The XFL announced on Thursday several big updates for the minor league.

The league announced its key football hires and the coaching staff for all eight of its teams.

Reggie Barlow, Anthony Becht, Terrell Buckley, and Jim Haslett were among the eight head coaches revealed.

Barlow served as the head football coach at Alabama State University from 2007 to 2014 and at Virginia State University from 2016 to 2021. Before his coaching career, he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Becht was selected 27th overall by the New York Jets in the 2000 draft and went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Terrell Buckley played for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and New York Giants.

Haslett was selected in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and finished his career in 1987 with the New York Jets. Haslett most recently spent two seasons as the Inside Linebackers Coach at the Tennessee Titans.

As noted, the XFL reached a multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN in May. The multi-year agreement is from 2023 to 2027. Each season’s 43 games will air on ABC, ESPN networks, and FX.

The XFL Draft is set for November 2022, while the season kickoff is February 18, 2023.

Below is the full press release from the XFL:

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 9, 2022 – The XFL today announced it has hired key front office and coaching staff for its eight teams as it continues to build an elite, experienced football operations team. In addition to its Head Coach, each team has added a Director of Player Personnel (“DPP”), Offensive Coordinator (“OC”) and Defensive Coordinator (“DC”) to its staff, some of whom are returning after serving in the League in 2020. The DPPs and coaching staff will actively scout potential players and help build their team in preparation for the XFL Draft in November 2022 and season kickoff on Saturday, February 18, 2023. All names and Head Coach pairings can be found below.

“It is exciting to have both new and returning names joining our growing League. For me, this is a clear signal that the reimagined XFL, guided by the innovative vision of our new ownership group, has the potential to make a positive impact on the entire football ecosystem, and people want to be a part of building this new league of opportunity for players and coaches, alike,” said Russ Brandon, President of the XFL. “As we gear up for a busy summer of scouting events, we are encouraged to see the continued interest in our League from players, which has been reflected in the strong demand and registration for our upcoming showcases. We expect this momentum to continue, especially as we get closer to our Draft in November.”

Starting this month, the XFL will host a series of player showcases in six cities across the United States, giving prospective football players a chance to exhibit their skills. DPPs will attend all of the showcases along with some of the XFL’s Head Coaches, who were previously announced in April 2022.

Doug Whaley, Senior Vice President, Player Personnel, added, “Our DPPs bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the XFL. They understand the quality of players we are looking for and have a keen eye for talent. We are glad to have them joining the XFL and are eager for them to help build our teams and league from the ground up.”

“I’m thrilled to officially welcome our OCs and DCs to the XFL. Individually and collectively, these are tremendous coaches and true leaders whose expertise will be crucial not only for the success of their teams, but for the dynamic football product we will deliver to fans,” said Marc Ross, Executive Vice President, Football Operations.

The XFL will kick off on February 18, 2023 in partnership with its new, exclusive broadcast partner, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN.

For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter,Facebook, and Instagram.

Head Coach: Reggie Barlow

DPP: Von HutchinsOC / RB: Fred Kaiss DC: Gregg Williams

Head Coach: Anthony Becht

DPP: Dave Boller* OC: Bruce Gradkowski DC: Nathaniel “Donnie” Abraham

Head Coach: Terrell Buckley

DPP: Larry Lee OC: Robert Ford DC: Tony Carter

Head Coach: Jim Haslett

DPP: Randy Mueller* OC: June Jones* DC: Ron Zook

Head Coach: Wade Phillips

DPP: Marc Lillibridge OC: AJ Smith* DC: Brian Stewart

Head Coach: Bob Stoops*

DPP: Rick Mueller OC: Jonathan Hayes *DC: Jay Hayes*

Head Coach: Hines Ward

DPP: Will Lewis* OC: Jaime Elizondo* DC: Jim Herrmann*

Head Coach: Rod Woodson

DPP: Joey Clinkscales *OC: to be announced DC: to be announced

*Returning to XFL

About XFL

The XFL’s ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners, is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and enhanced 360 game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world class football, with the goal of advancing the game of football and expanding player opportunities when it launches in February 2023.

