XFL
Encyclopedia
The XFL was a professional American football
league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon
, the Chairman of the Board of Directors
of WWE (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation, Inc.). The XFL was intended to be a major professional sports league complement to the offseason of the NFL
, but it failed to find an audience and ceased operation after its first and only season.
Created as a joint venture between NBC
and the World Wrestling Federation under the company name "XFL, LLC", the XFL was created as a "single-entity league
", meaning that the teams were not individually owned and operated franchises (as in the NFL), but that the league was operated as a single business unit. Vince McMahon's original plan was to purchase the Canadian Football League
(after the CFL initially approached him about purchasing the Toronto Argonauts
), while NBC was moving ahead at the time with Time Warner
to create a football league of their own.
The concept of the league was first announced on February 3, 2000. The XFL was originally conceived to build on the success of the NFL and professional wrestling
. It was hyped as "real" football without penalties for roughness and with fewer rules in general. The loud games featured players and coaches with microphones and cameras in the huddle and in the locker rooms. Stadiums featured trash-talk
ing public address announcers and scantily-clad cheerleader
s. Instead of a pre-game coin toss, XFL officials put the ball on the ground and let a player from each team scramble for it to determine who received the kickoff option, which led to the first XFL injury. This type of "coin toss" has since been referred to as the "injury zone."
The XFL chose unusual names for its franchises, most of which either referenced images of uncontrolled insanity (Maniax
, Rage
, Xtreme
), evil (Demons
) or criminal activity (Enforcers
[a reference to mob enforcer
s], Hitmen
, Outlaws
, and the Birmingham Blast
).
After outrage from Birmingham residents (who felt that the word 'Blast' may have been misconstrued as a reference to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
in 1963 as well as Eric Rudolph's 1998 bombing of a local abortion clinic), the XFL changed the name of the Birmingham team to the more benign "Birmingham Thunderbolts."
The Los Angeles Xtreme name also formed a pun with the team's initials, "LAX
" (a gimmick that had previously been used by the Los Angeles Express of the USFL).
The XFL had impressive television coverage for an upstart league, with three games televised each week on NBC
, UPN
, and TNN.
Contrary to popular belief, the "X" in XFL did not stand for "extreme," as in "Extreme Football League." When the league was first organized in 1999, it was originally supposed to stand for "Xtreme Football League;" however, there was already a league in formation at the same time with that name, and so promoters wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the "X" did not actually stand for anything (though McMahon would comment that "if the NFL stood for the 'No Fun League', the XFL will stand for the 'extra fun league'"). The other Xtreme Football League, which was also organized in 1999, merged with Arena Football before ever fielding its first game.
. The first game was between the New York/New Jersey Hitmen
and the Las Vegas Outlaws
at Sam Boyd Stadium
in Las Vegas
. The game ended with a 19-0 victory for the Outlaws, and was watched on NBC by an estimated 14 million viewers. During the telecast, NBC
switched over to the game between the Orlando Rage
and the Chicago Enforcers
, which was a closer contest than the blowout taking place in Las Vegas. The show had a 9.5 Nielsen rating
.
Although the XFL began with better-than-expected TV ratings (the opening-week games actually delivered ratings double those of what NBC had promised advertisers and the Saturday broadcast had more viewers than the NFL Pro Bowl) and fair publicity, the audience declined sharply after the first week of the season, going from a 9.5 rating to a 4.6 in just one week, and the media attacked the league for what was perceived as a poor quality of play. A further problem was that the XFL itself was the brainchild of Vince McMahon, a man who was ridiculed by mainstream sports journalists due to the stigma attached to professional wrestling
as being "fake"; many journalists even jokingly speculated whether any of the league's games were rigged
, although nothing of this sort was ever proven.
Western Division
.
stadiums were allowed. (This happened to occur during Giants Stadium
's brief experiment with natural grass; the stadium's turf did not hold up well in the winter and early spring weather and the stadium reverted to its traditional artificial turf in 2003.)
free safety Hassan Shamsid-Deen separated his shoulder in the scramble during the XFL's opening weekend. This injury would keep Shamsid-Deen out for the rest of the season.
s there were no extra point kicks, due to the XFL's perception that an extra point kick was a "guaranteed point." To earn a point after a touchdown, teams ran a single offensive down from the two-yard line (functionally identical to the NFL/NCAA/CFL two-point conversion
), but for just a single point. By the playoffs, two-point and three-point conversions had been added to the rules. Teams could opt for the bonus points by playing the conversion farther back from the goal line.
This rule, as originally implemented, was similar to the WFL
's "Action Point," and was identical to a 1968 experiment by the NFL and American Football League
, used only in preseason interleague games that year.
early in the season. Defensive backs were allowed to hit wide receivers any time before the quarterback released the ball, as long as the hit came from the front or the side (similar to the NCAA). In an effort to increase offensive production, bump and run was restricted to the first five yards from the line of scrimmage (similar to NFL) following the fourth week of the season.
and Arena Football League
before it, the XFL allowed one offensive player to move
toward the line of scrimmage once he was outside the tackles.
" rule (announcers tended to mention it on almost every punt/kickoff) was paired with a five-yard zone excluding players of the kicking team around potential returners before the ball touched them or the ground, similar to rules in Canadian football
, rugby union
, and contemporary NCAA rules (where the term "halo" was applied, though the XFL called it instead the "danger zone"). But instead of making punt returns more exciting, it often had the opposite effect, since the XFL players' inexperience with the rule caused a high number of game-delaying penalties.
The fair catch
had previously been abolished from Canadian football
, NCAA rules (but only for the 1950 season), and rugby league
.
Another difference was that after touching ground 25 yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage, punts could be recovered and advanced by all players of the kicking team. This led to more quick kick
s being taken on third-down-and-long situations in the one season of the small league than had been seen in the NFL over several preceding decades of longer seasons. This XFL rule was similar to a rule that had been in effect in American football in the 1910s and part of the 1920s.
XFL penalized 10 yards from the succeeding spot for punts going out of bounds, even if they first touched the ground (but not a player of the receiving team). The changes practically eliminated the coffin corner
kicking style, in which a good punter could pin an opposing offense deep in its own territory by precisely kicking a ball out of bounds a few yards from the end zone.
For the initial weeks of the season, the XFL forbade all players on the kicking team from going downfield before a kick was made from scrimmage on that down, similarly to a rule the NFL considered in 1974. For the rest of the season the XFL modified it to allow one player closest to each sideline downfield ahead of the kick, the same modification the NFL adopted to their change just before their 1974 exhibition games started.
The purpose of these provisions was to keep play going after the ball was punted, encouraging the kicking team to make the ball playable and the receiving team to run it back.
, which has one more player on each side of the field at a time, had a comparable 40-man roster limit as of 2001; it has since been increased to 42 men. The 38-man limit was also identical to the Spring Football League
that had played the year before, and two more than the 36-man limit of lower professional leagues such as the Atlantic Coast Football League
, Continental Football League
, and the current Stars Football League
.) This resulted, most commonly, in each team only carrying two quarterbacks and one kicker who doubled as the punter.
The XFL paid standardized player salaries. Quarterback
s earned US$
5,000 per week, kickers earned $3,500, and all other uniformed players earned $4,500 per week, though a few players got around these restrictions (Los Angeles Xtreme
players Noel Prefontaine
, the league's lone punting specialist, and Matt Malloy, a wide receiver) by having themselves listed as backup quarterbacks. Players on a winning team received a bonus of $2,500 for the week, $7,500 for winning a playoff game. The team that won the championship game split $1,000,000 (roughly $25,000 per player). Furthermore, players did not receive any fringe benefits, meaning players had to pay for their own health insurance
.
", which enables TV viewers to see behind the offensive unit, it helped to popularize its unique capabilities. The sky cam is currently used in NFL
broadcasts on all major networks. This perspective was originally available only in standard definition, but is now broadcast in high definition
during most major NFL games each week.
on Saturday nights, also taping a second game. The second game, in some weeks, would air in the visiting team's home market and be put on the air nationally if the feature game was a blowout (as was the case in week one) or encountered technical difficulties (as was the case in week two). Two games were shown each Sunday: one at 4 p.m. Eastern on TNN (now Spike TV
) and another at 7 p.m. Eastern on UPN (which has since merged with The WB
to form The CW
).
The XFL also had a fairly extensive local radio presence, often using nationally recognized disc jockeys. The morning radio duo of Rick and Bubba
, for instance, was the radio broadcast team for the Birmingham Thunderbolts
, while Opie and Anthony
had covered pregame for NBC. Super Dave Osborne
was a sideline reporter for Los Angeles Xtreme broadcasts on KLSX
; WMVP
carried Chicago Enforcers games.
In the third week of the season, the games were sped up through changes in the playing rules, and broadcasts were subjected to increased time constraints. The reason was the reaction of Lorne Michaels
, creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live
, to the double-overtime win by the Los Angeles Xtreme
against the Chicago Enforcers
. The game ended at 11:45 p.m. Eastern, with the start of SNL pushed back to 12:20 a.m. Sunday morning. This angered Michaels, who expected high ratings
with Jennifer Lopez
as the night's host. Lopez had just become the first actress-singer in history to record the top-selling album in the United States (J. Lo) and to star in the most popular movie (The Wedding Planner
) at the same time. In a rare SNL move, the Lopez show actually started on time for its live audience and was broadcast via tape delay. For the rest of the season, the XFL cut off coverage at 11:00 Eastern Time, regardless of whether or not the game was over.
In the face of declining ratings, the XFL announced prior to week's 6 game between the Orlando Rage and the Las Vegas Outlaws that they would be entering the Rage's cheerleaders' locker room during halftime. The heavily promoted event was, in fact, a stunt: instead of showing an entry into the room, viewers instead saw a sketch
in which the cameraman knocked himself unconscious by running into the locker room door, followed by a "dream sequence
" with only slightly suggestive content. Vince McMahon
appeared at the beginning and the end of the sketch, berating the cameraman for his failure.
).
