Washington Commanders sign former Michigan corner Channing Stribling

Channing Stribling is getting back in the NFL. The former Michigan star is heading to the Washington Commanders.

Washington signed Stribling to its roster on Thursday after he played last year in the USFL, where he earned all-league honors for the Philadelphia Stars. He hasn’t been on an NFL roster since 2018 when he was with the Los Angeles Chargers, one year after going undrafted out of Michigan.

Stribling played at Michigan from 2013-16, totaling 69 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He also had six interceptions, all of which came in the last two years of his time in Ann Arbor. His best year came as a senior in 2016 when he had 29 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions — including a pick-six — and the lone sack of his college career.

Stribling didn’t hear his name called in the 2017 NFL Draft, but signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. He bounced around the league that year, spending time with the Browns, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers’ practice teams. The next year, he returned to Indianapolis before joining the Chargers’ practice squad.

After that, Stribling played for teams in the AAF, CFL and XFL before spending last year in the USFL. During his professional career, he’s totaled 55 tackles and nine interceptions over the last four seasons.

Washington also signed defensive back DeJuan Neal to a contract, meaning they’re bringing in two former USFL players this season. Neal played for the New Jersey Generals during the 2022 season, and he and Stribling will be two of three former USFL players trying to make it in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys recently signed former Arizona State linebacker Christian Sam, who played with the New Orleans Beakers and Tampa Bay Bandits during the 2022 USFL season.