Rumors continued to rumble last week about the future of Spring Football heading into 2024 and the possibility of the XFL and USFL uniting.
The XFL-USFL announced on Thursday, September 28, 2023, that the United States Football League (“USFL”) and the XFL announced their intention to merge.
More news on the specific details will be discussed at a later time.
The Beginning: XFL/USFL
After the failed attempt by Vince McMahon’s original XFL in 2001, the league folded as it felt more like WWF was being incorporated into a contact sport like football.
When McMahon rebooted the league in 2020, it looked like it would complete a full season, but the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a permanent shutdown five weeks into the competition.
XFL Co-Owner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Selling the League to Dwayne, “The Rock Johnson”
After the 2020 season, McMahon sold the league to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, his former wife and businesswoman Danny Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale of Red Bird Capital Partners. The league successfully played a complete season from February to May 2023.
In the mid-1980s, the first installment of the USFL was the sharpest rival that the NFL competed against their merger between them and the AFL in 1970.
Because the USFL had some owners with loaded pockets, they were able to take former NFL players, such as Jim Kelly and Hershel Walker, and pay them some ridiculous contracts.
Because the league couldn’t afford to keep paying these crazy salaries, the USFL folded in 1986. However, it jump-started both Kelly and Walker’s successful careers in the NFL.
Leading to New Installment of the USFL
After almost three decades without a league, a new version of the USFL was launched in April of 2022. It became the first spring league to complete a full season since the XFL in 2001 and the last year of the original USFL in 1985.
USFL President Daryl “The Moose” Johnston – Mercedes Oliver/Getty Images
The league has been owned by Fox Corporation, and the league’s president is former Dallas Cowboys fullback and member of the FOX NFL broadcasting crew, Daryl “The Moose” Johnston.
What Merger Could Mean for all 16 Teams in Both Leagues?
Since the USFL restarted in 2022 and the XFL rebooted in 2023, they split both leagues into eight teams and two divisions based on geographical locations.
That means that it would theoretically be 16 teams in one league, with all of the teams (including the USFL) playing in their home markets. However, they’ve also talked about dumping four teams and making it a 12-team league.
The Timing with Schedules in XFL/USFL
Another difference between the two leagues is when they are scheduled to begin and when their championship games conclude the season.
For starters, the XFL runs from the first Saturday in February after the Super Bowl to the title game ending on the second Saturday in May.
Meanwhile, the USFL starts two months later in April and ends on the Second Sunday in July with its championship contest. The rule differences are notable as well.
How the Merger May Create a Better Pipeline within the NFL?
The NFL has always lacked a true minor league system, just like baseball, basketball, and hockey support.
Due to the recent installments and success of both spring football leagues, fans see these leagues as a way for players who want to earn a shot back into the NFL, possibly make training camps, and even gameday and practice squad rosters.
It also gives Coaches and Referees a second chance to show their talents and work in the league as well.
Since the release didn’t talk about a new name for the league, what we do know right now is that the USFL officially filed the trademark for “National Spring Football League” yesterday, hmm?
For another USFL-XFL Story, please check out:
USFL: How the Signings of Players to the NFL Will Transform the Professional Leagues
