2024 XFL season
LeagueXFL
SportAmerican football
Number of games43 (40 regular-season games, 3 postseason games) (planned)
Number of teams8 (planned)
TV partner(s)ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, FX

The 2024 XFL season was the planned third season of the rebooted XFL and the second under its new ownership group of Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale (RedBird Capital).

In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons.[1] On September 28, 2023, the USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge.[2] In a separate statement, XFL President Russ Brandon indicated that league operations would continue unaffected until the deal closes and regulators approve the merger, and that all contracts with the league would be honored.[3] On November 30, 2023, Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had received regulatory approval for the merger and were finalizing plans for a "combined season" to begin March 30, 2024.[4]

The merger was formally announced on Fox NFL Sunday on December 31, 2023,[5] with both leagues cancelling their planned season while surviving teams will play the 2024 season in the newly formed United Football League.[6]

Offseason

The Arlington Renegades defeated the DC Defenders in the 2023 XFL Championship Game to become the first league champions in this iteration of the XFL (after the 2020 XFL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The league lost nearly $60 million during the season after spending approximately $140 million in expenses over the course of the 2023 season and earned $80 million in gross revenue, including roughly $20 million that came from its broadcast contract with ESPN.[7][8] Executives with the league and ESPN indicated that they considered the season a success.[9][10] After the season ended, the XFL made league wide cuts affecting up to 30 people, including two marketing executives, and shifted other employees to seasonal work.[11][12] According to several reports, the XFL marketing budget was only $120,000 for the 2023 season.[13]

More than 200 players who played in the 2023 XFL season earned invitations to workout for NFL teams, while 63 of them signed contracts. One player (Daniel Whelan) started the 2023 NFL season on an active 53-man NFL roster, while 17 other players started the season on practice squads.[14][15][16]

During the 2023 season, XFL players filed a petition (through the United Steelworkers) for a representation election with Region 16 of the National Labor Relations Board,[17] but decided against joining the union by vote of 124 to 73.[18]

Merger with the USFL

On September 19, 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to create a "merger of equals" between the two leagues before the XFL 2024 season kicks off in February, with an agreement potentially announced by the end of the month.[1] The USFL registered a trademark for "National Spring Football League," the name of the USFL's parent company but speculated to also be a name for the potential merged league, that was made public September 27.[19] On September 28, the USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge with the specific details of the merger to be announced at a later date.[2] The merger would also require regulatory approval.[20] In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League,"[21] a name that founder Vince McMahon had previously registered in 2017 several years following the suspension of a previous league by that name.[22] On November 30, 2023, the league chairwoman Dany Garcia announced via her Instagram page that they completed the antitrust review process to approve the leagues' merger, and the new league will begin its season on March 30, 2024.[4] An end-of-year memo from league vice president Doug Whaley indicated that the league would again be based at a hub in Arlington, Texas and that training camps would begin on February 23, 2024.[23] On December 31, The merger was formally announced and the name of the combined league was confirmed as the United Football League, with each component league surviving as a conference within the UFL.[24]

Teams

In a press gathering at the league's showcase in St. Louis, league president Russ Brandon confirmed that the league would remain at eight teams for the 2024 season.[9][25] The league acknowledged on July 25, 2023, that renovations could render the Houston Roughnecks' home stadium in 2020 and 2023, TDECU Stadium, not available for the 2024 season but that the league would seek another stadium in Houston if that is the case and ruled out relocating the team out of the city.[26]

On August 31, 2023, the Vegas Vipers announced that they would not return to Cashman Field for the 2024 season, citing widespread negative feedback from multiple sources about the venue.[27]

Club City Stadium Surface Capacity† Head coach
South Division
Arlington Renegades Arlington, Texas Choctaw Stadium Grass 25,000 Bob Stoops
Houston Roughnecks Houston, Texas TBA TBA TBA Wade Phillips
Orlando Guardians Orlando, Florida Camping World Stadium Turf 60,219† Terrell Buckley
San Antonio Brahmas San Antonio, Texas Alamodome Turf 64,000† Hines Ward
North Division
DC Defenders Washington, D.C. Audi Field Grass 20,000 Reggie Barlow
Seattle Sea Dragons Seattle, Washington Lumen Field Turf 68,740† Jim Haslett
St. Louis Battlehawks St. Louis, Missouri The Dome at America's Center Turf 67,277† Anthony Becht
Vegas Vipers Las Vegas, Nevada TBA TBA TBA Anthony Blevins