The XFL went into bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic brought an early end to their return season in the spring of 2020. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon had sold the league to The Rock, along with business partners Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital in August of 2020, for $15 million.

The eight XFL teams have officially been assigned coaches for the 2023 season, per Pro Football Network. 

The eight coaches were chosen in April, but now they know where they will be leading franchises.

Former NFL coach Wade Phillips, who coached the Cowboys and Texans, will be heading back to Texas to coach the Houston team.

The two other Texas teams will be coached by former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops (Dallas) and former Steelers Pro Bowl wide receiver Hines Ward (San Antonio).

The final five coaches are all former players turned coaches. Some have coaching experience heading into their XFL stunts. 

Reggie Barlow, a former wide receiver who coached at Virginia State and his alma mater Alabama State, will coach in Washington, D.C. Hall of Famer cornerback Rod Woodson will coach in Las Vegas. He previously worked as an assistant for the Raiders and as an NFL broadcaster. Former linebacker and longtime NFL assistant coach Jim Haslett will coach the Seattle team.

There are also two former first round picks working as coaches for the XFL: Anthony Becht (Jets in 2000) and Terrell Buckley (Packers in 1992). Becht is headed to St. Louis, while Buckley will coach in Orlando.

XFL owner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson released a statement after the coaches were initially hired expressing his excitement for the upcoming season.

“This is yet another huge moment for the XFL,” Johnson said. “I have experienced first-hand the positive influence and impact that coaches can have on a player’s life, and with our group of smart, accomplished and motivating head coaches, I expect nothing less. Not only will these coaches be mentors to our players, but they will be a big part of the cities in which we will operate. Stay tuned.”

The league will make its return in February 2023, while a specific date is has not yet been announced.

Source: SI

Over the weekend, Randy Karraker, co-host of Karraker & Smallmon on 101ESPN in St Louis, said that the XFL is returning to STL via his Instagram account but didn’t give much detail.

Today on his show, he was asked about those comments, and this is what he had to say.

“My information is that the League will announce their cities and teams and logos on June 1st, and the BattleHawks will be part of the new XFL with the Rock and with Dany…. a couple of interesting things… apparently Anthony Becht is the inside favorite to become the head coach here in St. Louis. A former St. Louis Rams tight end. Apparently, Jim Haslett is going to wind up in Seattle with that franchise. So Anthony Beck is probably the head coach here.”

So June 1st, will we get team names, cities, and logos. He also mentioned that Anthony Becht is the front runner for head coach of the BattleHawks.

For the last several weeks, our own XFL Insider Mike Mitchell has reported the eight cities and Becht as the new head coach in St Louis. What is new is that we will get an official announcement on June 1st.

They also confirm what has been reported by Mike Mitchell and that the XFL will play in a modified hub based in Dallas. From there, teams will travel to games home and away.

“Another thing that I found interesting is that the League, the USFL is practicing and playing all their games in Birmingham. And while the XFL teams are going to play, for example, the BattleHawks will play in the Dome here. They’re going to practice in Dallas, and that’s a way to be more efficient financially and then travel to where the site is. So if the BattleHawks playing Seattle here at the Dome, both teams will travel from Dallas to St. Louis to play the game and then go back to Dallas. And that’s essentially where the players will live.”

They talk about the importance of the XFL to practice in the home location at some point, about how KaKaw is the Law, the three teams in Texas, the hated Tampa Bay Vipers, and more.

You can listen to the full comments at 1:47:00 on the podcast feed.

Source: XFL News Hub

It was announced on Tuesday at Disney Upfront, that the XFL has reached a multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN.

The multi-year agreement is from 2023 to 2027. Each season’s 43 games will air on ABC, ESPN networks, and FX.

The 2023 season will kick off on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Below is the full press release:

NEW YORK – May 17, 2022 – The XFL today announced a new, global multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company (“TWDC”) and ESPN, which includes exclusive broadcast rights for all gameday content, tentpole events and more, for its upcoming 2023 season through 2027. Each season, all 43 games (40 regular season games, two playoffs, one championship) will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks and FX. Additionally, the agreement includes exclusive content rights across TWDC and ESPN’s digital, social and direct-to-consumer outlets such as ESPN+. The XFL is excited to officially announce its 2023 season will kick off on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

The announcement was revealed today at the Disney Upfront, where XFL owners Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson were in attendance and presented the news.

