The XFL in football made a wild foray into professional football in 2001 and made a mild return in 2020. Nailed down with bankruptcy and failure, the XFL is still looking to find stability.
What is the XFL in Football?
The XFL is a professional football league that competes in the spring in the United States. Their first season was in 2001, before they closed until 2020. The league’s 2020 season consisted of eight teams.
Key Takeaways
The XFL doesn’t stand for anything. They wanted it to stand for Xtreme Football League until it was already taken.
Vince McMahon has been the leader of both versions of the XFL but has sold to an ownership team featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The new team plans a return to action in 2022.
Kickoffs in the XFL are very different from in the NFL or college football.
The future of the XFL is uncertain now that they are in talks with the CFL.
What does the XFL stand for?
The XFL doesn’t stand for anything, though, the XFL’s original founder, Vince McMahon, joked that it stood for “Xtra Fun League” since he said the NFL stood for “No Fun League.” Many have believed that the X stood for Xtreme, but that name was not available since it was already taken for a failed arena football league.
Does the XFL still exist?
The XFL is still around; however, the league’s future is in question now that they are in talks with the Canadian Football League. Plans for a 2022 season have been halted.
Big Plans: The Rock and the XFL – YouTube Video
Who founded the original XFL?
Vince McMahon founded the XFL in partnership with the WWF (now WWE) and NBC. McMahon had hoped to challenge the NFL by creating a more exciting league, calling the NFL the “No Fun League.”
Why did the XFL come back?
Vince McMahon decided to bring the XFL back and reduce the length of games to two hours, compared to about three hours in the NFL. XFL games in 2020 ended up averaging 2 hours, 50 minutes long.
XFL 2020 Highlights Video
Why did the XFL not finish the 2020 season?
Just like every major sports league, COVID-19 threw a wrench into their plans. Since it was the middle of a three-month season, they decided to end the season, later filing for bankruptcy and getting new owners.
What happened to the XFL?
The XFL left, came back, left again, and now are back. After the original XFL folded in 2001, it was brought back for an abbreviated season in 2020 due to COVID-19. After facing bankruptcy, they took on new ownership and had planned to come back for 2022 until their current talks with the CFL have sidetracked them recently.
What is different about kickoffs in the XFL?
Instead of the kicking team lining up alongside the kicker from their own 35-yard line, the kicker kicks the ball from his own 30-yard line while the rest of the team lines up from the receiving team’s 35-yard line with the defensive team set up from their own 30-yard line. Once the returner receives the ball, the rest of the players may begin to pursue blocking and tackling.
XFL Highlights Video
XFL Timeline
February 3, 2000 – XFL announced as a building concept to build from the success of NFL and professional wrestling.
Oct. 28-30, 2000 – XFL holds the first and only draft. There were a total of 475 players selected, starting with University of Maryland quarterback Scott Milanovich selected by the Los Angeles Xtreme as the first overall pick.
February 3, 2001- First game in XFL history takes place. It was a 19-0 win for the Las Vegas Outlaws over the New York/New Jersey Hitmen from Nevada’s Sam Boyd Stadium. The game was broadcasted on NBC to an estimated audience of 14 million people.
April 21, 2001 – The first and only XFL Championship, also called the Million Dollar Game. The Los Angeles Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons 38-6 and were rewarded with the players being given a total of $1 million.
May 10, 2001 – McMahon announces the closure of the XFL after TV ratings plummet and NBC cut the league from the broadcast schedule.
July 2002 – XFL ranked No. 3 on TV Guide’s worst TV shows of all time. Also ranked No. 2 on ESPN’s biggest flops in sports.
2010 – XFL ranked No. 21 on TV Guide’s 25 Biggest TV Blunders.
December 15, 2015 – Reports that McMahon was interested in bringing back the XFL. McMahon also started Alpha Entertainment to get into professional football.
Key Dates
February 2, 2017 – ESPN 30 for 30 documentary This Was the XFL released.
January 25, 2018 – Alpha Entertainment announces the formation of the latest version of the XFL.
June 5, 2018 – XFL announces Oliver Luck as league’s commissioner and CEO. Other front office positions were announced in the following months.
August 2019 – XFL signs first player, Landry Jones. Also revealed team names and logos.
October 2019 – XFL holds a draft, assigning 560 players to a team. Schedules and tickets were also released.
February 8, 2020 – XFL season begins with DC Defenders defeating Seattle Dragons 31-19 at DC’s Audi Field broadcasted on ABC.
March 12, 2020- After five weeks of play, XFL cancels the remainder of the season due to COVID-19. They still paid each player their base contract.
April 10, 2020- XFL president Jeffrey Pollack announces that the league was suspending operations and employees would be terminated. Days later, the league filed for bankruptcy.
August 15, 2020- XFL purchased by an ownership group including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for $15 million.
March 10, 2021- XFL and CFL enter formal talks for future opportunities. XFL has halted plans of a 2022 season amidst these talks.
Overtime
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