Many American football fans distrusted the league because of its relationship to pro wrestling. They had a hard time accepting that a close, come-from-behind win or a controversial ending had not been scripted in advance, although there was no evidence to support this. The league was panned by critics as boring football with a tawdry broadcast style, although the broadcasts on TNN and to a lesser extent UPN and the Matt Vasgersian
-helmed NBC coverage were comparatively professional and workmanlike. Longtime WWE play-by-play man Jim Ross
, who has otherwise received praise for his calling of wrestling matches over the years, got the bulk of the criticism for his play-by-play calls of XFL games despite his 30+ years of experience in calling wrestling matches as well as calling play-by-play for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons
in the early 1990s.
Scoring was so scarce that bookmakers could not set the over-under
total low enough. Wise gamblers
who took the under, often in the mid 30s, would win consistently — they could even parlay the under for all four games in a weekend and win on a regular basis. Towards the end of the season, bookies needed to make the totals in the upper 20s, highly unusual in pro football gambling circles. The league was forced to change rules during the season to afford receivers more protection, but the mid-season rule changes did little to bolster league credibility.
In 2000, before the XFL's launch, the league aired a series of cheerleader commercials on NBC, featuring adult models such as Pennelope Jimenez, Karen McDougal
, and Rachel Sterling. The most famous one featured them as some of the cheerleaders taking a shower in the locker room. Using clever camera angles and strategically placed objects, the commercial gave viewers the titillating illusion that the cheerleaders were nude in the shower with little left to the imagination. The edgy XFL commercials backfired and caused a controversy. Deemed too risqué by the media, the commercials were quickly withdrawn before the debut of the league.
defeated the San Francisco Demons
38-6 in the XFL Championship Game (which was originally given the Zen
-like moniker "The Big Game at the End of the Season", but was later dubbed the Million Dollar Game
, after the amount of money awarded to the winning team).
Though paid attendance at games remained respectable, if unimpressive (overall attendance were only 10% below what the league's goal had been at the start of the season), the XFL ceased operations after just one season due to low TV ratings. Facing stiff competition from the NCAA Basketball Tournament
, the NBC telecast of the Chicago/NY-NJ game on March 31 received a 1.5 rating, at that time the lowest ever for any major network primetime weekend first-run sports television broadcast in the United States
.
Despite initially agreeing to broadcast XFL games for two years and owning half of the league, NBC announced it would not broadcast a second XFL season, thus admitting failure in its attempt at airing replacement pro football. WWF Chairman Vince McMahon initially announced that the XFL would continue, as it still had UPN and TNN as broadcast outlets. In fact, expansion teams were being explored for cities such as Washington, D.C.
and Detroit. However, in order to continue broadcasting XFL games, UPN demanded that WWF SmackDown broadcasts be cut from two hours to one and a half hours. McMahon found these terms unacceptable and he announced the XFL's closure on May 10, 2001. "The situation is very bad," he was quoted as saying.
One reason for the failure of the league to catch on, despite its financial solvency and massive visibility (perhaps infamy), was the lack of respect for the league in the sports media. XFL games were rarely treated as sports contests, but rather more like WWF-like sensationalized events. With few NFL-quality players, save Tommy Maddox
, the league's MVP, and with little thoughtful analysis or even consideration by sports columnists, the XFL never gained the necessary recognition to be regarded as a viable league. The fact that the league was co-owned by NBC made ESPN (which was part of the same corporation as ABC) and Fox Sports Net (owned by Fox TV) disinclined to report on the XFL, though Time Warner
properties such as Sports Illustrated
, as well as the Associated Press
, devoted coverage to the league (Sports Illustrated even featured the XFL on the cover
of its February 12, 2001 edition, albeit with the description of it being "sleazy gimmicks and low-rent football"). Many local TV newscasts and newspapers (even in XFL cities) did not report league scores or show highlights. This led to many football fans treating the XFL as a joke, rather than competition to the NFL. Other problems included the scantly clad cheerleaders, trash-talking announcers, and the lack of penalties for roughness have made the XFL less family friendly.
Former ECW announcer Joey Styles
mentioned on the McMahon DVD
(which has a short section on the XFL) that if the league had not been as publicly associated with wrestling and the negative stigma that comes with it, the league might have been successful. On the same DVD, Vince McMahon
defends the XFL, saying it didn't cost a lot of money for him to try and still thinks it was a good idea, although WWE television nowadays occasionally pokes fun at the failures of the XFL.
WWE announcer Jerry Lawler, who made amends with WWE months after the league folded and remains employed with the company today, believes that the league could have been a success if given more time. He stated in his biography that Vince's novel approach of adding entertainment to the sport would have made it a more appealing alternative to the NFL. However, because the league was immediately compared to the NFL as a direct competitor, he feels that the pressures placed by NBC ruined McMahon's model entirely. He states "I knew after the very first week that it wasn't going to fly. They said don't mention the cheerleaders, don't shoot the cheerleaders. I realized then they were going to try to take on the NFL and that was never going to work. The football wasn't good enough."
The XFL ranked #3 on TV Guide's
list of the TV Guide's worst TV shows of all time in July 2002, as well as #2 on ESPN
's list of biggest flops in sports, behind Ryan Leaf
. In 2010, TV Guide Network also listed the show at #21 on their list of 25 Biggest TV Blunders.
Many stories recapping the history of the XFL show photos of the crash of its promotional blimp, portraying it retrospectively as an ill-omen for the league. The incident occurred a month before the opening game, when its pilot and a student pilot with him, lost control of the airship and were forced to evacuate. The ground crew were unable to secure the vehicle and the "unattended blimp then floated five miles north over the Oakland Estuary, at one point reaching 1,600 feet, until its gondola caught on a sailboat mast in the Central Basin marina. It draped over the roof of the Oyster Reef restaurant -- next to where the boat was moored -- and a nearby power line." While the pilot was hospitalized no other major injuries were reported. The blimp needed $2.5 million in repairs, the sailboat and restaurant had only minor damages. Also before the season started, a fictional XFL game appeared in the Schwarzenegger movie The 6th Day
set in 2015.
of 1999 played nine weeks, the Spring Football League
of 2000 survived just two, while the Professional Spring Football League
of 1992 folded before playing a single game. It restored an outdoor professional franchise to Birmingham
, Las Vegas and Memphis
—each of whom had lacked an outdoor pro team since their CFL franchises were shuttered in 1995, but for a single season for the Tennessee Oilers
in Memphis before moving to their permanent home in Nashville and becoming the Titans—and to Orlando, which had had no professional outdoor football since the WLAF
(later NFL Europa) folded North American operations in 1992. The XFL brought a football franchise to Los Angeles
—a market which has lacked an NFL team for years—and demonstrated that a baseball-specific stadium such as San Francisco's Pac Bell Park
made a suitable venue for football as well. However, none of these novelties translated into overall commercial success.
The defunct league also popularized "in-game" interviews. The XFL would interview head coaches between plays. Today, National Hockey League
players are interviewed between commercial breaks and Major League Baseball
has managers and coaches being interviewed. During Fox's Saturday Game of the Week, players often wear microphones for a "sounds of the game" segment.
NBC continued airing professional league football beyond the demise of the XFL. While no football aired during the 2002 season due to the Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City
, NBC struck a deal with the Arena Football League and aired games from that league from 2003 to 2006.
In 2006
, NBC returned to coverage of NFL games with NBC Sunday Night Football
. The occasional use of the "sky-cam" and sideline interviews are the only features common to both the NFL and XFL coverage. NBC's lead announcer for XFL coverage, Matt Vasgersian
, later became an announcer for the NFL on FOX
. Minervini joined the United Football League broadcast team for Versus
in 2010.
XFL team names and logos also appear in movies and television where professional football needs to be dramatized, as licensing for NFL logos may be cost prohibitive.
In an episode
of The Simpsons
, Homer is wearing an XFL cap and waving a flag with the XFL logo at the beginning, looking forward to the new season, only to have the news broken to him, by Marge, that the XFL has folded. Marge then tells him that the league MVP told her, and that he was now sweeping up nails at the hair salon. In reality, the league's only MVP, Tommy Maddox
, would resurrect his once-undistinguished NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers
and win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2002
before giving way to Ben Roethlisberger
two years later. It was also mentioned in a later episode
, in which Homer mistakenly believed one of the teams was the "Long Island Ice Teas" when asked what was the best team to never win the XFL.
The yardage-based conversion rule, which was introduced (and only used once) by the XFL, also will see new life. The all-female Lingerie Football League
adopted a yardage-based conversion rule similar to that used in the XFL playoffs. In that league, a one-point conversion can be scored from the 2-yard line while a two-point conversion can be scored from the 5-yard line. The LFL, which targets a similar audience as the XFL did, does not feature any kicking.
The United Football League later placed all four of its inaugural franchises in former XFL markets and stadiums. However, the UFL drew far fewer fans than the XFL average (though the XFL was marked by a notable disparity between the beginning of the season and the end of the season). The difference between the XFL's San Francisco Demons
and the UFL's California Redwoods was particularly striking; despite both playing in the same ballpark, the XFL Demons drew an average of 35,000 fans, compared to only 6,000 for the UFL Redwoods. (The XFL's heavy promotion, coupled with a lack of competition against the San Francisco 49ers
that the UFL had to face as a fall league as opposed to a winter league like the XFL, are the most likely reasons for this disparity.) Three of the four charter teams, including the Redwoods, moved to other markets by the time of the UFL's third season
.
