Tag: XFL

Former Texans DC Wade Phillips clinches spot in UFL Championship

Wade Phillips is finally headed to a championship game after previous stints with the Houston Texans and Houston Roughnecks.

Wade Phillips is finally headed to the title game as a head coach.

Phillips, who spent two seasons as the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator under Gary Kubiak, will take center stage on Saturday afternoon as his San Antonio Brahmas take on the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 UFL Championship Game at 4 p.m. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. CT at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis and will televised on FOX.

Phillips previously coached in the XFL for the Houston Roughnecks before taking over in San Antonio when the league merged with the UFL last offseason. Last Sunday, the Bahamas defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Championship.

It’s been a long time coming for the Houston product in his coaching career. The son of legendary Oilers coach Bum Phillips, Wade has coached in prominent games over his illustrious four-decade career.

He ended the Dallas Cowboys’ playoff losing streak while coaching between 2007-2010, posing a 34-22 record. He also helped Kubiak and Peyton Manning win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator during the 2015 season.

Phillips, 76, also took over for Kubiak as the Texans’ interim coach following his firing in 2013. He finished 0-3, leading to Houston securing the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

After Kubiak retired in 2016, Phillips joined Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams and the team’s defensive coordinator in 2017. His contract was not renewed after the 2019 season after Los Angeles finished 9-7.

In his lone season with the Roughnecks, Phillips went 7-3, guiding the Houston franchise to the XFL South Championship. He’ll now look to defeat Skip Holtz, who previously won back-to-back USFL titles with the Stallions in 2022 and 2023.

Watch: New Seahawks QB P.J. Walker’s 2020 highlights from the XFL

Watch: New Seahawks QB P.J. Walker’s 2020 highlights from the XFL

The Seattle Seahawks signed former Browns, Panthers, and XFL quarterback P.J. Walker earlier this week. The move is clearly one to fill out the open QB3 position, but it does give Seattle another quarterback with a big arm and plenty of upside.

Walker’s NFL career is largely defined by occasional starts and glimmers of quality play, but what really gave him another shot in the league is how he performed in the XFL. Attempting its first reboot in the spring of 2020, the XFL was off to a strong start before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.

Walker was the star of the league for the Houston Roughnecks. While playing for Houston, Walker had 15 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. His impressive highlight reel from his 5-0 season can be seen below.

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Former Saints assistant Mike Nolan selected as UFL’s first coach of the year

Former New Orleans Saints assistant Mike Nolan was selected as the UFL’s first coach of the year after guiding the Michigan Panthers’ turnaround:

Good for Mike Nolan. The former New Orleans Saints linebackers coach has been selected as the United Football League’s first coach of the year for his efforts leading the Michigan Panthers, who have outscored their opponents 228-189.

Nolan improved the Panthers’ record from 4-6 in 2023 (when they were part of the USFL, competitors to the XFL) to 7-3 this season (after the spring leagues merged to form the UFL). His Panthers team will now compete with the Birmingham Stallions, with the winner advancing the UFL Championship game in St. Louis.

Since leaving the Saints back in 2020, Nolan spent a season as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator but was let go after just one year. He was out of football for a couple of years before accepting this opportunity with the UFL’s Michigan franchise, and clearly it’s worked out well for him. He first rose to prominence as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2008, but this success could open the door for his return to the NFL.

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Seahawks signing former Panthers, Browns quarterback P.J. Walker

The Seahawks are signing former Panthers and Browns quarterback P.J. Walker, according to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

The Seahawks are signing former Panthers and Browns quarterback P.J. Walker, according to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

Walker (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) played his college ball at Temple, where he posted over 10,000 passing yards, 74 touchdowns, 44 interceptions and a 129.1 rating over four years. In the NFL Walker has been primarily a backup quarterback, spending three years in Carolina and then last season in Cleveland. All together he’s gone 5-4 as a starter with 2,135 passing yards, six touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Walker’s best work was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 XFL season, though. While it was only a handful of games, Walker was as dynamic and dominant at that level as Patrick Mahomes at this one and likely would have won the league MVP award if the season had completed.

There’s a massive gap between the talent in the XFL and the NFL, though. In Seattle Walker will be a firm No. 3 option at quarterback behind Geno Smith and Sam Howell for now. He’ll have to show some improvement beyond his usual talented arm and legs to make the initial 53-man roster – especially when it comes to turnovers.

