Former University of Miami defensive tackle, WWE Superstar and current Hollywood actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has just become a part owner of the Xtreme Football League, also known as the XFL.
Johnson and his business partner Dany Garcia purchased the league’s parent company for $15 million on Monday, following the league shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gerry Cardinale and his private investment firm RedBird Capital Partners also joined the two on the deal.
The XFL was in its second reboot this year and going very well before the pandemic struck the United States. The league brought in roughly $14 million in revenue for the first 3 1/2 weeks. Once the shutdown was inevitable, the league went on to lose $27 million in game day revenue and was forced to file for bankruptcy.
“The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things: my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” Johnson released in a statement this Monday.
“With pride and gratitude for all that I’ve built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL, and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans, and everyone involved for the love of football.”
There are no current blueprints laid out for the league restart, but the deal is expected to be finalized on August 21st.
Four Bulldogs represented the University of Georgia this past season across two teams, the New York Guardians and the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Former Georgia nose tackle Toby Johnson (6-foot-4, 350 pounds) was playing for New York, after spending four years in the NFL playing for six different teams. Last year, Johnson played for the Massachusetts Pirates of the National Arena League.
Johnson came to UGA in 2013 after playing at Hutchinson Community College.
Georgia had three players on the Tamp Bay Vipers – QB Aaron Murray, DB Corey Moore and LS Nick Moore.
Murray broke numerous SEC and Georgia records during his time in Athens. He attempted to play in the NFL, but wasn’t as successful as many thought he would be. He went on to work for CBS as a broadcaster in addition to playing a season for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.
Former Georgia safety Corey Moore was undrafted in 2015 but went on to have a solid career in the NFL. He played for the Houston Texans from 2015-17 and the Indianapolis Colts in 2019. Moore finished his NFL career with 72 tackles, 5 pass deflections and one interception.
Long snapper Nick Moore came to Georgia in 2015 as a Mark Richt recruit. Prior to that, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox, playing four years of minor league baseball. Moore, from 2015-18, played in 23 games for the Dawgs. He was given an opportunity by the New Orleans Saints but did not earn a roster spot.