The XFL on NBC marked one of the last major efforts to create original programming for the Saturday night time slot. Its failure coincided with CBS
's cancellation of its Western drama, Walker, Texas Ranger
, which helped set its market-leading Saturday night lineup into decline. Since 2001, the Saturday night time slot has become a graveyard slot
, occupied primarily by rerun
s and low-cost reality television
programs.
and Los Angeles quarterback Tommy Maddox
, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
after the XFL folded (Maddox later became the starting quarterback for the Steelers in 2002 and led them to that year's playoffs, as well as continuing to start for them into 2004). Los Angeles
used the first pick in the XFL draft
to select a former NFL quarterback, Scott Milanovich. Milanovich lost the starting quarterback job to Maddox, who was placed on the Xtreme as one of a handful of players put on each team due to geographic distance between the player's college and the team's hometown. Another of the better-known players was Las Vegas running back
Rod Smart
, who first gained popularity because the name on the back of his jersey read "He Hate Me." Smart, who was only picked 357th in the draft, later went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles
, Carolina Panthers
, and the Oakland Raiders
. His Panther teammate Jake Delhomme
named his new-born horse "She Hate Me" as a reference to him. Smart played in Super Bowl XXXVIII
becoming one of seven XFL players to play in a Super Bowl. Receiver Yo Murphy
also achieved this as a member of the St. Louis Rams
in Super Bowl XXXVI
). Tommy Maddox played for a Super Bowl team (with the Pittsburgh Steelers
) in Super Bowl XL
in Detroit
, (although Maddox, by then a third-string quarterback, did not play in the game, which turned out to be his last appearance in uniform before retiring). Lastly, Las Vegas Outlaws DB Kelly Herndon
played in Super Bowl XL
with the Seattle Seahawks
in 2005, where he is remembered for intercepting a pass and returning it a then-record 76 yards. Although he did not play for an NFL team after the XFL's lone season, former Las Vegas Outlaw offensive guard Isaac Davis also had a notable NFL career, playing in 58 games over a six year career. Davis started for the San Diego Chargers
in Super Bowl XXIX
.
, along with classic highlights of WWE (and predecessors Capitol Wrestling/WWWF/WWF), World Championship Wrestling
, Jim Crockett Promotions
, the World Bodybuilding Federation
, and other past and present subsidiaries of WWE. Comcast
, the current owners of NBCUniversal, would also presumably co-own distribution rights to XFL games along with the WWE.
No XFL game has been rebroadcast in its entirety in any form, on any channel, since the league folded.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
, the Chairman of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of WWE (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation, Inc.). The XFL was intended to be a major professional sports league complement to the offseason of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, but it failed to find an audience and ceased operation after its first and only season.
Founding
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and the World Wrestling Federation under the company name "XFL, LLC", the XFL was created as a "single-entity league
Entity
An entity is something that has a distinct, separate existence, although it need not be a material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is animate.An entity could be viewed as a set...
", meaning that the teams were not individually owned and operated franchises (as in the NFL), but that the league was operated as a single business unit. Vince McMahon's original plan was to purchase the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(after the CFL initially approached him about purchasing the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
), while NBC was moving ahead at the time with Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
to create a football league of their own.
The concept of the league was first announced on February 3, 2000. The XFL was originally conceived to build on the success of the NFL and professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. It was hyped as "real" football without penalties for roughness and with fewer rules in general. The loud games featured players and coaches with microphones and cameras in the huddle and in the locker rooms. Stadiums featured trash-talk
Trash-talk
Trash-talk is a form of boast or insult commonly heard in competitive situations , primarily in the US. It is often used to intimidate the opposition, but can also be used in a humorous spirit...
ing public address announcers and scantily-clad cheerleader
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
s. Instead of a pre-game coin toss, XFL officials put the ball on the ground and let a player from each team scramble for it to determine who received the kickoff option, which led to the first XFL injury. This type of "coin toss" has since been referred to as the "injury zone."
The XFL chose unusual names for its franchises, most of which either referenced images of uncontrolled insanity (Maniax
Memphis Maniax
The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
, Rage
Orlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
, Xtreme
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
), evil (Demons
San Francisco Demons
The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
) or criminal activity (Enforcers
Chicago Enforcers
The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
[a reference to mob enforcer
Mob Enforcer
Mob Enforcer is a Mafia related PC game. It was released on the Xbox with multiplayer capabilities under the title Chicago Enforcer.-Description:...
s], Hitmen
New York/New Jersey Hitmen
The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were a short-lived American football team based in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
, Outlaws
Las Vegas Outlaws
The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax...
, and the Birmingham Blast
Birmingham Thunderbolts
The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
).
After outrage from Birmingham residents (who felt that the word 'Blast' may have been misconstrued as a reference to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S...
in 1963 as well as Eric Rudolph's 1998 bombing of a local abortion clinic), the XFL changed the name of the Birmingham team to the more benign "Birmingham Thunderbolts."
The Los Angeles Xtreme name also formed a pun with the team's initials, "LAX
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
" (a gimmick that had previously been used by the Los Angeles Express of the USFL).
The XFL had impressive television coverage for an upstart league, with three games televised each week on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
, and TNN.
Contrary to popular belief, the "X" in XFL did not stand for "extreme," as in "Extreme Football League." When the league was first organized in 1999, it was originally supposed to stand for "Xtreme Football League;" however, there was already a league in formation at the same time with that name, and so promoters wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the "X" did not actually stand for anything (though McMahon would comment that "if the NFL stood for the 'No Fun League', the XFL will stand for the 'extra fun league'"). The other Xtreme Football League, which was also organized in 1999, merged with Arena Football before ever fielding its first game.
Draft
The first and only main draft for the league took place over a three day time period from October 28, 2000 to October 30, 2000. A total of 475 players were selected initially, with 65 additional players selected in a supplemental draft on December 29, 2000.2001 season
The XFL's opening game took place on February 3, 2001, one year after the concept of the league was announced, and immediately following the NFL's Super BowlSuper Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
. The first game was between the New York/New Jersey Hitmen
New York/New Jersey Hitmen
The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were a short-lived American football team based in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
and the Las Vegas Outlaws
Las Vegas Outlaws
The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax...
at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
. The game ended with a 19-0 victory for the Outlaws, and was watched on NBC by an estimated 14 million viewers. During the telecast, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
switched over to the game between the Orlando Rage
Orlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
and the Chicago Enforcers
Chicago Enforcers
The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
, which was a closer contest than the blowout taking place in Las Vegas. The show had a 9.5 Nielsen rating
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
.
Although the XFL began with better-than-expected TV ratings (the opening-week games actually delivered ratings double those of what NBC had promised advertisers and the Saturday broadcast had more viewers than the NFL Pro Bowl) and fair publicity, the audience declined sharply after the first week of the season, going from a 9.5 rating to a 4.6 in just one week, and the media attacked the league for what was perceived as a poor quality of play. A further problem was that the XFL itself was the brainchild of Vince McMahon, a man who was ridiculed by mainstream sports journalists due to the stigma attached to professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
as being "fake"; many journalists even jokingly speculated whether any of the league's games were rigged
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
, although nothing of this sort was ever proven.
Teams
Eastern Division| Orlando Rage Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... (2001) |
Chicago Enforcers Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... (2001) |
New York/New Jersey Hitmen New York/New Jersey Hitmen The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were a short-lived American football team based in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.... (2001) |
Birmingham Thunderbolts Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... (2001) |
Western Division
| Los Angeles Xtreme Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... (2001) |
San Francisco Demons San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... (2001) |
Memphis Maniax Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... (2001) |
Las Vegas Outlaws Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... (2001) |
2001 standings
| Eastern Division | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando Rage Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
8 | 2 |
| Chicago Enforcers Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
5 | 5 |
| New York/New Jersey Hitmen New York/New Jersey Hitmen The New York/New Jersey Hitmen were a short-lived American football team based in Giants Stadium of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.... |
4 | 6 |
| Birmingham Thunderbolts Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
2 | 8 |
| Western Division | Won | Lost |
| Los Angeles Xtreme Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
7 | 3 |
| San Francisco Demons San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
5 | 5 |
| Memphis Maniax Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
5 | 5 |
| Las Vegas Outlaws Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
4 | 6 |
Awards
- Most Valuable Player: Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
, QB, Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... - Million Dollar Game MVP: Jose Cortez, K, Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
- Coach of the Year: Al LuginbillAl LuginbillAl Luginbill is a former American football coach.-College coaching career:Luginbill began his college coaching career at Pasadena City College, where he served as an assistant from 1968–71 and returned as the head coach from 1974-76. In his final year as head coach, Luginbill guided PCC to a Jr...
, Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
Statistical leaders
- Rushing Attempts: 153 James BosticJames BosticJames Edward Bostic is a former American football running back, played football at Auburn University, in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the defunct XFL....
(Birmingham ThunderboltsBirmingham ThunderboltsThe Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
) - Rushing Yards: 800 John Avery (Chicago EnforcersChicago EnforcersThe Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
) - Rushing Touchdowns: 7 Derrick ClarkDerrick ClarkDerrick Lee Clark is a former professional American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos, Rhein Fire and Orlando Rage.-1994:...
(Orlando RageOrlando Rage-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
)
- Receiving Catches: 67 Jermaine Copeland (Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
) - Receiving Yards: 828 Stepfret WilliamsStepfret WilliamsStepfret Williams III is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. He was also the leading receiver in yards in the XFL.-References:...
(Birmingham ThunderboltsBirmingham ThunderboltsThe Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
) - Receiving Touchdowns: 8 Darnell McDonald (Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
)
- Passing Attempts: 342 Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
) - Passing Completions: 196 Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
) - Passing Yards: 2186 Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
) - Passing Touchdowns: 18 Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles XtremeThe Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
) - Passing Interceptions: 10 Brian Kuklick (Orlando RageOrlando Rage-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
)
- Interceptions: 5 Corey IvyCorey IvyCorey Terrell Ivy is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Oklahoma....
(Chicago EnforcersChicago EnforcersThe Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
) - Quarterback Sacks: 7 Antonio EdwardsAntonio EdwardsAntonio Edwards is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Giants, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Valdosta State University and was drafted in eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft...
and Kelvin KinneyKelvin KinneyKelvin Lamonta Kinney is an American football defensive lineman who is currently a Free Agent in the Arena Football League. His nickname is K2....
(both Las Vegas OutlawsLas Vegas OutlawsThe Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax...
