2024 USFL season | |
---|---|
League | United States Football League |
Sport | American football |
Number of games | 43 (40 regular-season games, 3 postseason games) (planned) |
Number of teams | 8 (planned) |
TV partner(s) | Fox, FS1, NBC, Peacock, USA |
The 2024 USFL season was the planned third season of the United States Football League. The regular season was expected to start March 30, 2024, and to end in June 2024. [1] The postseason was expected to begin in June 2024 and end with the 2024 USFL Championship Game in July 2024.
In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons. [2] On September 28, 2023, the USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge. [3] On November 30, 2023, the leagues issued a statement that they "have completed the antitrust review process in connection with the proposed merger of the XFL and USFL and intend to play a combined season this spring kicking off on Saturday, March 30. We are now finalizing terms of the definitive agreement". [4] On December 19, 2023, the USFL informed its players association that four of the league's eight extant teams, including all three teams that played the 2022 and 2023 seasons in their nominal home cities, would play in the combined season in 2024. [5]
The merger was formally announced on Fox NFL Sunday on December 31, 2023, [6] with both leagues cancelling their planned season while surviving teams will play the 2024 season in the newly formed United Football League. [7]
On June 27, 2023, President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston confirmed in an interview that the league will return for the 2024 season. [8] The 2023 season ended with Birmingham Stallions defeating the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 2023 USFL Championship Game to win their second league championship in as many years. [9]
USFL average viewership in 2023 was down 16% from its debut season to 601,000 and 3% lower than the 2023 XFL season, despite having 28 over-the-air network games compared to eight for the XFL. [10] The championship game also saw a significant decline in viewership from 2022 as the game averaged 1.2 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and NBC Sports digital platforms. [11] Johnston expressed disappointment and anger that the USFL was comparable to the XFL in ratings for the 2023 season, dismissing the XFL as "no competition" to the "far superior" USFL and questioning how "to be on par with our competition from a ratings standpoint in Year 2, I'm still trying to figure out: How did that happen? (...) they're not even close." [10]
40 players who played in the 2023 USFL season signed contracts with NFL teams. Two players (LaBryan Ray and Brandon Aubrey) started the 2023 NFL season on active 53-man NFL rosters, 11 other players started the season on practice squads, and Isaiah Zuber was placed on injured reserve. [12] [13] Michigan Panthers WR Devin Ross was later signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad but released one day later. [14]
On September 19, 2023, Axios reported that the USFL was in advanced talks with the XFL—owned by a consortium led by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners—to create a "merger of equals" between the two leagues before the 2024 USFL season kicks off in April, with an agreement potentially announced by the end of the month. [2] The USFL registered a trademark for "National Spring Football League," the name of the USFL's parent company but speculated to also be a name for the potential merged league, that was made public September 27. [15] On September 28, 2023, the USFL and XFL announced their intent to merge with the specific details of the merger to be announced at a later date. [3] The merger would also require regulatory approval. [16] In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League". [17] On November 30, 2023, XFL chairwoman Dany Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had completed the antitrust review process to approve their merger, and the leagues will "play a combined season" on March 30, 2024. [18] XFL President Russ Brandon will serve in the same capacity for the combined league, displacing Johnston. [19]
On December 27, 2023, during the broadcast of the 2023 Holiday Bowl, Fox aired a clip of Jeff Brohm's "let's play football" speech from the original incarnation of the XFL and announced that details on its involvement in the new merged league would follow "very soon." [20] Three days later, Fox clarified that further details would follow on the December 31 episode of Fox NFL Sunday . On December 31, the name of the combined league was confirmed as the United Football League, with each component league surviving as a conference within the UFL. [21]
The league's second season was marked with the same complaints from the previous season of a lack of fans in the stands in some locations and "neutral site games", [22] while the league announced "it will be maintaining their policy in partnership with their venues of not releasing attendance figures" during the season (including the championship game). [23] Johnston acknowledged the issue before the championship game and said "it does motivate us to make sure we get our eight teams into their home markets as quickly as we can, but we can't rush it". [10]
In an interview with Canton, Ohio, press Johnston mentioned potential expansion in the future: "We're in conversations with potential areas to expand into". He was asked specifically about Canton expansion and said, "Those are the conversations that have been had within the USFL family as we look at the future. Might there be an Ohio designation? Or a city designation? What works best as we continue to grow that relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame Village?(...) Those definitely are conversations we've had. Nothing we've committed to, but to your point, and really the meat of this whole conversation, is getting our teams into the home markets." [24]
In November 2023, officials with the Shrine on Airline in Metairie, Louisiana, indicated they had been in discussions with the USFL to host the Breakers' home games at the venue. [25]
On December 19, 2023, the USFL informed the USFL Players Association that the New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, Pittsburgh Maulers and New Orleans Breakers would be contracted as part of the USFL-XFL merger. [5]
For the 2024 season, training camp rosters will remain at 58 with 50 for regular season games, but 42 players will be active on game day, compared to 40 in the 2023 season.