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Countdown to Kickoff, Day 95: Jack Heflin is the Saints Player of the Day

Jack Heflin spent the 2023 season on the Saints practice squad, but he’s hoping to make the team in 2024. He’s our Saints Player of Day 95 as we count down to kickoff:

We’ve got 95 days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 season against the Carolina Panthers, which means the current owner of the No. 95 jersey is our Saints player of the day. That’s defensive tackle Jack Heflin, who spent the 2023 season on the Saints practice squad. He’s hoping to make the team in 2024. Here’s some more information about him:

  • Name (Age): Jack HeflinĀ (26)
  • Position:Ā Defensive tackle
  • Height, weight:Ā 6-foot-3, 304 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score:Ā 4.93
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $915,000
  • College:Ā Iowa, Northern Illinois
  • Drafted:Ā Undrafted in 2021 (Green Bay Packers)
  • NFL experience: 2 seasons

There’s room for one more defensive tackle in the Saints’ rotation after they let Malcolm Roach leave in free agency, and while Khristian Boyd is the early favorite to win that roster spot we can’t rule out guys like Heflin. Veteran free agent pickup Kendal Vickers is also in the mix, as is undrafted rookie Kyler Baugh.

So what could set Heflin apart? He already has a year of experience in the system working with the same coaches, which is significant. Before he came to New Orleans he played spring football with the Houston Roughnecks, where he earned All-XFL recognition. We’ll have to wait and see whether the lessons he’s learned translate to greater success in 2024. Heflin has a great opportunity in front of him. Now he needs to seize it.

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Sean Payton comments on NFLā€™s new kickoff rule: ā€˜Itā€™s funā€™

“We were for it for a lot a reasons,” Payton said of the kickoff rule. “We have what we feel like is one of the better special teams units.”

The NFL will have a newĀ XFL-style kickoff ruleĀ this season.

Under the new format, NFL teams will still kick the ball from the 35-yard line, but thereā€™s a new twist: every player on the kicking team other than the kicker will now line up with at least one foot on the returning teamā€™s 40-yard line. Broncos coach Sean Payton is in favor of the change.

ā€œItā€™s fun that weā€™re doing this,ā€ Broncos coach Sean Payton said during his pre-draft press conference in April. ā€œWhen I say that itā€™s fun, I think thereā€™s a little unknown. I think this: The distance traveled is going to be not as far, so when youā€™re covering a kick, speed is fairly important as a coverage unit getting down the field and getting to the ball carrier. Weā€™ve taken that whole group and said, ā€˜All right, weā€™re going to put you guys 10 yards away. I think certainly you could see probably a little heavier unit then.

“Itā€™s certainly going to put a premium on your two returners because you have to have two, and then that box where youā€™re kicking the ball to, these guys, like third basemen, are going to have to be able to field these kicks pretty cleanly. We were for it for a lot a reasons. We have what we feel like is one of the better special teams units. We feel like last year, we made a lot of gains there. We have a good returner.”

Denver receiver Marvin Mims made the Pro Bowl as a returner last season after leading the league with 16.4 yards per punt return and ranking fourth with 26.5 yards per kickoff return. The new rule should, in theory, lead to more returns in 2024, which is good news for Mims.

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Former All-Big 12 linebacker, Norman native announces his retirement

On Sunday, Jordan Evans announced his retirement from the game of football after a six year pro career.

After a six-year professional career, five of which were spent in the [autotag]NFL[/autotag] and one in the [autotag]XFL[/autotag], former All-Big 12 linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners, [autotag]Jordan Evans[/autotag] announced his retirement from the game of football.

Evans grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and attended Norman North High School. He is the son of three-time All-Big 8 defensive tackle [autotag]Scott Evans[/autotag], who also played for the Sooners.

Evans had a standout career from 2013-2016 in Norman. He was second on the team in tackles in 2015 and led the Sooners in tackles in 2016. He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2016 and earned All-Big 12 second-team honors in 2015. He also led the team with four interceptions in his senior season.

I reached out to Evans, and he said Oklahoma helped make him who he is today.

“Playing at OU was a time Iā€™ll never forget,” Evans said. “Inquired some of my most fondest memories. Met some of my closest friends. Was coached by great coaches and an icon in all of college sports (Bob Stoops). Playing for your hometown is not common, and being able to do that was one of my biggest blessings, and as I look back on it, Iā€™m grateful for that opportunity. I owe a lot of my success and who I am to OU.”

Evans was drafted in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft and spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. As for what’s next, Evans tells me he is getting his MBA but wants to start coaching.