)
Statistics
| 2001 Passing Leaders (over 100 pass attempts) | ||||||||||||
| Name, Team | Att | Comp | % | Yards | YDs/Att | TD | TD % | INT | INT % | Long | Sacks/Yds Lost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Brohm Jeff Brohm Jeffrey Scott Brohm is an Assistant Coach and the Quarterbacks Coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team... , ORL Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
119 | 69 | 58.0 | 993 | 8.34 | 9 | 7.6 | 3 | 2.5 | 51t | 11/78 | 99.9 |
| Kevin McDougal Kevin McDougal Kevin T. McDougal is best known as the starting quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team who narrowly missed winning the national championship in 1993... , CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
134 | 81 | 60.4 | 1168 | 8.72 | 5 | 3.7 | 3 | 2.2 | 56 | 8/69 | 91.9 |
| Casey Weldon Casey Weldon William Casey Weldon is a former professional American football player. Weldon is best known for being the quarterback for Florida State in the late-1980s and early-1990s. During his senior season in 1991, Weldon finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Desmond Howard of Michigan... , Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
164 | 102 | 62.2 | 1228 | 7.49 | 7 | 4.3 | 5 | 3 | 80t | 7/44 | 86.6 |
| Jim Druckenmiller Jim Druckenmiller James David Druckenmiller, Jr. is a former American football quarterback.In his career Druckenmiller played for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the Memphis Maniax of the XFL and the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena... , Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
199 | 109 | 54.8 | 1499 | 7.53 | 13 | 6.5 | 7 | 3.5 | 49 | 15/89 | 86.2 |
| Ryan Clement Ryan Clement Ryan Clement is an American football quarterback currently playing for the Colorado Ice of the Indoor Football League. He played college for the Miami Hurricanes.-High school career:... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
138 | 78 | 56.5 | 805 | 5.83 | 9 | 6.5 | 4 | 2.9 | 46 | 10/59 | 83.2 |
| Tommy Maddox Tommy Maddox Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D... , LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
342 | 196 | 57.3 | 2186 | 6.39 | 18 | 5.3 | 9 | 2.6 | 63 | 14/91 | 83.1 |
| Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski (born July 18, 1969 in Los Angeles, California is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, Arena Football League, and XFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft... , SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
297 | 186 | 62.6 | 1659 | 5.59 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 16/141 | 82.6 |
| Wally Richardson Wally Richardson Wallace Herman "Wally" Richardson is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He started at QB for the XFL's NY/NJ Hitmen. He played college football at Penn State.-References:... , NY/NJ |
142 | 83 | 58.5 | 812 | 5.72 | 6 | 4.2 | 6 | 4.2 | 33t | 17/107 | 71.1 |
| Brian Kuklick, ORL Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
122 | 68 | 55.7 | 994 | 8.15 | 6 | 4.9 | 10 | 8.2 | 81t | 7/42 | 64.7 |
| 2001 Passing Leaders (under 100 pass attempts) | ||||||||||||
| Name, Team | Att | Comp | % | Yards | YDs/Att | TD | TD % | INT | INT % | Long | Sacks/Yds Lost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Whelihan Craig Whelihan Craig Dominic Whelihan , is an arena football quarterback with the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.-High school years:... , CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... /Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
5 | 4 | 80.0 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0/0 | 91.7 |
| Tim Lester Tim Lester Timothy Lee Lester is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for eight seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys.... , CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
77 | 40 | 51.9 | 581 | 7.55 | 4 | 5.2 | 5 | 6.5 | 68t | 13/68 | 67.1 |
| Charles Puleri, NY/NJ | 64 | 29 | 45.3 | 411 | 6.42 | 2 | 3.1 | 2 | 3.1 | 77t | 4/39 | 64.0 |
| Marcus Crandell Marcus Crandell Marcus Crandell is a Canadian football coach and former quarterback who is the current Offensive Coordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos.... , Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
69 | 33 | 47.8 | 473 | 6.86 | 1 | 1.4 | 2 | 2.9 | 53 | 9/62 | 63.3 |
| Pat Barnes Pat Barnes Pat Barnes is a retired National Football League quarterback. He played from 1997 to 2003 in the NFL, XFL, and CFL.... , SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
80 | 36 | 45.0 | 379 | 4.74 | 3 | 3.8 | 2 | 2.5 | 34 | 5/38 | 61.4 |
| 48 | 25 | 52.1 | 329 | 6.85 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.2 | 54 | 5/38 | 56.7 | |
| 78 | 37 | 47.4 | 408 | 5.23 | 3 | 3.8 | 4 | 5.1 | 41t | 5/44 | 54.9 | |
| 65 | 37 | 56.9 | 425 | 6.54 | 1 | 1.5 | 5 | 7.7 | 92t | 10/64 | 49.8 | |
| Mike Cawley Mike Cawley Mike Cawley is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League, NFL Europe and the XFL. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 1996 NFL Draft... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
38 | 17 | 44.7 | 180 | 4.74 | 1 | 2.6 | 2 | 5.3 | 26 | 10/83 | 45.9 |
| 5 | 1 | 20.0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2/12 | 39.6 | |
| Graham Leigh, Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
97 | 44 | 45.4 | 499 | 5.14 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6.2 | 36 | 8/62 | 39.0 |
| Scott Milanovich Scott Milanovich Scott Milanovich is a Canadian football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.-Early years:... , LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
9 | 2 | 22.2 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11.1 | 39 | 0/0 | 8.3 |
| 2001 Rushing Leaders | |||||
| Name, Team | Att | Yds | Ave. | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Avery, Chi Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
150 | 800 | 5.3 | 73t | 5 |
| Rod Smart Rod Smart Rod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
146 | 555 | 3.8 | 31 | 3 |
| James Bostic James Bostic James Edward Bostic is a former American football running back, played football at Auburn University, in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the defunct XFL.... , Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
153 | 536 | 3.5 | 56 | 2 |
| Rashaan Salaam Rashaan Salaam Rashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards... , Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
114 | 528 | 4.6 | 39t | 5 |
| Derrick Clark Derrick Clark Derrick Lee Clark is a former professional American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos, Rhein Fire and Orlando Rage.-1994:... , Orl Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
94 | 395 | 4.2 | 19 | 7 |
| Saladin McCullough, LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
88 | 384 | 4.4 | 22 | 5 |
| Joe Aska Joe Aska Joe Aska is a former American football running back who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL.... , NY/NJ |
82 | 329 | 4.0 | 42 | 3 |
| Micheal Black, Orl Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
83 | 320 | 3.9 | 20 | 0 |
| LeShon Johnson LeShon Johnson LeShon Eugene Johnson is a former American football player who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft.... , Chi Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
72 | 287 | 4.0 | 41 | 6 |
| Rashaan Shehee Rashaan Shehee Rashaan Shehee is a former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 2 seasons in the NFL, both for the Chiefs. He started 5 games in 1999.... , LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
61 | 242 | 4.0 | 28 | 0 |
| Kelvin Anderson Kelvin Anderson Kelvin Anderson is a retired professional gridiron football player. As a running back, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons in the Canadian Football League, a league record... , SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
53 | 231 | 4.4 | 39 | 1 |
| Jim Druckenmiller Jim Druckenmiller James David Druckenmiller, Jr. is a former American football quarterback.In his career Druckenmiller played for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the Memphis Maniax of the XFL and the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena... , Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
31 | 208 | 6.7 | 36 | 0 |
| Juan Johnson, SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
33 | 172 | 5.2 | 19 | 0 |
| Wally Richardson Wally Richardson Wallace Herman "Wally" Richardson is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He started at QB for the XFL's NY/NJ Hitmen. He played college football at Penn State.-References:... , NY/NJ |
26 | 148 | 5.7 | 24 | 0 |
| 2001 Receiving Yardage Leaders (over 175 yards) | |||||
| Name, Team | Rec | Yds | Ave. | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stepfret Williams Stepfret Williams Stepfret Williams III is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. He was also the leading receiver in yards in the XFL.-References:... , Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
51 | 828 | 16.2 | 92t | 2 |
| Charles Jordan Charles Jordan (American football) Charles Alexander Jordan is a retired American football player. The Wide receiver played professionally for the National Football League for seven seasons during the period of 1993 through 1999, as well as one season for the XFL.... , Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
45 | 823 | 18.3 | 49 | 4 |
| Jeremaine Copeland Jeremaine Copeland Jeremaine Copeland is a Canadian Football League wide receiver playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He has also played with the Montreal Alouettes and the Calgary Stampeders, as well as in the XFL and NFL Europe football player.-College career:Copeland attended the University of Tennessee... , LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
67 | 755 | 11.3 | 34 | 5 |
| Dialleo Burks Dialleo Burks Dialleo Burks Sr. is a special teams and fullback / linebacker coach for the Georgia Force and former arena football wide receiver / defensive back for the Arena Football League... , ORL Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
34 | 659 | 19.4 | 81t | 7 |
| Aaron Bailey Aaron Bailey (American football) Aaron Bailey is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for five seasons for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League.... , CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
32 | 546 | 17.1 | 50 | 3 |
| Quincy Jackson, Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
45 | 531 | 11.8 | 36t | 6 |
| Darnell McDonald, LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
34 | 456 | 13.4 | 39 | 8 |
| Darryl Hobbs, Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
30 | 419 | 14 | 49t | 5 |
| Jimmy Cunningham Jimmy Cunningham James "Jimmy The Jet" Cunningham was a former return specialist and wide receiver in the Canadian Football League and the XFL.-References:... , SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
50 | 408 | 8.2 | 26 | 3 |
| Kirby Dar Dar Kirby Dar Dar Kirby Dar Dar was an American professional football player for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He attended Syracuse University and played on Syracuse's football team as a running back... , NY/NJ |
22 | 405 | 18.4 | 77t | 2 |
| Kevin Swayne Kevin Swayne Kevin Swayne was an American football wide receiver for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League... , ORL Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
27 | 400 | 14.8 | 51t | 2 |
| Brian Roberson Brian Roberson Brian Roberson is a former record setting Receiver for Fresno State University and the XFL's San Francisco Demons.-Sylmar High:Roberson was a standout receiver/defensive back for the Spartans during the 1990-91 seasons. As a Junior in 1990, Roberson caught 16 passes for 222 yards and 2 TDs, while... , SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
36 | 395 | 11 | 35 | 2 |
| Kevin Prentiss, Mem Memphis Maniax The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
25 | 383 | 15.3 | 53 | 0 |
| Mario Bailey Mario Bailey Mario Bailey is a retired American football wide receiver who is the all-time reception leader in NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy from 1995 through 2000 and was a favorite player for the local German fans. He was originally drafted by the Houston Oilers in the sixth round of the... , ORL Orlando Rage -Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:... |
27 | 379 | 14 | 49t | 3 |
| Zola Davis, NY/NJ | 29 | 378 | 13 | 26 | 4 |
| James Hundon, SF San Francisco Demons The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
28 | 357 | 12.8 | 34 | 0 |
| Zechariah Lord, CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
20 | 301 | 15.1 | 46 | 0 |
| John Avery, CHIC Chicago Enforcers The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States... |
17 | 297 | 17.5 | 68t | 2 |
| Yo Murphy Yo Murphy Llewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
27 | 273 | 10.1 | 35 | 3 |
| Anthony Dicosmo, NY/NJ | 26 | 268 | 10.3 | 30 | 0 |
| Latario Rachal Latario Rachal Latario Rachal is a retired professional football player in the National Football League. He played two years for the San Diego Chargers, primarily as a special teams punt returner and a wide receiver. In 1998, he finished 2nd in the AFC, with 387 yards on 32 returns... , LA Los Angeles Xtreme The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles... |
24 | 254 | 10.6 | 24 | 0 |
| Rod Smart Rod Smart Rod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
27 | 245 | 9.1 | 46 | 0 |
| Mike Furrey Mike Furrey Michael Thomas Furrey is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University.Furrey has also played for the... , LV Las Vegas Outlaws The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax... |
18 | 242 | 13.4 | 41t | 1 |
| Ed Smith, Birm Birmingham Thunderbolts The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts... |
25 | 195 | 7.8 | 16 | 1 |
XFL rule changes
Despite boasts by WWF promoters of a "rules-light" game and universally negative reviews from the mainstream sports media early on, the XFL played a brand of 11-man outdoor football that was recognizable, aside from the opening game sprint to determine possession and some other changes, some modified during the season. In fact, most of the rule changes were inherited from the 1970s World Football LeagueWorld Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
.
