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What rule change should NFL make after partnership with the XFL? (1:35)

Marcus Spears wants a rule change regarding taunting penalties in the XFL because of the partnership between the NFL and the league. It takes 1:35 to complete the task.

Jul 13, 2022

The XFL season is still eight months away, but the league has been busy hosting showcases that serve as regional combines for players. The focus this weekend will be on HBCUs, with the participation of Jackson State coach Deion Sanders. There will be XFL executives at the event.

The XFL will have an early-spring schedule, starting the week after the Super Bowl and concluding at the end of April, meaning it won't compete with the USFL, which just finished its season.

It's time to reset what we know about the XFL, version 3.0, following previous versions in 2001 and 2020, with its start date set for February 18, 2023.

The league plans to announce its eight teams and venues by the end of this month

The intellectual property of XFL 2.0, which entered Chapter 11 in April 2020 and was sold for fifteen million dollars, is owned by the league. Trademarks have to be reestablished in some cases.

Some of the league's 2020 locations are likely to be shifted. The cities that embraced the 2020 teams are expected to stay. The games will be played in a variety of venues.

It's possible there will be a central practice location for all eight teams

Teams practiced and played in their home markets. The bubble structure was going to be built in the spring of 2021. Industry sources suggest a combination of those approaches for the XFL 3.0.

All eight teams would practice in a single city and then travel to play games. The central location could be in the Dallas area.

The Rock is flanked by XFL co-owner/chairwoman Dany Garcia, left, and president Russ Brandon as they watch one of the player showcases. @XFL2023/Twitter

All eight head coaches and personnel directors, and many key assistants, have been hired

There will be a mix of veterans and new players on the field. The list also includes former Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops who worked for the XFL's Dallas Renegades in 2020. All but one of the coaches are former football players.

Barlow has hired the most prominent assistant coach, who will be the defensive coordinators, to this point. The XFL had four personnel directors working with them in 2020.

Owners have taken public roles but have built out an extensive league office

Most of the publicity for the league has been done byGarcia and Johnson, who have addressed players in social media videos. Johnson is the most popular asset.

Russ Brandon is the president of the league on a day to day basis. More than a dozen senior-level positions have been filled by the league's chairwoman and her husband.

Ross, Whaley, and Blandino are the top football executives in the National Football League. The leadership group of the XFL 2.0 was led by Whaley and Blandino.

All 43 XFL games will be televised and/or streamed on a Disney platform

There will be 10 regular-season games and three playoffs. In May, the sides announced an exclusive agreement that will see all of them broadcasted by ABC, Disney or other networks. Plans for streaming will be announced soon.

The XFL is not merging with the CFL

A possible collaboration with the Canadian Football League was discussed by the XFL. The XFL's return to the field was delayed because of the timing.

The XFL has announced some other collaborations, though

The league will work with the league to protect the health of players. Brandon said he hoped the league could serve as a "petri dish" for the league to experiment with rules and equipment.

The XFL and the NFL Alumni Academy will work together to develop players. The players who participate in the program will have the option to join the XFL.

The XFL has avoided direct talk about competition with the USFL, but ...

Is that correct? In April, Ross and Whaley held a virtual meeting with their agents to discuss their plans for the future. They said the XFL had better benefits than the USFL.

The USFL wants to keep its players away from the XFL in the years to come. As the XFL starts assembling rosters this fall, it will be able to take a look at players who were cut from the football team.