    †Full stadium capacity. The large stadiums with multiple decks only open the lower bowl for XFL games, similar to the former AAF and MLS games played in large stadiums. The XFL has a target stadium size of 30,000 seats so that in the event of playoff games, the upper decks can be opened to increase capacity.[28]

    Locations of teams for the 2024 XFL season, (South Division - red; North Division - blue;)

    Players

    For the 2024 season, the league would expand its rosters to 90-men rosters in the off-season (compared to 80-men rosters during the 2023 preseason) due to expected attrition, while every player will "have a NFL out-clause until the 16th week of the 2023 NFL season".[29]

    On March 20, 2023, the league announced it has named American National Combines (ANC) as the "official regional combines partner", with the ANC running a year-round scouting events, allowing the XFL to "identify more high-quality and talented players".[30] The XFL hosted a series of player showcases across the United States in June and July,[31] including:[32][33][34]

    Draft

    In an interview after the 2023 season, XFL's Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Whaley disclosed that the league plans a "rookie" draft scheduled for June 16, 2023 and would conduct "multiple drafts" in the fall of 2023.[47][48] The XFL Rookie Draft conducted on June 16, 2023, with 80 players being selected.[49]

    On July 28 the XFL held a "rights claim" draft, which had not been announced to the public, and the picks were later released through the official XFL transaction page.[50] The players rights were assigned to the selected team, but they are not under contract with the team (similar to the "negotiation lists" in the CFL[51]). The players selected included: Tavon Austin, Darrynton Evans, Chris Odom, Dru Samia, Josh Jackson, Darrell Henderson, Harrison Hand, Quinton Bell and Anthony Gordon.[52]

    As a result of the merger talks, the planned 2024 Draft (slated for October 4, 2023[53]) was postponed to November and later cancelled.[54][55]

    Compensation

    After the 2023 season concluded, Doug Whaley, XFL's Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, said in an interview that the league delaying contracts for 2024 season due to a potential unionization of players from "another entity" (not through the United Steelworkers).[47] Russ Giglio, Senior Director, Player Administration and Officiating Operations, also mentioned that 2023 season players has a mutual 'opt-in' agreement: "The players that finish the season have a mutual option with the team to sign back. The team wants the player back, the player wants to come back, we’ll sign a contract".[47]

    On December 29, 2023 XFL players were notified by Whaley that their current contracts and health benefits would expire on December 31, 2023.[56]

    Player movement

    Transactions[57]

    Partnerships

    Indoor Football League

    In July 2023, the league announced a "IFL to XFL Combine", which will give Indoor Football League exclusive opportunity to showcase their abilities in front of XFL coaches and directors of player development, and was part of the 2023 "IFL National Championship Weekend". "This is another step in our relationship with the XFL", said IFL commissioner Todd Tryon, "we are excited to continue to build with the XFL to create opportunities for players in both of these great leagues".[71]

    Coaches

    Coaching changes

    Team Departing coach Incoming coach Notes
    Vegas Vipers Rod Woodson Anthony Blevins On June 12, the XFL announced Sunday night that the Vegas Vipers and Woodson had mutually agreed to part ways and the Pro Football Hall of Famer will not return for the 2024 season. The Vipers finished the 2023 season with 2–8 record. Anthony Blevins was hired as his replacement on July 7. He had spent the previous five seasons as an assistant with the New York Giants and is an alumnus of the original XFL, having played for the Birmingham Thunderbolts in 2001.[72]
    San Antonio Brahmas Hines Ward Wade Phillips On December 28, Ward departed the XFL in protest of the league's change to a seasonal contract structure. He accumulated a record of 3–7 as head coach of the Brahmas.[73][74] Phillips, who had signed a guaranteed two-year contract with firmer protections than Ward's, had spent the 2023 season as head coach of the Houston Roughnecks; as the USFL's Houston Gamblers are expected to be the surviving Houston team in the USFL/XFL merger, the Roughnecks are expected to cease to exist.[75]