Grass stadiums
All XFL teams had to play in outdoor stadiums with grass surfaces. No domed stadiums, artificial turf stadiums, or retractable roofRetractable roof
A retractable roof is a kinetic architectural element used in many sports venues, in which a roof made of a suitable material can readily be mechanically deployed from some retracted or open position into a closed or extended position that completely covers the field of play and spectator areas...
stadiums were allowed. (This happened to occur during Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
's brief experiment with natural grass; the stadium's turf did not hold up well in the winter and early spring weather and the stadium reverted to its traditional artificial turf in 2003.)
Opening scramble
Replacing the coin toss at the beginning of each game was an event in which one player from each team sought to recover a football 20 yards away in order to determine possession. Both players lined up side-by-side on one of the 30-yard lines, with the ball being placed at the 50-yard line. At the whistle, the two players would run toward the ball and attempt to gain possession; whichever player gained possession first was allowed to choose possession (as if he had won a coin toss in other leagues). The scramble infamously led to the first XFL injury: Orlando RageOrlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
free safety Hassan Shamsid-Deen separated his shoulder in the scramble during the XFL's opening weekend. This injury would keep Shamsid-Deen out for the rest of the season.
No PAT (point after touchdown) kicks
After touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s there were no extra point kicks, due to the XFL's perception that an extra point kick was a "guaranteed point." To earn a point after a touchdown, teams ran a single offensive down from the two-yard line (functionally identical to the NFL/NCAA/CFL two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
), but for just a single point. By the playoffs, two-point and three-point conversions had been added to the rules. Teams could opt for the bonus points by playing the conversion farther back from the goal line.
This rule, as originally implemented, was similar to the WFL
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
's "Action Point," and was identical to a 1968 experiment by the NFL and American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, used only in preseason interleague games that year.
Overtime
Ties were resolved in similar fashion to the NCAA and present-day CFL game, with at least one possession by each team, starting from the opponent's 20 yard line. There were differences: there were no first downs – teams had to score within four downs, and the team that had possession first in overtime could not attempt a field goal until fourth down. If that team managed to score a touchdown in fewer than four downs, the second team would only have that same number of downs to match or beat the result. If the score was still tied after one overtime period, the team that played second on offense in the first OT would start on offense in the second OT.Bump and run
The XFL allowed full bump and run coverageBump and run coverage
Bump and run coverage is a strategy often used by defensive backs in American Football in which a defensive player lines up directly in front of a wide receiver and tries to impede him with arms, hands, or entire body and disrupt their intended route...
early in the season. Defensive backs were allowed to hit wide receivers any time before the quarterback released the ball, as long as the hit came from the front or the side (similar to the NCAA). In an effort to increase offensive production, bump and run was restricted to the first five yards from the line of scrimmage (similar to NFL) following the fourth week of the season.
Forward motion
Unlike the NFL, but like the World Football LeagueWorld Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
and Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
before it, the XFL allowed one offensive player to move
Motion (football)
In gridiron football, motion refers to the movement of an offensive player at or prior to the snap.- Motion and shift :There is a distinction drawn between a shift and motion in football. A shift occurs when one or more players changes their position on the offensive side of the ball before the...
toward the line of scrimmage once he was outside the tackles.
Halo rule / live punts
The heavily-hyped "no fair catchFair catch
A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team – either on a kickoff or punt – is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team...
" rule (announcers tended to mention it on almost every punt/kickoff) was paired with a five-yard zone excluding players of the kicking team around potential returners before the ball touched them or the ground, similar to rules in Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, and contemporary NCAA rules (where the term "halo" was applied, though the XFL called it instead the "danger zone"). But instead of making punt returns more exciting, it often had the opposite effect, since the XFL players' inexperience with the rule caused a high number of game-delaying penalties.
The fair catch
Fair catch
A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team – either on a kickoff or punt – is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team...
had previously been abolished from Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, NCAA rules (but only for the 1950 season), and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
.
Another difference was that after touching ground 25 yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage, punts could be recovered and advanced by all players of the kicking team. This led to more quick kick
Quick kick
In American football and Canadian football, a quick kick is any punt made under conditions such that the opposing team "should not" expect a punt. Typically this has been a kick from scrimmage from a formation that is, or resembles, one usually used other than for punting, or at least not...
s being taken on third-down-and-long situations in the one season of the small league than had been seen in the NFL over several preceding decades of longer seasons. This XFL rule was similar to a rule that had been in effect in American football in the 1910s and part of the 1920s.
XFL penalized 10 yards from the succeeding spot for punts going out of bounds, even if they first touched the ground (but not a player of the receiving team). The changes practically eliminated the coffin corner
Coffin corner
Coffin corner may refer to:* Coffin corner , an unstable combination of speed and altitude* A position in the bomber formation combat box* A strategy used in football by a punter...
kicking style, in which a good punter could pin an opposing offense deep in its own territory by precisely kicking a ball out of bounds a few yards from the end zone.
For the initial weeks of the season, the XFL forbade all players on the kicking team from going downfield before a kick was made from scrimmage on that down, similarly to a rule the NFL considered in 1974. For the rest of the season the XFL modified it to allow one player closest to each sideline downfield ahead of the kick, the same modification the NFL adopted to their change just before their 1974 exhibition games started.
The purpose of these provisions was to keep play going after the ball was punted, encouraging the kicking team to make the ball playable and the receiving team to run it back.
Roster and salaries
The XFL limited each team to an unusually low 38 players, as opposed to 53 on NFL teams and 80 or more on unlimited college rosters. (The CFLCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, which has one more player on each side of the field at a time, had a comparable 40-man roster limit as of 2001; it has since been increased to 42 men. The 38-man limit was also identical to the Spring Football League
Spring Football League
The Spring Football League was a professional American football that existed for only part of one mini-season in 2000. Founded by several ex-NFL players such as Eric Dickerson, Drew Pearson, Bo Jackson, and Tony Dorsett, the SFL planned to use the four game mini-season to test cities, fans,...
that had played the year before, and two more than the 36-man limit of lower professional leagues such as the Atlantic Coast Football League
Atlantic Coast Football League
The Atlantic Coast Football League was a minor football league that operated from 1962 to 1973. Until 1969, many of its franchises had working agreements with NFL and AFL teams to serve as farm clubs. The league paid a base salary of $100 per game and had 36 players on each active roster.For the...
, Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
, and the current Stars Football League
Stars Football League
The Stars Football League is a semi-pro American football league operating primarily in the Southern United States. The league is headquartered in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Its inaugural season began June 30, 2011 with two teams; the league phased two more teams into the schedule over the course of...
.) This resulted, most commonly, in each team only carrying two quarterbacks and one kicker who doubled as the punter.
The XFL paid standardized player salaries. Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s earned US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
5,000 per week, kickers earned $3,500, and all other uniformed players earned $4,500 per week, though a few players got around these restrictions (Los Angeles Xtreme
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
players Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine is a professional Canadian football punter / kicker with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
, the league's lone punting specialist, and Matt Malloy, a wide receiver) by having themselves listed as backup quarterbacks. Players on a winning team received a bonus of $2,500 for the week, $7,500 for winning a playoff game. The team that won the championship game split $1,000,000 (roughly $25,000 per player). Furthermore, players did not receive any fringe benefits, meaning players had to pay for their own health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
.
Sky cam
Although the XFL was not the first football league to feature the "sky camSkycam
Skycam is the trademarked brandname of a patented, computer-controlled, stabilized, cable-suspended camera system. The system, similar to Steadicam, but maneuvered through three dimensions in the open space over a playing area of a stadium or arena by computer-controlled cable-drive system, is...
