XFL, USFL intend to merge to create 1 spring football league: A necessary step?
The XFL and USFL intend to merge their leagues to create one spring football league, the leagues announced in a joint statement Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The merger is still subject to regulatory approvals and “does not come with any guaranteed outcomes,” according to a letter sent to USFL players via NFL Network.
- “This historic combination will anchor professional spring football with substantial capabilities and resources to ensure future growth and continue to enhance the development of the collective players, coaches, and staff that are coming together,” the USFL stated in the release.
- No details have been made public about how this affects players or teams in both leagues.
- The XFL, which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson owns along with others, lost an estimated $60 million in 2023, according to a Forbes report in June.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How necessary is the merger?
From the moment we knew both leagues would both be playing in the spring, a merger felt inevitable. The idea of one spring league surviving seemed a tall task, let alone two. Financially, it had to happen.
Forbes reported that the latest iteration of the XFL lost millions in 2023 and cut some jobs. The XFL was owned by a consortium of Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital Partners and received a chunk of revenue from ESPN, while the USFL is owned by Fox. NBC executive John Miller told Sports Business Journal in 2022 that the USFL was “profitable” in its first season, though specifics are unclear. — Vannini
Which product was better?
Both leagues had their own intriguing quirks. The USFL used ball-tracking technology to measure first downs and ball spotting. The XFL had a unique kickoff that reduced injuries. Both had tiered extra-point rules and a fourth-down conversion play in place of an onside kick, a rule the NFL has considered.
But the XFL was more interesting television because it played all its games at home sites. The USFL played its entire first season in Birmingham, Ala., before adding a few more hub cities in 2023. The XFL drew some huge crowds in St. Louis and Washington, D.C. in particular while housing all the teams in Dallas during the week. However, all that travel also led to such financial losses. — Vannini
What does this mean for players?
We won’t know the details until the merger is complete, but there is always a chance some teams fold, meaning there will be fewer opportunities for players. Having two leagues also created competition for players, which could boost salaries.
Both leagues have a good track record of getting players back into NFL training camps to get another shot. The idea of using a spring league as a developmental league for the NFL is often floated, but the leagues remain separate for now. — Vannini
Backstory
The USFL finished up its second season of the league’s reboot in July. The teams played games in 2023 in Canton, Ohio, Birmingham, Ala., Memphis, Tenn. and Detroit. The league consisted of eight teams:
- Philadelphia Stars
- Memphis Showboats
- New Jersey Generals
- Birmingham Stallions
- Michigan Panthers
- Houston Gamblers
- Pittsburgh Maulers
- New Orleans Breakers
The XFL finished up its first season of its league’s reboot in May. The league played home games in the respective cities. The league also consisted of eight teams:
- Arlington, Texas
- Las Vegas
- Orlando
- San Antonio
- St. Louis
- Washington D.C.
The original USFL lasted three seasons from 1983 to 1985, while the original XFL lasted one season in 2001.
