Everyone’s favorite football league, the short-lived XFL, will be making its triumphant return to our lives in 2020. There will apparently be some major differences this time around.
“The quality of the human being will be as important as the quality of the player,” McMahon said during the announcement.
It appears they’re going to leave behind the brashness that defined it. The pre-game ball sprint, the cheerleaders, the leniency on violent hits, Jeff Brohm’s famous “Let’s play football” quote after being knocked out in the previous week’s game.
ESPN’s “newest” reporter Dan Rovell provided some more information on what we know about the new XFL so far.
- The league will start with 8 teams, cities to be announced in the coming months
- There will be a 10 game season with post-season play consisting of 4 teams
- Rosters will consist of 40 players
- The league either won’t have cheerleaders or they simply won’t play the role they did with the first iteration
- Player safety will be more of a concern this time around (i.e. actually a concern)
- Either no halftime or it will be greatly shortened compared to the NFL
- McMahon is solely responsible for funding the league, selling off $100 million worth of WWE stock
- This time around the XFL will have no tie-ins or crossover with the WWE
- Political and social issues will have no place during the XFL games
- To answer a question I’m sure everyone has, it is undecided if player nicknames (a la “He Hate Me) will be allowed on jerseys
- It sounds like players may be contractually obligated to stand for the National Anthem
- Having any sort of criminal record (which means no Johnny Football unfortunately)
- McMahon is stressing a philosophy of a league “for the fans, by the fans” but if his history with the WWE is any indication, there’s reason to be skeptical
By all accounts, McMahon is taking attempt #2 much more seriously than the first time around. He seems to be trying to make a legitimate football league here. I’m not sure how effective that will be. As popular as football is, do fans really want it to be a presence for 10+ months out of the year? And the quality of play will have to be at least that of college if he wants a chance to succeed. But there’s still plenty of time and it seemed clear by some of his responses in the press conference that he has more information than he was letting on. McMahon is a showman, there have to be creative ideas on the table that they’re waiting to reveal. Either way, I for one will be following this very closely up until its launch two years from now. I can’t wait to see what this XFL has in store for us.
Watch McMahon’s announcement below.
(If the video starts at the beginning, skip ahead to the 30 minute mark)
Two quick things. I’m digging the color scheme of new logo. When does merchandise go on sale? And I think the innovations McMahon mentions started today. Those always-changing huge words and phrases behind him throughout the whole thing? They’re fantastic.
