Maybe the third time will be the charm for the XFL.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, one of the primary owners of the league, announced via a hype video the league will return for the 2022 season.
THE XFL RETURNS SPRING 2022 🏈
As owners, we’re proud to champion our XFL players, coaches, cities and fans into an electrifying 2022 season!
I’m so inspired to put in the work because football always represented an opportunity to me.
Opportunity to take care of my family.
And even though my dreams of playing pro football never came true – I’m in the exciting and humbling position to create opportunities for players so their dreams can come true.
It’s an uphill battle – but we’re hungry, humble and no one will outwork us.
A league of culture, passion & purpose ✊🏾
We are the XFL and we’re back spring 2022!
For the uninitiated, the XFL was the brainchild of Vince McMahon and launched in 2001. It lasted one season, debuting to major ratings — for a week — before the TV audience shriveled and the games turned into a WWE sideshow/circus.
Never one to give up. McMahon decided to give it another try. He hired Oliver Luck as Commissioner. Luck put together a strong management team and the league launched after a long prep period. There were many innovations, including a savvy, safer kickoff, sideline interviews of players and coaches during the game and various PAT options.
However, the pandemic hit and McMahon shut the league down … and declared bankruptcy. The Rock, his business partner Dany Garcia, and Redbird Capital won ownership rights and the question became what would be next.
We know now what The Rock and his business partners are cooking up with the XFL.