“Without question, we have long admired Disney’s distinct ability to engage an expansive consumer fanbase across verticals, while also maintaining a deeply authentic, nuanced and heartfelt approach to storytelling much like our own,” said Dany Garcia, Chairwoman of the XFL. “To find a partner that honors our foundation and to be able to root our vision of unwavering passion, accessibility and the future of football with Disney as our home, is a dream come true. We are extraordinarily excited to explore the endless possibilities of this partnership – today is surely just the beginning.”

“The XFL will tap into sports fans’ deep love of football by emphasizing competitive action while dedicating itself to innovation and entertainment,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content. “You can see a great path to success when you combine the reach and influence of ESPN and Disney with the collective vision of XFL leadership led by Dany, Dwayne and Gerry.”

Dwayne Johnson added, “This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship I’ve had with Disney throughout my career. We’re excited to be working with global visionaries that are aligned with the XFL’s values, are true team players and share our ambitious goals to grow the XFL as a global sports and entertainment business. Through the combined power of Disney, ESPN and the XFL, together we will create a new powerhouse on the sports calendar and bring a dynamic game of football to fans everywhere. Time to ball out.”

Gerry Cardinale said, “With today’s announcement, the XFL has launched a truly innovative partnership with The Walt Disney Company and its world-class platforms across media, culture, sports and entertainment.  It is a privilege to join forces with the incredibly talented team at Disney and ESPN and bring Dany and Dwayne’s vision for world-class football and live event entertainment to our fans and players.”

For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

As we’ve noted, the XFL went into bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic brought an early end to their return season in the spring of 2020. WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon had sold the league to The Rock, along with business partners Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital in August of 2020, for $15 million.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

XFL issued the following:

Bold, modern design captures new brand vision –

harnessing the power at the intersection of sports and storytelling

R/GA, a renowned brand innovator, selected as the Agency of Record, helping build the league’s visual identity

Watch the ownership’s vision behind the brand come to life:

A New Identity for the XFL’s New Direction

NEW YORK – April 6, 2022 – The XFL today unveiled an innovative brand identity that aligns with its new vision, values and purpose ahead of its 2023 season. This enhanced visual identity represents a new era for the forward-thinking league, signaling one of inclusivity, innovation and co-creation as it works to build tomorrow’s league together with partners, fans and players.  Fans can watch the brand reveal here: A New Identity for the XFL’s New Direction

“We are proud to unveil the new identity of the XFL – a strong, dynamic and modern look that embodies our vision of pushing football forward and unleashing the dreams that football makes possible,” said Dany Garcia, Co-Owner and Chairwoman of the XFL. “This is a significant milestone for us, and one that encapsulates the teamwork that has gone into building this league from the ground up with our experienced leadership team, led by Russ Brandon. As we continue to march towards our 2023 kickoff, we will invite our fans, partners and athletes to co-create with us.  We are putting in the work today to define football’s future; Together, we are building tomorrow’s league.”

“For us, this is more than just a new pro football logo; this is a new era of the XFL. You can already begin to feel the energy and mana building behind our brand, and it has been amazing to feel the incredible support from fans, players, coaches and media, that we continue to be blessed with. We have a passion and vision to push the boundaries of sport and entertainment, to grow the game of football – and most importantly – unlock the dreams of all the talented and hungry football players out there,” said Dwayne Johnson. “I’m pumped to reveal our new XFL logo to the world as we continue to strategically build our XFL organization and shape our one-of-a-kind XFL culture. Here’s the bottom line of what our new XFL logo stands for: The X represents the INTERSECTION OF DREAMS & OPPORTUNITY. So, to our hungry XFL players, coaches and fans – you bring the dreams, and we’ll bring the opportunity.”

