Timeline of the UFL
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This timeline of the
XFL and USFL timeline
2018–2020: Rebirth of the XFL
On January 25, 2018, Vince McMahon announced a new incarnation of the XFL, which would begin with a 10-week inaugural season beginning in January or February 2020. In a press conference, McMahon stated that the new XFL would be dissimilar to its previous incarnation. The XFL revealed team names and logos on August 21, 2019.
On March 12, 2020, the league canceled the remainder of its regular-season games over concerns related to the
On April 13, the league filed for
| First season in XFL * | Only season in the league *^ |
| East Division | West Division |
|---|---|
| DC Defenders * | Dallas Renegades * |
| New York Guardians * | Houston Roughnecks * |
| St. Louis Battlehawks * | Los Angeles Wildcats *^ |
| Tampa Bay Vipers * | Seattle Dragons * |
2021–2022: Founding of the USFL
On August 3, 2020, it was reported that a consortium led by
On March 10, 2021, it was announced that the XFL and CFL had entered into formal talks ahead of "opportunities for the leagues to collaborate, innovate, and grow the game of football". On July 7, 2021, both leagues ended the discussions with no agreement; in the same statement, the XFL cancelled its 2022 season, intending to return in "Spring 2023".
On June 3, 2021, it was announced that the United States Football League would be making a return and would begin its inaugural season in April 2022. Fox was also announced as a minority owner in the league.
On January 25, 2022, the city of Birmingham announced that the league headquarters would be in Birmingham, and all games of the 2022 USFL season would be played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.
The first game was played on April 16, 2022, between the
| First season in USFL * | Only season in the league *^ |
| North Division | South Division |
|---|---|
| Michigan Panthers * | Birmingham Stallions * |
| New Jersey Generals * | Houston Gamblers * |
| Philadelphia Stars * | New Orleans Breakers * |
| Pittsburgh Maulers * | Tampa Bay Bandits *^ |
2023: USFL and XFL
On April 6, 2022, a report came out that sources close to the league had mentioned that XFL would be keeping five teams in their original 2020 locations (
On June 27, 2022, Fox Sports confirmed to Sports Business Journal that the USFL would return for another season in 2023. There would be no expansion that year, and the league would continue to use a hub model, with "two to four" locations housing all eight teams.
On July 25, 2022, Johnson and Garcia held an XFL Townhall at
On November 15, 2022, the USFL and the City of Memphis, Tennessee announced that the Tampa Bay Bandits organization would effectively be relocated to Memphis as the Memphis Showboats. The team played all of its home games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, sharing the stadium with the Houston Gamblers, which also served as another "hub" site for the league to host multiple teams at in addition to Birmingham.
It was later revealed that Ford Field would be the home of the Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars, while Rynearson Stadium would host the teams' practices.
On January 25, 2023, the league announced that the New Jersey Generals and the Pittsburgh Maulers would play their home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
| 2020 team name | 2023 team name |
|---|---|
| Dallas Renegades | Arlington Renegades |
| New York Guardians | Orlando Guardians |
| Seattle Dragons | Seattle Sea Dragons |
| Tampa Bay Vipers | Vegas Vipers |
| First season in XFL * | Last active season ^ |
| North Division | South Division |
|---|---|
| DC Defenders | Arlington Renegades |
| Seattle Sea Dragons ^ | Houston Roughnecks ^ |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | Orlando Guardians ^ |
| Vegas Vipers ^ | San Antonio Brahmas * |
| First season in USFL * | Last active season ^ |
| North Division | South Division |
|---|---|
| Michigan Panthers | Birmingham Stallions |
| New Jersey Generals ^ | Houston Gamblers |
| Philadelphia Stars ^ | Memphis Showboats * |
| Pittsburgh Maulers ^ | New Orleans Breakers ^ |
2024: USFL–XFL merger
| 2023 team name | 2024 team name |
|---|---|
| Houston Gamblers | Houston Roughnecks |
| XFL Conference | USFL Conference |
|---|---|
| Arlington Renegades | Birmingham Stallions |
| DC Defenders | Houston Roughnecks |
| San Antonio Brahmas | Memphis Showboats |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | Michigan Panthers |
References
- ^ "These 8 XFL teams will be kicking off the league's 2020 season". FoxBusiness.com. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "USFL 2022: Everything you need to know". FoxSports.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "New XFL teams and logos are out ahead of 2023 season". NBCSportsBayArea.com. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "We're Home: Pro football returns to Memphis with iconic USFL Showboats". TheUSFL.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "UFL Announces Teams, Conferences for 2024 Season after XFL, USFL Merger". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.