After a number of different entities tried and failed to launch a spring football league, both the USFL 2.0 and the XFL 3.0 succeeded.
The USFL re-launched in 2022 and played two seasons; the XFL re-launched in 2020, did not finish that season due to the global pandemic, shut down again, sold, and completed its season in 2023.
The two leagues are set to combine and take the name of another defunct minor football league.
The combined USFL-XFL will be known as the United Football League. This will be a separate entity from the league of the same name that played fall football games from 2009-12.
“We wanted to join forces for a few reasons,” XFL co-owner Dwayne Johnson said on Fox on Sunday. “I think number one to grow the game of football. It’s a game that we all love, and create opportunities for players and we all know how important that is. And also, deliver for the fans. If you think about it, this is thirty years of spring football starting and stopping, starting and stopping. So this merger between USFL and XFL, it feels like we got a shot to establish that spring football is here to stay.”
The first UFL season will begin March 30 with a showdown between the two-time defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions and the defending XFL champion Arlington Renegades.
In addition to the Stallions, the USFL franchises that survived the merger were the Michigan Panthers, Houston Gamblers, and Memphis Showboats. The three additional XFL teams to move forward have yet to be identified.
XFL president and CEO Russ Brandon will assume the same position for the UFL, and Darryl Johnston from the USFL will head football operations for the UFL. Games will be split between ABC, ESPN, Fox and FS1.
XFL teams based operations out of Arlington, Texas, while the USFL played all its games in Birmingham in 2022 before fanning out to other cities last year. It remains to be seen how that will be managed moving forward.
“The United Football League – a powerful combination of the XFL and USFL – will provide passionate sports fans with an entertaining, innovative, and action-packed season,” ESPN president Pitaro said. “With compelling storytelling across traditional and digital platforms, fan-friendly innovations, and tremendous reach, this visionary league is well-positioned, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.