", which enables TV viewers to see behind the offensive unit, it helped to popularize its unique capabilities. The sky cam is currently used in NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
broadcasts on all major networks. This perspective was originally available only in standard definition, but is now broadcast in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
during most major NFL games each week.
Broadcast schedule
At the beginning of the season, NBC showed a feature game at 8 p.m. Eastern TimeEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
on Saturday nights, also taping a second game. The second game, in some weeks, would air in the visiting team's home market and be put on the air nationally if the feature game was a blowout (as was the case in week one) or encountered technical difficulties (as was the case in week two). Two games were shown each Sunday: one at 4 p.m. Eastern on TNN (now Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
) and another at 7 p.m. Eastern on UPN (which has since merged with The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
to form The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
).
The XFL also had a fairly extensive local radio presence, often using nationally recognized disc jockeys. The morning radio duo of Rick and Bubba
Rick and Bubba
Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey are cohosts of The Rick & Bubba Show—a syndicated comedic radio program based in Birmingham, Alabama...
, for instance, was the radio broadcast team for the Birmingham Thunderbolts
Birmingham Thunderbolts
The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
, while Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
had covered pregame for NBC. Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne is a character created and played by comedian Bob Einstein. He is a naive but optimistic stuntman who is frequently injured when his stunts go wrong.-Appearance history:...
was a sideline reporter for Los Angeles Xtreme broadcasts on KLSX
KLSX
KAMP-FM 97.1 FM, known on-air as 97.1 AMP Radio, is a Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. The station is owned by CBS Radio.The station had long been known as KLSX before the call sign changed on June 30, 2009....
; WMVP
WMVP
WMVP is the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by ABC. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local...
carried Chicago Enforcers games.
In the third week of the season, the games were sped up through changes in the playing rules, and broadcasts were subjected to increased time constraints. The reason was the reaction of Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels, CM is a Canadian-American television producer, writer, and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it.-Early life:...
, creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, to the double-overtime win by the Los Angeles Xtreme
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
against the Chicago Enforcers
Chicago Enforcers
The Chicago Enforcers were a short-lived American football team based in Chicago, Illinois at Soldier Field. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
. The game ended at 11:45 p.m. Eastern, with the start of SNL pushed back to 12:20 a.m. Sunday morning. This angered Michaels, who expected high ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
with Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
as the night's host. Lopez had just become the first actress-singer in history to record the top-selling album in the United States (J. Lo) and to star in the most popular movie (The Wedding Planner
The Wedding Planner
The Wedding Planner is a 2001 romantic comedy film directed by Adam Shankman, written by Michael Ellis and Pamela Falk, and starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey.-Plot:...
) at the same time. In a rare SNL move, the Lopez show actually started on time for its live audience and was broadcast via tape delay. For the rest of the season, the XFL cut off coverage at 11:00 Eastern Time, regardless of whether or not the game was over.
In the face of declining ratings, the XFL announced prior to week's 6 game between the Orlando Rage and the Las Vegas Outlaws that they would be entering the Rage's cheerleaders' locker room during halftime. The heavily promoted event was, in fact, a stunt: instead of showing an entry into the room, viewers instead saw a sketch
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
in which the cameraman knocked himself unconscious by running into the locker room door, followed by a "dream sequence
Dream sequence
A dream sequence is a technique used in storytelling, particularly in television and film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. The interlude may consist of a flashback, a flashforward, a fantasy, a vision, a dream, or some other element. Commonly, dream sequences appear in many...
" with only slightly suggestive content. Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
appeared at the beginning and the end of the sketch, berating the cameraman for his failure.
Broadcast teams
- NBC (first team): Matt VasgersianMatt VasgersianMatt Vasgersian is an American sportscaster and television host. Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Olympics, and on Fox Sports' MLB coverage...
, Jesse VenturaJesse VenturaJames George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
, Fred RogginFred RogginFred Roggin is the sports anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, California. He was also a sports talk radio host at KMPC in Los Angeles, and until Fall 2007 hosted a morning sports show on KLAC with Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers and Simers' daughter, Tracy Simers...
and Mike AdamleMike AdamleMichael David "Mike" Adamle is a sports personality and former National Football League player. He is best known as the co-host of American Gladiators series for seven years....
were the opening week announcers. From week two to week five, Jim RossJim RossJames William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
replaced Vasgersian. Adamle moved to the booth late in the season. - NBC (second team): Jim RossJim RossJames William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
, Jerry LawlerJerry LawlerJerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
and Jonathan CoachmanJonathan CoachmanJonathan William Coachman , also known as "The Coach", is a former professional wrestling color commentator and authority figure. He is also a former college basketball player, and football play-by-play announcer...
was the opening-week team. From week two to week five, Vasgersian replaced Ross. Lawler left the XFL (and WWF) after week five in the aftermath of the firing of his then-wife, Stacy CarterStacy CarterStacy Carter , better known as Miss Kitty or The Kat, is an American former professional wrestling valet.During her tenure in the World Wrestling Federation, she held the Women's Championship once, although she was not a trained wrestler...
, who went by the ring name of "The Kat". Lawler walked away in protest. Dick ButkusDick ButkusRichard Marvin "Dick" Butkus is a former American football player for the Chicago Bears. He was drafted in 1965 and he is also widely regarded as one of the best and most durable linebackers of all time. Butkus starred as a football player for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears. He...
filled in for the rest of the season. - TNN: Craig Minervini, Bob GolicBob GolicRobert Perry "Bob" Golic is a retired American football player, as well as a television and radio personality. He played as a defensive tackle who played for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL.Golic played high school football at St...
, Lee RehermanLee RehermanLee Reherman is a former American football player but a current actor and television host.-Personal life:Reherman was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played football at Cornell University and then played professionally with the Miami Dolphins...
and Kip Lewis. - UPN: Chris MarloweChris MarloweChristian "Chris" Marlowe is a former volleyball standout and current professional American sportscaster based in Denver, Colorado....
, Brian BosworthBrian BosworthBrian Keith "The Boz" Bosworth, is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma...
, Chris WraggeChris WraggeChristian P. "Chris" Wragge is an American news anchor. He is the co-anchor for New York's WCBS-TV News at 6 p.m. weeknights alongside Dana Tyler. He was previously in the station's 5 p.m. and 11 p.m...
and Michael BarkannMichael BarkannMichael Barkann is an award winning sports host, anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet.-Education:...
.
Media response
The XFL aimed to attract two distinct audiences to games: wrestling fans and American football fans. The XFL also tried to attract fans from other areas of entertainment (e.g., moviesFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
).
Many American football fans distrusted the league because of its relationship to pro wrestling. They had a hard time accepting that a close, come-from-behind win or a controversial ending had not been scripted in advance, although there was no evidence to support this. The league was panned by critics as boring football with a tawdry broadcast style, although the broadcasts on TNN and to a lesser extent UPN and the Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian is an American sportscaster and television host. Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Olympics, and on Fox Sports' MLB coverage...
-helmed NBC coverage were comparatively professional and workmanlike. Longtime WWE play-by-play man Jim Ross
Jim Ross
James William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
, who has otherwise received praise for his calling of wrestling matches over the years, got the bulk of the criticism for his play-by-play calls of XFL games despite his 30+ years of experience in calling wrestling matches as well as calling play-by-play for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the early 1990s.
Scoring was so scarce that bookmakers could not set the over-under
Over-under
An over-under or over/under bet is a wager in which a sportsbook will predict a number for a statistic in a given game , and bettors wager that the actual number in the game will be either higher or lower than that number...
total low enough. Wise gamblers
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
who took the under, often in the mid 30s, would win consistently — they could even parlay the under for all four games in a weekend and win on a regular basis. Towards the end of the season, bookies needed to make the totals in the upper 20s, highly unusual in pro football gambling circles. The league was forced to change rules during the season to afford receivers more protection, but the mid-season rule changes did little to bolster league credibility.
In 2000, before the XFL's launch, the league aired a series of cheerleader commercials on NBC, featuring adult models such as Pennelope Jimenez, Karen McDougal
Karen McDougal
Karen McDougal is an American model and actress. She is known for her appearances in Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month for December 1997 and Playmate of the Year of 1998. In 2001, the readers of Playboy voted McDougal "No...
, and Rachel Sterling. The most famous one featured them as some of the cheerleaders taking a shower in the locker room. Using clever camera angles and strategically placed objects, the commercial gave viewers the titillating illusion that the cheerleaders were nude in the shower with little left to the imagination. The edgy XFL commercials backfired and caused a controversy. Deemed too risqué by the media, the commercials were quickly withdrawn before the debut of the league.
End of season and failure
On April 21, 2001, the season concluded as the Los Angeles XtremeLos Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
defeated the San Francisco Demons
San Francisco Demons
The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
38-6 in the XFL Championship Game (which was originally given the Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
-like moniker "The Big Game at the End of the Season", but was later dubbed the Million Dollar Game
Million Dollar Game
The Million Dollar Game was the XFL's championship game at the end of its only season in 2001. At first it had no special name, then was going to be called "The Big Game at the End," but eventually received the name it ended up with because a pot of one million dollars was to be split among the...
, after the amount of money awarded to the winning team).
Though paid attendance at games remained respectable, if unimpressive (overall attendance were only 10% below what the league's goal had been at the start of the season), the XFL ceased operations after just one season due to low TV ratings. Facing stiff competition from the NCAA Basketball Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, the NBC telecast of the Chicago/NY-NJ game on March 31 received a 1.5 rating, at that time the lowest ever for any major network primetime weekend first-run sports television broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Despite initially agreeing to broadcast XFL games for two years and owning half of the league, NBC announced it would not broadcast a second XFL season, thus admitting failure in its attempt at airing replacement pro football. WWF Chairman Vince McMahon initially announced that the XFL would continue, as it still had UPN and TNN as broadcast outlets. In fact, expansion teams were being explored for cities such as Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Detroit. However, in order to continue broadcasting XFL games, UPN demanded that WWF SmackDown broadcasts be cut from two hours to one and a half hours. McMahon found these terms unacceptable and he announced the XFL's closure on May 10, 2001. "The situation is very bad," he was quoted as saying.