Gerry Cardinale added, “Since acquiring the League in 2020 with Dany and Dwayne, we have envisioned the XFL as a platform of opportunity that converges the worlds of sports and entertainment. We are building the XFL so that we can bring new possibilities to the future of football – this will give our players new opportunities for turning pro, our partners new platforms to expand and enhance their brands, and our fans opportunities to engage with the sport of football and our players in new and innovative ways.”

R/GA, a global brand design and marketing company, has been awarded Agency of Record. R/GA started working with the XFL in 2021 to support the league’s marketing efforts including brand identity, design innovation and campaign activation.

Brand Pillars

The XFL has established four core brand pillars to guide the league in its mission to building tomorrow’s league:

• Co-Creation: Build a league of culture: a place where players, fans, partners, employees and communities interact with each other to build a dynamic future of football. 
• Inclusivity: Embrace being at intersection of opportunities, connecting players to fans and changing the way everyone experiences and engages with the game
• Accessibility: Create a new standard for accessibility by experimenting with different forms of interactivity to connect the fans and players in a way unlike ever done before, creating a deeply immersed and personal fanbase.
• Innovation: Leverage innovation to unlock new opportunities to win together

New Logo and Visual Identity

The new visual identity centers around the idea that the XFL is the intersection of opportunity and captures the essence of the league’s vision: the XFL is pushing football forward. To do that, the brand needs to be modern, dynamic and inviting.

The “X” represents those intersections, the point at which everything comes together: sports and storytelling, players and fans, partners and a passion for innovation. We elevate it to unlock the opportunities that will push football forward, so that together, we can build tomorrow’s league.

As a platform for co-creation, the XFL’s new identity seeks to elevate the stories and communities that enhance the game. Built as a platform, the league’s black-and-white color palette ensures the individual personalities of the teams are able to seamlessly coexist and stand alongside the league as partners versus separate organizations.

A library of media assets can be found here: XFL 2023 BRAND IDENTITY.

Gearing up for 2023

The XFL continues to build its league across all functions as it prepares to kickoff in February 2023.

In February, the XFL announced it will collaborate with the NFL on select innovation programs to further expand the game of football and create increased opportunities for player development both on and off the field. Key areas of focus include health and safety, international football development and officiating and rules innovation.

Meanwhile, the football operations department, led by NFL veterans Marc Ross and Doug Whaley, added six key hires in December. Since January, the team has been attending college pro days, NFL Combine and actively recruiting players for the 2023 season.

For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About XFL

The XFL’s ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners, is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and enhanced 360 game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world class football, with the goal of advancing the game of football and expanding player opportunities when it launches in February 2023.

Media Contact

Jeremy Watkins

jwatkins@hstrategies.com

Dan Gagnier / Lindsay Barber

XFL@gagnierfc.com

The XFL issued the following:

08 Nov 2021ShareTweet

The league welcomes an accomplished group of executives that will bring top-tier experience, drive and innovation to the XFL

New York – November 8, 2021 – The XFL and its ownership group, consisting of Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners, are excited to announce the addition of nine executive hires as the league prepares for its highly anticipated return to the field in 2023. Joining and returning to the league are:

• Russ Brandon, President, League and Football Operations
• Rob Gerbe, Chief Financial Officer
• Jordan Schlachter, Chief Business Officer
• Janet Duch, Chief Marketing and Content Officer
• Marc Ross, Executive Vice President, Football Operations
• Doug Whaley, Senior Vice President, Player Personnel
• Scott Harniman, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Technology
• Jay Rothman, Senior Vice President, Broadcast Operations
• Cindy Wagner, Senior Vice President, People Operations

“These exceptional and talented executives encompass a deep skill set that aligns with our commitment to delivering an exceptional football universe experience, as well as our shared passion for bringing the XFL back stronger than before,” said Dany Garcia, XFL Chairwoman and Co-Owner. “Our team’s experience across varying professional sports leagues and brands will enable us to deliver an experience for our fans, athletes and partners that represents today’s evolution of ‘best-in-class’. A tremendous amount of work has already been done with more exciting news to come as we prepare for 2023.”