    Season structure

    Postseason

    After the 2023 season, XFL President Russ Brandon addressed the criticism revolving around the playoff format and the tie-breaker scenario: "We never thought we would get that far in the tie-breaker scenario (...) The key to anything is to keep things simple, so we'll have to clean that up (...) We'll evaluate the situation that happened this year with the playoff. looking back at it, more thought needs to go into it. that will be under review." Brandon also mentioned that the league reserved dates for the 2024 championship game at locations in "neutral" sites.[76]

    League finances

    In June, 2023 Forbes indicated that the league expects around $100 million in revenue for the 2024 season. XFL chairwoman Dany Garcia said: "We’re extremely well-capitalized for the long-term. This is our new WWE. The next massive live property".

    Business partnerships

    The league signed multi-year sponsorship deals with Progressive Corporation and Under Armour.[77][78] In November 2023 Garcia and Johnson met with several U.S. senators trying to secure a sponsorship with the US military.[79]

    Media

    Broadcasting

    This will be the second year of a five-year exclusive agreement with ESPN Inc. and the Walt Disney Company to carry every XFL game across ESPN's platforms, ABC, and FX. Worth between $100 million and $150 million.[80][81] Some refute the idea and claimed that the XFL is not getting a rights fee from ESPN, and the agreement is a rights agreement for the games to be on the air, but without payment. In a tweet, Dwayne Johnson responded to the claimed and said: "ESPN is a stakeholder in XFL. Long term partners", implying that ESPN are shareholders in the league.[82]

    International broadcasters

    In Latin America, the 2024 season will be televised by ESPN and its streaming and on-demand platform Star+.

