Anthony Becht Offers Heartfelt Message to Players Cut by Battlehawks

As a former player himself, Anthony Becht can relate to what his players go through. And as a head coach, he’s forced to make tough decisions, something he doesn’t enjoy but understands is part of the job.

Becht opened up about how difficult cutting players is for him and offered advice to those he had to let go of as his St. Louis Battlehawks prepare for the upcoming UFL season.

“Today is a shitty day to be a Head Coach. All 17 player that we released today should certainly not be happy. I understand the anger, sadness, disappointment that may be directed at me.. and for some the disbelief,” said Becht on X (Twitter).

Today is a shitty day to be a Head Coach. All 17 player that we released today should certainly not be happy. I understand the anger, sadness, disappointment that may be directed at me.. and for some the disbelief. I will say that I respect each and every player for the hard work…

— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) March 10, 2024

He then added more about his love and appreciation for them.

“I will say that I respect each and every player for the hard work they put in each and every day and will do everything I can to help them moving forward. Love all you guys.”

Becht and the Battlehawks will open up play as part of the new UFL on March 30 on the road in Detroit when they meet the Michigan Panthers. This will be the former Mountaineer’s second season as head coach of the Battlehawks, leading St. Louis to a 7-3 record in the final XFL season in 2023.

While Becht’s return to sidelines was expected, he recently made a public comment about the league to voice his displeasure over how transactions were being handled.

Anthony Becht Unhappy About Fellow WVU Product Gary Jennings Being Signed by Stallions

“Really?? So other teams can poach my players?” That’s what St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht said about another team stealing away one of his players, ionically a fellow Mountaineer – Gary Jennings.

Becht played at WVU from 1996-1999before kicking off a 12-year professional career in the NFL. He was drafted in the first round by the New York Jets with the 27th overall pick and spent five years with them.

He then spent three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a season each with the Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. He was out of football in between his Cardinals and Chiefs tenure.

In his career, he started 132 games and caught 188 passes for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. Yards wise, he wasn’t far ahead of his collegiate numbers of 1,178 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns on 88 catches in four seasons.