it’s becoming a legit platform. With more fans showing up to games and more money coming in, the LFA is proving that it’s more than just a second-tier league. Now, players like Trevone Boykin are showing just what the league can offer.

Fan engagement has exploded, too. Stadiums are filling up on Saturdays, and social feeds are flooding with LFA highlights. At the same time, league officials are hinting at expansion talks and broadcast deals for next season. If the LFA locks up a streaming partner in the U.S., it would be a game-changer, bringing more eyes (and sponsorship dollars) north and south of the border. Players like Boykin, with NFL pedigree, would be in the perfect spot to ride that wave.

Rick D’Abreu and Chance Bell are also among the 27 former NCAA FBS players who have joined the LFA for the 2025 season, continuing their football careers in Mexico. D’Abreu, a defensive lineman who transferred to TCU from East Carolina in 2023, notched 12 tackles in his lone season with the Horned Frogs. Known for his burst and versatility, he’s now looking to anchor a defense in a league still defining its identity. Bell, a San Diego State alum and two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete, rushed for 1,392 yards and nine touchdowns in college. He brings a blend of discipline and toughness to the LFA’s backfields.

For players like Boykin, D’Abreu, Bell, and the others, the move south isn’t about clinging to the past. It’s about chasing what’s still ahead.