During the 2023 championship weekend, Johnston revealed that the USFL was in talks for potential NFL partnership: "It make sense for there to be conversations about allowing key positions to come down to the USFL, but go directly back to the NFL team that holds their rights (...) These are things that are in infancy right now, but would be better for both leagues". [26]
In July 2023, John Peterson, the league's Director of Player Personnel, revealed in an interview that each USFL team would have four designated NFL teams from which to select talent, as long as they signed with the team in the past three years, while former NFL players who didn't sign an NFL contract in the past four years (or more) are considered free agents. [27]
The league's exclusive partnership agreement with HUB Football for scouting services [28] came to an end in June 2023, when HUB's owner Don Yee decided to pull the plug on the operation, [29] and the USFL started using the services of GRID Camps run by former HUB executive Tom Goodhines. [27]
On December 22, 2023, the United Football Players Association announced it was ending its partnership with the United Steelworkers as a result of disagreements caused by the USFL–XFL merger, while the UFPA will start the process of being recognized as an official union. [30] The USFLPA followed with a statement claiming that the UFPA had never been directly involved with any of the negotiations and were not authorized to speak on behalf of the USFLPA. [31]
Average salary for an active player will be approximately $61,910 with a maximum pay of $78,000 a year (includes training camp pay of $700/week, housing stipend of $1,600/month, 401(k) allocation, and bonus for winning the championship game). [32] All player contracts are for two years, with an opt-out clause for the NFL at any time during the off-season.
Transactions [33]
Unless they had re–signed, all players signed prior to, or during, the 2022 USFL season became free agents on October 1, 2023, at 12:00 midnight. [34] Players who changed teams are listed below:
On December 19, 2023, the USFL informed the USFL Players Association that four teams would be contracted, as part of the USFL-XFL merger. [5] The transition to four teams will involve a three-phase player allocation process: [39]
The USFLPA also clarified that "Non-contracted players who previously played in the USFL & any other professional football league whose teams participate in the 2024 season may be signed by the league prior to the Dispersal Draft, for the purpose of participating in the Dispersal Draft". [40]
Team | Departing coach | Incoming coach | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Memphis Showboats | Todd Haley | On October 23, 2023, the league announced it had fired Memphis Showboats head coach Todd Haley. Haley accrued a record of 9–11 (.450) as coach of the Showboats and their predecessors, the Tampa Bay Bandits. [41] |
In December 2023, NBC Sports, which had shared broadcast rights to the league with USFL parent company Fox Corporation in 2022 and 2023, announced that it would not carry the league in the 2024 season due to an increase in schedule conflicts, stemming from the proposed start date being slightly earlier than 2022 and 2023. [42] There had been one year remaining on NBC's contract. [43]
The USFL-XFL merger would need to reconcile the XFL's existing exclusive contract with ESPN Inc., which grants that company exclusive rights to the XFL through 2027. [44]
Lonnie R. Young is an American football executive and former cornerback and safety. He played college football at Michigan State University, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the twelfth round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
The Spring League (TSL) was an American football developmental league and scouting event that played from 2017 to 2021 and was founded by Brian Woods. Aimed at professional athletes but not paying a salary or expenses, the league's goal was to "serve as an instructional league and showcase for professional football talent".
