XFL
WWE CEO Vince McMahon founded a pro football league that he hoped would have faster and simpler play than the NFL. After an initial 2001 season that experienced a mixed bag of success and viewership, the league folded, costing McMahon and his partner, NBC executive Dick Ebersol, $35 million.
McMahon attempted to reboot the XFL in 2018, hiring a commissioner Oliver Luck, and announcing its eight host cities. Its first game took place on February 8, 2020. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic forced the XFL to shut down after its fifth week. A month later, the league filed for bankruptcy, setting into motion negotiations that culminated in actor and former WWE star Dwayne Johnson, along with his partners, buying the team for $15 million. Co-investor Dany Garcia announced that the next XFL season would begin on February 18, 2023.
- Founded: 2001
- Founder: Vince McMahon (rebooted in 2018 and 2023)
- Owners: RedBird Capital, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson
- Headquarters: Arlington, Texas
- Teams: 8
- Team names: Arlington Renegades, D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, San Antonio Brahmas, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis Battlehawks, Vegas Vipers
Featured articles:
XFL Teams: What You Need to Know About the 8 Squads Kicking Off in 2023
XFL Coaches: Familiar Names Lead the Teams in the New XFL
The Vince McMahon and Oliver Luck XFL Marriage Was Destined for Divorce
Visit the XFL's website.
Read the latest articles about the XFL:
While the XFL might not be the NFL, it's still professional football. How much do the new league's players earn, though?
Tim Tebow has been playing minor-league baseball since 2016 with mixed results. That's why a chance to return to football may have been enticing.
Landry Jones is currently plying his career in the XFL, but was the quarterback any good during his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers?
XFL coaches didn't realize that a major policy difference from what the NFL does would expose their secrets.
During his time with the Oklahoma Sooners, Bob Stoops established himself as one of college's top coaches. Now he's in the XFL.
The NFL can learn from the XFL, which has rolled out innovative rules to speed up the game, spice up the scoring, and make overtime fair.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Landry Jones is one of the veteran players starting over in the reincarnation of the XFL.
Former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is could be making a return to professional football. His plan is a bit unconventional, though.