Seeing that he developed from a three-star recruit to an all-conference performer to an NFL draft pick, I’m sure whatever he decides to do, he’ll be successful at it.

Contact/Follow usĀ @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @JaronSpor.

Broncos backup QB Ben DiNucci has a great idea for NFL and UFL

Could the NFL make the UFL a developmental league, allowing backups to play in the spring and return in summer? Ben DiNucci likes the idea.

Denver Broncos backup quarterback Ben DiNucci took to Twitter/X with a confession on Wednesday.

“Canā€™t lie,” the QB wrote on his social media page. “I miss the XFL.”

DiNucci, 27, played in the XFL for the Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023. After he led the league in passing yards (2,671) and ranked second in touchdown passes (20), DiNucci signed with the Broncos. He served as a reserve QB on Denver’s practice squad last year.

DiNucci will likely have a similar backup role in 2024. Meanwhile, the XFL and USFL have merged to join the UFL. Over the last three weeks, 23 former Broncos players have played in the UFL, and DiNucci seems to have a minor case of FOMO.

When asked by a fan if he would consider playing in the UFL again, DiNucci said if he knew his NFL career was over, he’d return to spring football. He’d already be playing in the spring league if he wasn’t employed by Denver.

“Trust meā€¦ if I didnā€™t have a job in the NFL I would be playing again,” DiNucci tweeted on Wednesday evening.

What if it was possible to do both?

Some fans suggested that the NFL adopt the UFL as a developmental league, allowing players to play spring football and then return to the NFL clubs for the start of the offseason program. DiNucci loves the idea.

That kind of format “benefits guys in my position big time,” DiNucci tweeted. “Reps are hardest thing to come by playing QB. Getting 12 games of tape last year was huge.”

DiNucci believes playing in both leagues is feasible.

NFL Europe did not last, but there have been talks in recent years of the NFL attempting to implement a developmental league again. If the UFL proves to be a sustainable league, perhaps the NFL will consider a partnership at some point in the future.

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10 former Ravens are signed to UFL teams

With the NFL season now in the rearview and the UFL set to debut, we’re looking at 10 former Baltimore Ravens who are participating in the spring league

With the NFL season now complete and the offseason underway, Baltimore has one of the most extended lists of players who are getting another shot in the new eight-team UFL, which kicks off season kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024, with the battle of the 2023 champions: Arlington Renegades vs Birmingham Stallions.

A combination agreement (the “UFL”) is the premier spring football league that resulted from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Russ Brandon, former President and CEO of the XFL, will lead the UFL as President and CEO. Former USFL President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston will lead football operations.

Founded in 2001, the XFL was a collaboration between NBC and WWF (WWE), spearheaded by Vince McMahon. After a hot start, poor ratings ultimately led to the league’s lasting just one season. The league returned in 2020, with McMahon again leading the reboot, but it had to close its doors again after COVID-19 shut things down after just five weeks.

The league filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell.

A group headed by Dany Garcia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, bought the league out of bankruptcy for $15 million, eyeing 2023 as its return season.

The UFL has eight teams in Arlington (TX), Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C.

With action to begin this weekend, we’re looking at 10 former Ravens on UFLrosters.

15 former Eagles are signed to United Football League teams

With the NFL season now in the rearview and the UFL set to debut, we’re looking at 15 former Philadelphia Eagles who are participating in the spring league

With the NFL season now complete and the offseason underway, Philadelphia has one of the most extended lists of players who are getting another shot in the new eight-team UFL, which kicks off season kicks off on Saturday, March 30, 2024, with the battle of the 2023 champions: Arlington Renegades vs Birmingham Stallions.

A combination agreement (the “UFL”) is the premier spring football league that resulted from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Russ Brandon, former President and CEO of the XFL, will lead the UFL as President and CEO. Former USFL President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston will lead football operations.

Founded in 2001, the XFL was a collaboration between NBC and WWF (WWE), spearheaded by Vince McMahon. After a hot start, poor ratings ultimately led to the league’s lasting just one season. The league returned in 2020, with McMahon again leading the reboot, but it had to close its doors again after COVID-19 shut things down after just five weeks.

The league filed for bankruptcy and was forced to sell.

A group headed by Dany Garcia, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, bought the league out of bankruptcy for $15 million, eyeing 2023 as its return season.

The UFL has eight teams in Arlington (TX), Birmingham (AL), Detroit (MI), Houston (TX), San Antonio (TX), Memphis (TN), St. Louis (MO), and Washington D.C.

With action to begin this weekend, we’re looking at 15 former Eagles on UFL rosters.