XFL

The XFL is a professional American football league that operates in the spring. It was created as a successor to the idea of alternative professional football and has sought to provide a lower-profile, high-paced platform for players, coaches, and officials outside the National Football League.

The league has had two previous incarnations. The original XFL debuted in 2001 as a joint venture between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and NBC, featuring eight teams and a high-visibility marketing approach; it lasted only one season before folding. A later revival began in 2020 with eight teams and a contemporary broadcast plan, but the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. The league subsequently filed for bankruptcy and was sold to a group led by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners. The relaunch was completed with a new ownership structure and continued spring play, beginning again in 2023.

The current XFL features eight teams and plays a season in the early months of the year, with teams based in major U.S. markets such as Arlington, DC, Houston, Orlando, Seattle, St. Louis, San Antonio, and Las Vegas. The league has promoted rule variations intended to speed up games and improve player safety, and it emphasizes opportunities for players who are undrafted or seeking another route to the NFL. The XFL has secured national broadcast arrangements with major networks to televise games and reach a broad audience.

Ownership and operations are led by a group including Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners, with ongoing efforts to expand teams and partnerships as part of its long-term strategy.