XFL Announces Inaugural Teams

The newest American football league, the XFL, has debuted their inaugural team logos. They also released their team locations back in December. The league will begin in February 2020 and will feature eight teams based all around the United States.

The Teams

Dallas Renegades – The Renegades will be playing ball in Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. They are led by head coach Bob Stoops, former head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. Stoops won a national championship with the University of Oklahoma in 2000 and was coach of NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2017.

Houston Roughnecks – June Jones, former coach of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers, is the head coach of the Roughnecks. They will be sharing a stadium with the University of Houston at John O’Quinn Field.

Los Angeles Wildcat– The Wildcats the newest professional football team to be located in Los Angeles, alongside the NFL’s Chargers and Rams. Home games will be hosted at Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly known as the StubHub Center) in Carson, California. Former NFL linebacker and assistant coach of the Green Bay Packers, Winston Moss, is the head coach.

New York Guardians – The Guardians are now the fourth professional football team in New York and the third to lay claim to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are led by Kevin Gilbride, who has coached with several NFL teams. Gilbride was a part of the Super Bowl winning Giants teams in 2007 and 2011.

St. Louis BattleHawks – Jonathan Hayes, longtime tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, is stepping in as head coach of the BattleHawks. They are based in The Dome at America’s Center, previous home of the Los Angeles Rams.

Seattle Dragons – The Dragons are sharing their home field with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Jim Zorn, now the head coach of the Dragons, was the first quarterback for the Seahawks after their expansion in 2002. He was head coach of the Washington Redskins in 2008 and 2009 and quarterbacks coach for several other teams.

Tampa Bay Vipers – The Vipers’ head coach is Marc Trestman, who has had a decorated career in both the NFL and CFL. Known for his fast-paced offense, Trestman is now entering his third professional football league. Additionally, both the Vipers and the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Washington D.C. Defenders– Finally, the DC Defenders are based in Audi Field, which just opened in the Summer of 2018. They’ll be playing at the home of the successful US soccer team, DC United. The Defenders are the only team to share a stadium with a sport other than football and, consequently, could run into some scheduling issues. Their head coach is Pep Hamilton, former coach of multiple NFL teams.

The History Of The XFL

The XFL was originally founded in 2001, but it lasted one season. However, Chairman Vince McMahon is confident that this time will be different.

The first iteration of the XFL was known to be very aggressive. It also focused on the fan experience with over-the-top dramatics. For that reason, it was dangerous. McMahon says that they are much more focused on the actual football rather than player antics in this new league. Additionally, they hope to “reimagine football” and provide a brand new experience for their consumers. Certainly they hope that this experience resonates with fans the second time around.

For more information on the league, the XFL’s official website can be found here.