One reason for the failure of the league to catch on, despite its financial solvency and massive visibility (perhaps infamy), was the lack of respect for the league in the sports media. XFL games were rarely treated as sports contests, but rather more like WWF-like sensationalized events. With few NFL-quality players, save Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
, the league's MVP, and with little thoughtful analysis or even consideration by sports columnists, the XFL never gained the necessary recognition to be regarded as a viable league. The fact that the league was co-owned by NBC made ESPN (which was part of the same corporation as ABC) and Fox Sports Net (owned by Fox TV) disinclined to report on the XFL, though Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
properties such as Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, as well as the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, devoted coverage to the league (Sports Illustrated even featured the XFL on the cover
Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx
The Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx is an urban legend that states that individuals or teams who appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine will subsequently be jinxed...
of its February 12, 2001 edition, albeit with the description of it being "sleazy gimmicks and low-rent football"). Many local TV newscasts and newspapers (even in XFL cities) did not report league scores or show highlights. This led to many football fans treating the XFL as a joke, rather than competition to the NFL. Other problems included the scantly clad cheerleaders, trash-talking announcers, and the lack of penalties for roughness have made the XFL less family friendly.
Former ECW announcer Joey Styles
Joey Styles
Joseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
mentioned on the McMahon DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(which has a short section on the XFL) that if the league had not been as publicly associated with wrestling and the negative stigma that comes with it, the league might have been successful. On the same DVD, Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
defends the XFL, saying it didn't cost a lot of money for him to try and still thinks it was a good idea, although WWE television nowadays occasionally pokes fun at the failures of the XFL.
WWE announcer Jerry Lawler, who made amends with WWE months after the league folded and remains employed with the company today, believes that the league could have been a success if given more time. He stated in his biography that Vince's novel approach of adding entertainment to the sport would have made it a more appealing alternative to the NFL. However, because the league was immediately compared to the NFL as a direct competitor, he feels that the pressures placed by NBC ruined McMahon's model entirely. He states "I knew after the very first week that it wasn't going to fly. They said don't mention the cheerleaders, don't shoot the cheerleaders. I realized then they were going to try to take on the NFL and that was never going to work. The football wasn't good enough."
The XFL ranked #3 on TV Guide's
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
list of the TV Guide's worst TV shows of all time in July 2002, as well as #2 on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's list of biggest flops in sports, behind Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
. In 2010, TV Guide Network also listed the show at #21 on their list of 25 Biggest TV Blunders.
Many stories recapping the history of the XFL show photos of the crash of its promotional blimp, portraying it retrospectively as an ill-omen for the league. The incident occurred a month before the opening game, when its pilot and a student pilot with him, lost control of the airship and were forced to evacuate. The ground crew were unable to secure the vehicle and the "unattended blimp then floated five miles north over the Oakland Estuary, at one point reaching 1,600 feet, until its gondola caught on a sailboat mast in the Central Basin marina. It draped over the roof of the Oyster Reef restaurant -- next to where the boat was moored -- and a nearby power line." While the pilot was hospitalized no other major injuries were reported. The blimp needed $2.5 million in repairs, the sailboat and restaurant had only minor damages. Also before the season started, a fictional XFL game appeared in the Schwarzenegger movie The 6th Day
The 6th Day
The 6th Day is a 2000 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as family man Adam Gibson, who is cloned against his will in the future of 2015...
set in 2015.
Legacy
Despite its unimpressive showing among the TV audience, the XFL lasted for twelve weeks, more than the eleven weeks played by the three previous professional outdoor leagues combined: the Regional Football LeagueRegional Football League
The Regional Football League was an American football league formed to be the self-styled "major league of spring football." The RFL season was designed for spring-summer play with the weekend prior to the Fourth of July designated as the annual date for its championship game.The inaugural season...
of 1999 played nine weeks, the Spring Football League
Spring Football League
The Spring Football League was a professional American football that existed for only part of one mini-season in 2000. Founded by several ex-NFL players such as Eric Dickerson, Drew Pearson, Bo Jackson, and Tony Dorsett, the SFL planned to use the four game mini-season to test cities, fans,...
of 2000 survived just two, while the Professional Spring Football League
Professional Spring Football League
The Professional Spring Football League was an outdoor football league slated to begin in 1992. The league had a preview show on SportsChannel America in late 1991/early 1992, laying out the ten teams that would play. The league was founded by Vincent Sette, a computer sales executive...
of 1992 folded before playing a single game. It restored an outdoor professional franchise to Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Las Vegas and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
—each of whom had lacked an outdoor pro team since their CFL franchises were shuttered in 1995, but for a single season for the Tennessee Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in Memphis before moving to their permanent home in Nashville and becoming the Titans—and to Orlando, which had had no professional outdoor football since the WLAF
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
(later NFL Europa) folded North American operations in 1992. The XFL brought a football franchise to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
—a market which has lacked an NFL team for years—and demonstrated that a baseball-specific stadium such as San Francisco's Pac Bell Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
made a suitable venue for football as well. However, none of these novelties translated into overall commercial success.
The defunct league also popularized "in-game" interviews. The XFL would interview head coaches between plays. Today, National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
players are interviewed between commercial breaks and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
has managers and coaches being interviewed. During Fox's Saturday Game of the Week, players often wear microphones for a "sounds of the game" segment.
NBC continued airing professional league football beyond the demise of the XFL. While no football aired during the 2002 season due to the Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, NBC struck a deal with the Arena Football League and aired games from that league from 2003 to 2006.
In 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, NBC returned to coverage of NFL games with NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
. The occasional use of the "sky-cam" and sideline interviews are the only features common to both the NFL and XFL coverage. NBC's lead announcer for XFL coverage, Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian is an American sportscaster and television host. Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Olympics, and on Fox Sports' MLB coverage...
, later became an announcer for the NFL on FOX
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
. Minervini joined the United Football League broadcast team for Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
in 2010.
XFL team names and logos also appear in movies and television where professional football needs to be dramatized, as licensing for NFL logos may be cost prohibitive.
In an episode
The Old Man and the Key
"The Old Man and the Key" is the thirteenth episode of The Simpsons thirteenth season. It first aired in the United States on the Fox network on March 10, 2002. In the episode, Grampa Simpson falls in love with Zelda, an old woman who has just moved in to the senior home in which Grampa lives...
of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Homer is wearing an XFL cap and waving a flag with the XFL logo at the beginning, looking forward to the new season, only to have the news broken to him, by Marge, that the XFL has folded. Marge then tells him that the league MVP told her, and that he was now sweeping up nails at the hair salon. In reality, the league's only MVP, Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
, would resurrect his once-undistinguished NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
before giving way to Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
two years later. It was also mentioned in a later episode
Judge Me Tender
"Judge Me Tender" is the twenty-third episode and season finale of The Simpsons twenty-first season. It is the 464th episode for the series and originally premiered in the United States on May 23, 2010, on Fox Broadcasting Company. In the episode, Moe discovers his talent for judging in...
, in which Homer mistakenly believed one of the teams was the "Long Island Ice Teas" when asked what was the best team to never win the XFL.
The yardage-based conversion rule, which was introduced (and only used once) by the XFL, also will see new life. The all-female Lingerie Football League
Lingerie Football League
The Lingerie Football League is a women's 7-on-7 tackle American football league, created in 2009, with games played in the fall and winter at NBA, NFL, NHL and MLS arenas and stadiums. The league was founded by Mitch Mortaza...
adopted a yardage-based conversion rule similar to that used in the XFL playoffs. In that league, a one-point conversion can be scored from the 2-yard line while a two-point conversion can be scored from the 5-yard line. The LFL, which targets a similar audience as the XFL did, does not feature any kicking.
The United Football League later placed all four of its inaugural franchises in former XFL markets and stadiums. However, the UFL drew far fewer fans than the XFL average (though the XFL was marked by a notable disparity between the beginning of the season and the end of the season). The difference between the XFL's San Francisco Demons
San Francisco Demons
The San Francisco Demons were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
and the UFL's California Redwoods was particularly striking; despite both playing in the same ballpark, the XFL Demons drew an average of 35,000 fans, compared to only 6,000 for the UFL Redwoods. (The XFL's heavy promotion, coupled with a lack of competition against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
that the UFL had to face as a fall league as opposed to a winter league like the XFL, are the most likely reasons for this disparity.) Three of the four charter teams, including the Redwoods, moved to other markets by the time of the UFL's third season
2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
.
The XFL on NBC marked one of the last major efforts to create original programming for the Saturday night time slot. Its failure coincided with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's cancellation of its Western drama, Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American television action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full...
, which helped set its market-leading Saturday night lineup into decline. Since 2001, the Saturday night time slot has become a graveyard slot
Graveyard slot
A graveyard slot is a time period in which a television audience is very small compared to other times of the day, and therefore broadcast programming is considered far less important. Graveyard slots are usually in the early morning hours of each day, when most people are asleep...
, occupied primarily by rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s and low-cost reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
programs.
Notable players
Notable players included league MVPMost Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and Los Angeles quarterback Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
after the XFL folded (Maddox later became the starting quarterback for the Steelers in 2002 and led them to that year's playoffs, as well as continuing to start for them into 2004). Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
used the first pick in the XFL draft
2001 XFL Draft
The 2001 XFL Draft was the first and last draft for the single-season XFL football league. The draft took place over a 3 day time period from October 28, 2000 to October 30, 2000 during which time a total of 475 players were selected by the league's 8 teams from a pool of approximately 1,600 or so...
to select a former NFL quarterback, Scott Milanovich. Milanovich lost the starting quarterback job to Maddox, who was placed on the Xtreme as one of a handful of players put on each team due to geographic distance between the player's college and the team's hometown. Another of the better-known players was Las Vegas running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Rod Smart
Rod Smart
Rod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"...