Brief bios of the executives can be found below:

Russ Brandon is a longtime NFL veteran, holding various positions within the Bills organization for over 20 years. Before joining the XFL, Russ was the Managing Partner and President of the Buffalo Bills, President and Alternate Governor on the Sabres and COO of Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE), managing all aspects of the day-to-day business and administrative operations of the three entities. In his new role as President, Russ will manage day-to-day operations of the league while directing strategic planning for business and football operations on both the league and team levels. 

Rob Gerbe joins the XFL as Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee financial operations of the league and its teams to provide strategic financial insights on all facets of the business. Rob will lead all financial and accounting matters, including reporting, planning and forecasting, to drive analytical decision making, support revenue growth, cost management and profitability metrics. Rob joins the XFL most recently from the NBA, where he served as Senior Vice President, Team & Labor Finance. Rob will report to Russ Brandon.

Jordan Schlachter is returning to the XFL as Chief Business Officer, overseeing business partnerships, sponsorship revenue and relationships, licensing, merchandising distribution, and media partner business and sales.  Schlachter joined the XFL in April 2019, where he served as the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer. In this role, he managed nearly all revenue sources (non-ticketing), marketing functions and communications for the league and its eight teams. He negotiated the league’s most significant partnerships, including those with Bud Light Seltzer and Progressive Insurance, created the first-ever football helmet sticker sponsor program.  Jordan will report to Russ Brandon.

Janet Duch returns to the XFL as the league’s Chief Marketing and Content Officer where she will lead marketing, digital and business intelligence functions.  She is responsible for the development of campaigns, content and experiences across all platforms and the data insights used to enhance fan engagement and maximize opportunities for business growth. Additionally, Duch oversees the XFL’s ticketing strategy and gameday operations across each team market, while also building out the league’s team services function. Janet joined the XFL in 2019 as the President of the New York Guardians, while also overseeing performance marketing for the league and its 8 teams. Janet will report to Russ Brandon.

Marc Ross joins the XFL as Executive Vice President of Football Operations, where he is responsible for all aspects of football operations, including rules and gameplay, logistics and league planning, as well as innovation, data and analytics. Marc has over 20 years of professional football experience working across both league and team levels within the NFL. He is also a current analyst on NFL Network. Marc will report to Russ Brandon.

Doug Whaley returns to the XFL as Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, where he will oversee player scouting, recruiting, compensation, growth and career development. Doug first joined the XFL in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Football Operations, where he assisted in the all aspects of creating of the eight-team spring football league and rules innovation.  Doug brings over 20 years of NFL player personnel and football executive experience. Doug will report to Marc Ross.

Scott Harniman returns to the XFL as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Technology and is responsible for all functions of Information Technology and overseeing the XFL’s technology strategy, infrastructure buildout and delivering best-in-class systems to support the entire league. In addition, Scott will shape the football technology program by promoting innovation across emerging platforms. Scott will report to Russ Brandon.

Jay Rothman joins the XFL as Senior Vice President, Broadcast Operations where he will oversee all broadcast operations with our partners, administration and game productions including, original programming, studio production and event coverage. He brings over 30 years of live event and studio production experience to the league, most recently working at ESPN as Vice President of Production. Jay will report to Russ Brandon.

Cindy Wagner returns to the XFL as Senior Vice President, People Operations where she is responsible for establishing Human Resources and administrative functions while also providing strategic leadership to develop a world-class organization that promotes a culture of inclusivity, growth and innovation. She first joined the league in 2019 as Senior Director of People and Culture, Cindy will report to Russ Brandon.

For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

XFL Media Contact:
Jeremy Watkins
jwatkins@hstrategies.com

Dany Garcia Media Contact:
JONESWORKS
TeamDany@Jonesworks.com

Dwayne Johnson Media Contact:
JONESWORKS
TeamRock@Jonesworks.com

RedBird Capital Media Contacts:
Dan Gagnier / Lindsay Barber
Gagnier Communications
(646) 569-5897
RedBird@gagnierfc.com

Melissa Zukerman/Paul Pflug
Principal Communications Group – Los Angeles
(323) 658-1555
melissa@pcommgroup.com 
paul@pcommgroup.com