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 Baysinger, Tim; Primack, Dan; Fischer, Sara (September 19, 2023). "Scoop: Football leagues XFL and USFL in merger talks". Axios. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
    2. 1 2 TSN ca Staff (2023-09-28). "XFL, United States Football League announce intention to merge". TSN. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
    3. ↑ Larsen, James (September 28, 2023). Update: A statement from @XFL2023 President & CEO Russ Brandon. Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
    4. 1 2 "We are pleased to have completed the antitrust review process in connection with the proposed merger of the XFL and USFL and intend to play a combined season this spring kicking off on Saturday, March 30. We are now finalizing terms of the definitive agreement and will share more about this new League in the coming weeks". Instagram.
    5. ↑ Russell, Jake (December 31, 2023). "XFL, USFL announce merger to form the United Football League". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
    6. ↑ "United Football League Set to Launch as the Premier Spring Football League". OurSports Central.
    7. ↑ Young, Jabari (June 10, 2023). "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Says The XFL Will Succeed. Who Wants To Tell Him He's Wrong?". forbes.com.
    8. ↑ "Report: XFL Loses Nearly $60 Million This Season". yahoo.com. 12 June 2023.
    9. 1 2 Perry, Mark (2023-07-09). "XFL's Russ Brandon Talks League Expansion, Playoff Revamp, and Shattering the Spring League Curse". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
    10. ↑ "XFL title game TV viewership sluggish, but ESPN says season met expectations". theathletic.com.
    11. ↑ "Exclusive: Major Changes in XFL As League Makes Widespread Cuts". xflnewshub.com. 30 May 2023.
    12. ↑ Keeley, Sean (2023-06-15). "The Rock refutes Andrew Marchand's report on ESPN's XFL rights fees". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
    13. ↑ "Inside The XFL's Financial Struggles In Season One". xflnewsroom.com. 16 June 2023.
    14. ↑ "Daniel Whelan Named to Green Bay Packers 53-man Roster". XFL.com. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
    15. ↑ "NFL Cut Down Day, Which XFL Players Made The Cut, How Many Did Not". xflnewshub.com. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
    16. ↑ "XFL to NFL: Just the beginning". XFL.
    17. ↑ "XFL Players Seek NLRB Election to Join United Steelworkers". xflnewshub.com. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
    18. ↑ "XFL Players Reject Joining United Steelworkers Union". xflnewshub.com. 19 April 2023.
    19. ↑ Rosvoglou, Chris (2023-09-27). "USFL Appears To Take Next Step Towards Merger With XFL". The Spun: What's Trending In The Sports World Today. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
    20. ↑ Schad, Tom (2023-09-28). "XFL, USFL confirm intention to merge into single spring football league". USA Today. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
    21. ↑ "XFL files trademark applications for 'United Football League' and 'UFL'". San Antonio Express-News.
    22. ↑ Bixenspan, David (December 19, 2017). "Timing Of Trademarks Suggests "New XFL" May Be A Response To NFL Protests". Deadspin.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
    23. ↑ Larsen, James (December 29, 2023). #XFL players received an email (retrieved by @UnitedFBPlayers) with some information regarding their contracts, and info about the merged league. Training camp date confirmed for February 23rd. #USFL #UFL Pro Football Newsroom via X. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
    24. ↑ "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.
    25. ↑ "Will the XFL return in 2024? What to know about spring football league's future, potential changes next season". Sporting News. 13 May 2023.
    26. ↑ https://twitter.com/XFL_PR/status/1683862174022742017
    27. ↑ Statement from Jason Gonella, SVP of ticket sales for the Vegas Vipers, released August 31, 2023
    28. ↑ Williams, Bob (March 1, 2020). "Oliver Luck: So far, so good in XFL – but LA and New York crowds need to improve". SportBusiness.com. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
    29. ↑ "XFL Announces 2023 Rookie Draft To Take Place On June 16, And The Expansion Of League Rosters". xflnewshub.com. 18 May 2023.
    30. ↑ "American National Combines Selected as the XFL's Official Regional Combines Partner". Our Sports Central. March 20, 2023.
    31. ↑ "XFL 2023: A Day at the 2023 St. Louis Showcase". xflnewshub.com. 20 July 2023.
    32. ↑ "XFL To Host Player Showcase Series In Six Cities And XFL Combine At Choctaw Stadium This Summer". xflnewshub.com. 23 May 2023.
    33. ↑ "XFL To Host HBCU Showcase At Clark Atlanta University". xflnewshub.com. 22 May 2023.
    34. ↑ "XFL Partners With Nick Novak To Run Specialist Showcase". xflnewshub.com. 13 June 2023.