, who first gained popularity because the name on the back of his jersey read "He Hate Me." Smart, who was only picked 357th in the draft, later went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, and the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His Panther teammate Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
named his new-born horse "She Hate Me" as a reference to him. Smart played in Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
becoming one of seven XFL players to play in a Super Bowl. Receiver Yo Murphy
Yo Murphy
Llewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
also achieved this as a member of the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
). Tommy Maddox played for a Super Bowl team (with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
) in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, (although Maddox, by then a third-string quarterback, did not play in the game, which turned out to be his last appearance in uniform before retiring). Lastly, Las Vegas Outlaws DB Kelly Herndon
Kelly Herndon
Kelly Errin Herndon is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Toledo. Although he entered his first NFL camp in 1999, Herndon waited until 2002 to play in...
played in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in 2005, where he is remembered for intercepting a pass and returning it a then-record 76 yards. Although he did not play for an NFL team after the XFL's lone season, former Las Vegas Outlaw offensive guard Isaac Davis also had a notable NFL career, playing in 58 games over a six year career. Davis started for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
.
Played in the NFL
- Joe AskaJoe AskaJoe Aska is a former American football running back who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL....
- John Avery
- Aaron BaileyAaron Bailey (American football)Aaron Bailey is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for five seasons for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League....
- Pat BarnesPat BarnesPat Barnes is a retired National Football League quarterback. He played from 1997 to 2003 in the NFL, XFL, and CFL....
- Stuart Pearman
- Jeff BrohmJeff BrohmJeffrey Scott Brohm is an Assistant Coach and the Quarterbacks Coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team...
- José Cortéz
- Kirby Dar DarKirby Dar DarKirby Dar Dar was an American professional football player for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He attended Syracuse University and played on Syracuse's football team as a running back...
- Isaac Davis
- Jim DruckenmillerJim DruckenmillerJames David Druckenmiller, Jr. is a former American football quarterback.In his career Druckenmiller played for the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, as well as the Memphis Maniax of the XFL and the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena...
- Eric EnglandEric EnglandEric Jevon England is a gridiron football player who plays defensive end. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. England also played in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. Most recently, England was signed by the New...
- Leomont EvansLeomont EvansLeomont Dozier Evans is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Clemson University and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft....
- Mike FurreyMike FurreyMichael Thomas Furrey is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University.Furrey has also played for the...
- Steve GleasonSteve GleasonStephen Michael Gleason is a former American football safety of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Washington State.As a free agent in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight...
- Kelly HerndonKelly HerndonKelly Errin Herndon is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Toledo. Although he entered his first NFL camp in 1999, Herndon waited until 2002 to play in...
- Darryl Hobbs
- James Hundon
- Corey IvyCorey IvyCorey Terrell Ivy is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Oklahoma....
- LeShon JohnsonLeShon JohnsonLeShon Eugene Johnson is a former American football player who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft....
- Charles JordanCharles Jordan (American football)Charles Alexander Jordan is a retired American football player. The Wide receiver played professionally for the National Football League for seven seasons during the period of 1993 through 1999, as well as one season for the XFL....
- Kevin KaesviharnKevin KaesviharnKevin Robert Kaesviharn is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Iowa Barnstormers as a street free agent in 1998...
- Paris LenonParis LenonParis Michael Lenon is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
- Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
- Yo MurphyYo MurphyLlewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
- Latario RachalLatario RachalLatario Rachal is a retired professional football player in the National Football League. He played two years for the San Diego Chargers, primarily as a special teams punt returner and a wide receiver. In 1998, he finished 2nd in the AFC, with 387 yards on 32 returns...
- Rashaan SalaamRashaan SalaamRashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
- Nicky SavoieNicky SavoieNicky John Savoie is a former American football tight end who has a one year career in the National Football League....
- Rashaan SheheeRashaan SheheeRashaan Shehee is a former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 2 seasons in the NFL, both for the Chiefs. He started 5 games in 1999....
- Kevin SwayneKevin SwayneKevin Swayne was an American football wide receiver for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League...
- Rod SmartRod SmartRod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"...
- Ed SmithEd Smith (tight end)Edward Martin Smith is a former American football tight end who played for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions from 1997–1999. Prior to that, Smith played baseball in the minor league systems of the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland...
- Brad TroutBrad TroutBrad Trout or A. Bradley Trout Jr was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He attended Hialeah Miami-Lakes High School where he played safety, served as a captain of the Trojans football team, and was selected go the All State Team...
- Casey WeldonCasey WeldonWilliam Casey Weldon is a former professional American football player. Weldon is best known for being the quarterback for Florida State in the late-1980s and early-1990s. During his senior season in 1991, Weldon finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Desmond Howard of Michigan...
- Craig WhelihanCraig WhelihanCraig Dominic Whelihan , is an arena football quarterback with the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.-High school years:...
- Stepfret WilliamsStepfret WilliamsStepfret Williams III is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals. He was also the leading receiver in yards in the XFL.-References:...
Played in the Super Bowl
- Ron CarpenterRon Carpenter (safety)Ron Carpenter is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings. New York Jets, and St. Louis Rams....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
) - Isaac Davis (Super Bowl XXIXSuper Bowl XXIXSuper Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
, San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
) - Kelly HerndonKelly HerndonKelly Errin Herndon is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Toledo. Although he entered his first NFL camp in 1999, Herndon waited until 2002 to play in...
(Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
) - Corey IvyCorey IvyCorey Terrell Ivy is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Oklahoma....
(Super Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
) - Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
) - Yo MurphyYo MurphyLlewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
(Super Bowl XXXVISuper Bowl XXXVISuper Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
) - Bobby SinghBobby SinghBobby Singh is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis Rams) - Rod SmartRod SmartRod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"...
(Super Bowl XXXVIIISuper Bowl XXXVIIISuper Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
, Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
)
Won a Super Bowl
- Ron CarpenterRon Carpenter (safety)Ron Carpenter is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings. New York Jets, and St. Louis Rams....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
) - Fred ColemanFred ColemanFredrick Dewayne Coleman was a professional American football wide receiver He has played in the National Football League, Arena Football League and the XFL. Coleman graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas and played for the Lee Red Raiders...
(Super Bowl XXXVISuper Bowl XXXVISuper Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
) - Corey IvyCorey IvyCorey Terrell Ivy is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Oklahoma....
(Super Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVIISuper Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
) - Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
) - Bobby SinghBobby SinghBobby Singh is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
)
Won both an XFL Championship and Super Bowl
- Ron CarpenterRon Carpenter (safety)Ron Carpenter is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings. New York Jets, and St. Louis Rams....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
) - Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
(Super Bowl XLSuper Bowl XLSuper Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
) - Bobby SinghBobby SinghBobby Singh is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft....
(Super Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIVSuper Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
)
Played in the CFL
- Kelvin AndersonKelvin AndersonKelvin Anderson is a retired professional gridiron football player. As a running back, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons in the Canadian Football League, a league record...
- John Avery
- Duane ButlerDuane ButlerDuane Butler is a former National Football League, XFL and Canadian Football League linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes.-College career:Duane Butler attended Illinois State University...
- Jeremaine CopelandJeremaine CopelandJeremaine Copeland is a Canadian Football League wide receiver playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He has also played with the Montreal Alouettes and the Calgary Stampeders, as well as in the XFL and NFL Europe football player.-College career:Copeland attended the University of Tennessee...
- Marcus CrandellMarcus CrandellMarcus Crandell is a Canadian football coach and former quarterback who is the current Offensive Coordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos....
- Reggie DurdenReggie DurdenReggie Durden is a former Canadian Football League defensive back. He was born on November 11, 1976, in Houston, Texas.-College career:Reggie Durden played two seasons at Florida State University. In 1999, he shared the Most Improved Player honors at cornerback...
- Eric EnglandEric EnglandEric Jevon England is a gridiron football player who plays defensive end. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. England also played in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. Most recently, England was signed by the New...
- Paul McCallumPaul McCallumPaul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
(Wore the jersey nickname "CFL Reject") - Yo MurphyYo MurphyLlewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
- Noel PrefontaineNoel PrefontaineNoel Prefontaine is a professional Canadian football punter / kicker with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
- Bobby SinghBobby SinghBobby Singh is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft....
- Rod SmartRod SmartRod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"...
Played in the AFL
- Jerry CraftsJerry CraftsJerry Wayne Crafts is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma for Barry Switzer and the University of Louisville.Crafts was drafted in 1991 by the...
- Eric EnglandEric EnglandEric Jevon England is a gridiron football player who plays defensive end. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. England also played in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. Most recently, England was signed by the New...
- Mark GriebMark GriebMark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
- Tommy MaddoxTommy MaddoxThomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
- Craig WhelihanCraig WhelihanCraig Dominic Whelihan , is an arena football quarterback with the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Football League. He attended the University of the Pacific.-High school years:...
- Rod SmartRod SmartRod Smart is a former professional American football player. He played college football for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, and began his professional career in the short-lived XFL league, where he played running back for the Las Vegas Outlaws and was known by the nickname "He Hate Me"...
- Kelvin KinneyKelvin KinneyKelvin Lamonta Kinney is an American football defensive lineman who is currently a Free Agent in the Arena Football League. His nickname is K2....
Ownership of broadcast rights
XFL games are now part of the WWE Video LibraryWWE Video Library
The WWE video library is currently the largest collection of professional wrestling videos and copyrights in the world. It is comprised not only of past and current works by WWE but the works of now defunct professional wrestling promotions dating back to the 1940s...
, along with classic highlights of WWE (and predecessors Capitol Wrestling/WWWF/WWF), World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
, the World Bodybuilding Federation
World Bodybuilding Federation
The World Bodybuilding Federation was a bodybuilding organization founded in 1990 by Vince McMahon that lasted until 1992. It was a subsidiary of Titan Sports which owned and operated the World Wrestling Federation.-Creation:...
, and other past and present subsidiaries of WWE. Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, the current owners of NBCUniversal, would also presumably co-own distribution rights to XFL games along with the WWE.
No XFL game has been rebroadcast in its entirety in any form, on any channel, since the league folded.