The XFL is a professional American football conference consisting of four teams located across the United States in mid-sized to major markets. It is one of the two-component conferences of the United Football League (UFL), along with the United States Football League (USFL). The league is headquartered in Arlington, Texas.
The Seattle Sea Dragons were a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. The Sea Dragons competed in the XFL football league. The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment as the Seattle Dragons, and were owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico. The Sea Dragons played their home games at Lumen Field.
The Houston Roughnecks were a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Roughnecks competed in the XFL football league. The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and were an owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico. The Roughnecks played their home games at TDECU Stadium. The Roughnecks had a franchise regular season record of 12-3 (.800), the highest win percentage among all XFL teams.
The St. Louis Battlehawks are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Battlehawks compete in the United Football League (UFL) as a founding member of the XFL Conference. The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and are owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Battlehawks play their home games at The Dome at America's Center. The Battlehawks have a franchise regular season record of 10–5 (.667), the third highest win percentage among XFL teams in its 2023 season.
The DC Defenders are a professional American football team based in Washington, D.C. The Defenders compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and are owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field. The Defenders have a season record of 12–3 (.800), the highest win percentage among XFL teams in its 2023 season.
The United States Football League (USFL) is a professional American football conference. It is one of the two component conferences of the United Football League, along with the XFL.
The 2022 USFL season was the inaugural season of the United States Football League, and the first season of a league using that name since 1985. The season began on April 16 and concluded on July 3. The league's eight teams represent various geographical locales and associated team names that were part of the 1984 season of the original USFL. For 2022, all regular-season games were played in Birmingham, Alabama, at Protective Stadium and at Legion Field.
The Michigan Panthers are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Panthers compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit, which also hosts the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).
The Birmingham Stallions are a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Stallions compete in the United Football League (UFL). The Stallions are owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. They play their home games at Protective Stadium. They have won both of the USFL championship games since its founding, defeating the Philadelphia Stars 33–30 in 2022 and defeating the Pittsburgh Maulers 28–12 in 2023.
The New Jersey Generals were a professional American football team based in New Jersey. The Generals competed in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member club of the league's North division. The team played its home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in 2022, and at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio in 2023. The stadium was shared with the Pittsburgh Maulers. The Generals were one of eight teams that joined the USFL in 2022.
The Philadelphia Stars were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Stars competed in the United States Football League (USFL) as a member club of the league's North division. The team played its home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in 2022, and Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan in 2023. The Stars appeared in the playoffs once, won the division championship game once, and appeared in one USFL Championship Game.
The Pittsburgh Maulers were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Canton, Ohio. The Maulers competed in the United States Football League (USFL) North division.
The 2023 USFL season was the second season of the United States Football League. The regular season started on April 15 and ended on June 18. The postseason began on June 24 and ended with the 2023 USFL Championship Game on July 1. The league expanded the locations their teams play to four total stadiums, adding Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Vegas Vipers were a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Vipers competed in the XFL football league. The team was founded by Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment as the Tampa Bay Vipers and were owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico. The Vipers had a franchise regular season record of 3-12 (.200), the worst win percentage among all XFL teams.
The San Antonio Brahmas are a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Brahmas compete in the United Football League (UFL) as a member of the XFL Conference. The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Brahmas play their home games at the Alamodome. The Brahmas have a franchise regular season record of 3–7 (.300), the sixth highest win percentage among XFL teams in its 2023 season.
The 2024 XFL season was the planned third season of the rebooted XFL and the second under its new ownership group of Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale.
The United Football League (UFL) is a professional American football minor league scheduled to start play in March 2024. The league was created following the merger of the latest incarnations of the XFL and USFL.
The 2024 UFL season will be the first season of the United Football League (UFL), which was created following the merger of the XFL and USFL, and the fifth in the combined history of the two leagues, following the 2020 XFL season, 2022 USFL season, and separate 2023 seasons for each league. The season will begin on March 30, 2024, with a matchup between the 2023 XFL champion Arlington Renegades and the 2023 USFL champion Birmingham Stallions.