XFL Agrees To Deal With NFL To Experiment New Rules & Broadcast Techniques

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is hoping the third time is a charm for the snakebitten XFL. The spring football league was first envisioned by WWE head Vince McMahon and became an infamous flop in the early 2000s, lasting only one season. McMahon retooled the league and launched again in 2020, but the pandemic stopped the XFL before it could gain any momentum.

The Rock may have a deal in place that can help ensure the long-term viability of the league. With plans to relaunch next spring, many wondered how there would be room for two spring pro football leagues. The USFL is set to launch this year and has an incredible television rights package.

The solution is for the XFL and NFL to enter into an agreement. The leagues will collaborate on player safety and game innovation as part of the deal. Player sharing will not be a part of the partnership at this time, according to ESPN.

The new agreement will allow the NFL to use the XFL as a “petri dish” for experimenting with new rules and broadcast techniques. The league will also serve to develop prospective NFL officials and coaches. When it comes to football, there is no better partner than the NFL.

Dwayne Johnson’s XFL is planning to kick off in February of 2023. The league is headed by Johnson, partner Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners. The addition of the NFL to the fold adds an interesting twist for the latest incarnation of the XFL.

Dany Garcia said she doesn’t foresee a situation where the XFL will have any sort of talent exchange with the NFL. Garcia sees the league as the primary pro football competition in the spring. They don’t want to be seen as minor league.

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