    35. ↑ "Scouting Football Talent: XFL 2023 Showcase Events Kick Off This Weekend in Atlanta". xflnewshub.com. 19 June 2023.
    36. ↑ "The XFL is committed to HBCU talent". HBCUgameday.com. 24 June 2023.
    37. ↑ "Everything You Need to Know about the XFL Combine". XFL.
    38. ↑ "Nine Players to Watch at the XFL Combine". XFL.
    39. ↑ "XFL Combine to Be Livestreamed On YouTube and Facebook". XFL.
    40. ↑ "2023 XFL Combine Notebook: Wednesday, July 26". XFL.
    41. ↑ "2023 XFL Combine Notebook: Thursday, July 27". XFL.
    42. ↑ "2023 XFL Combine Recap Notebook: Eye-Popping Drills, KJ Sails' Livestream Debut and More". XFL.
    43. ↑ "Innovative Technology Serves as Key to Evaluation at XFL Combine". XFL.
    44. ↑ "2023 XFL Combine Testing". XFL.
    45. ↑ "XFL Orlando Showcase Recap". OurSports Central.
    46. ↑ "76 Specialists Take Part In Final XFL Player Showcase Of The Off-Season". xflnewshub.com.
    47. 1 2 3 "XFL: Preparing for 2024 – Multiple Fall Drafts, Unionization, and the NFL Alumni Academy". xflnewshub.com. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
    48. ↑ "XFL To Host 2023 Rookie Draft On Friday, June 16th, Results Will Be Posted Friday Evening". xflnewshub.com. 14 June 2023.
    49. ↑ "XFL Rookie Draft 2023". XFL.com.
    50. ↑ "XFL 2024: Houston Roughnecks Claim Rights To Eleven Players, Tavon Austin Headlines Class". xflnewshub.com. August 2023.
    51. ↑ "The enduring mystery of CFL negotiation lists". TSN. 29 January 2018.
    52. ↑ "Transactions". XFL.
    53. ↑ "Unofficial XFL Draft Date Announced: October Packed with Pre-Season Events". XFL News Hub.
    54. ↑ "XFL Draft Postponed to November Amid USFL Merger Talks". XFL News Hub.
    55. ↑ "XFL Draft Slated for Early-October is Reportedly Shelved". Pro Football Newsroom.
    56. ↑ "XFL Players Receive Key Update on Contracts and Merged XFL-USFL League". XFL NEWS HUB.
    57. ↑ "XFL Transactions - Last 4 Weeks". The Football Database.
    58. ↑ Hodge, John (2023-08-02). "Former all-star LB Darnell Sankey granted XFL release, planning return to CFL". 3DownNation. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
    59. ↑ Burke, Peter (July 31, 2023). "Travis Rudolph listed on XFL's Orlando Guardians roster after murder acquittal". WPTV.
    60. ↑ "XFL Teams Claim Rights to 28 Players Following Combine". XFL.
    61. ↑ "Everything You Need to Know About NFL Futures Contracts". Bleacher Report.
    62. ↑ "Battlehawks Trade Fan Favorite LB Silas Kelly, for TE Charlie Taumopeanu". xflnewshub.com. 11 August 2023.
    63. ↑ "XFL 2024: Houston Roughnecks Make Trade With San Antonio Brahmas, Add Two in Rights Draft". xflnewshub.com. 10 August 2023.
    64. ↑ "22 Players Sign Letter Of Intent With XFL, Complete Breakdown Of Each Player". xflnewshub.com.
    65. ↑ "24 More Players Sign XFL Letters of Intent, Including Returning Players, Recap Of Each". xflnewshub.com.
    66. ↑ "15 More Players Sign Letter Of Intent With XFL For The 2024 Season, Breakdown On Each Player". xflnewshub.com.
    67. ↑ "23 Players Sign Letters Of Intent With XFL For 2024 Season, Breakdown of Each Player". xflnewshub.com.
    68. ↑ "13 Players Sign Letters Of Intent With XFL in 2024, Full Breakdown". xflnewshub.com.
    69. ↑ "13 Players Sign Letter Of Intent With XFL, Bringing Total To 110, Full Breakdown". xflnewshub.com.
    70. ↑ "7 Players Sign Letters Of Intent With XFL, Bringing Total to 117, Full Details". xflnewshub.com.
    71. ↑ "IFL Announces IFL to XFL Combine". XFLnewsroom.com. 7 July 2023.
    72. ↑ "XFL Names Dr. Anthony Blevins Vegas Vipers Head Coach". XFL. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
    73. ↑ Kozora, Alex (2023-12-28). "Report: Hines Ward Out As San Antonio Brahmas Head Coach". Steelers Depot. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    74. ↑ Perry, Mark (2023-12-28). "Exclusive: HC Hines Ward, GM Will Lewis Out With Brahmas, HC Phillips & OC Smith In, Full Details". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    75. ↑ "Four USFL teams survive merger with XFL". NBC Sports. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
    76. ↑ "XFL Showcase 2023: XFL President Russ Brandon talks Championship, Playoffs, and XFL Future". YouTube.
    77. ↑ "XFL Owners Optimistic Despite Losses, Declining Viewership". frontofficesports.com. 12 June 2023.
    78. ↑ "XFL and Under Armour Announce Expansive, Multi-Year Partnership". xflboard.com. 27 February 2023.
    79. ↑ "XFL USFL Merger Leaders Convene in DC; Key Decisions Ahead". xflnewshub.com.
    80. ↑ Steinberg, Brian (May 17, 2022). "Disney Strikes Deal to Put XFL on ESPN, FX, ABC". Variety. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
    81. ↑ Shea, Bill (March 22, 2023). "XFL midseason TV report card: Ratings have dropped, but is a rebound ahead?". The Athletic.
    82. ↑ "Marchand & Ourand respond to The Rock regarding ESPN-XFL financial arrangement". AwfulAnnouncing.com. 21 June 2023.
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