The league is named, the teams and head coaches are set, and the conferences have been established. The United Football League’s kickoff is less than 90 days away. If you’re a USFL fan who tuned out the XFL last season but who wants to follow the UFL, here’s a primer on the teams from the XFL Conference.
Head Coach: Bob Stoops, third season (6-9 regular season record, counting 2020)
Director of Player Personnel: Rick Mueller
Home Stadium: Choctaw Stadium (capacity 48,114)
Key Players: QB Luis Perez, LB Donald Payne, LB Willie Taylor
History: Initially the Dallas Renegades in 2020, Bob Stoops was the only head coach to return to his perch when the XFL hit the field in 2023. The team was changed to Arlington likely to appease the city in which the league’s hub was located. Problematic QB play led to early-season scuffling in ’23. Their fortunes were reversed upon the arrival of Perez in a mid-season trade. Arlington’s defense carried them into the playoffs, and the offense did just enough to get the team to the finish line in the XFL Championship game.
Key Players: RB Abram Smith, DE Davin Bellamy, CB Michael Joseph
History: The Defenders have finished over .500 in both of the team’s XFL seasons, outshining the rest of the league in the 2023 regular season. Reggie Barlow deservedly earned Coach of the Year honors for his effort, but there must be a level of disappointment in coming up short against Arlington in the championship game. One of the two pieces that made the offensive engine hum, RB Abram Smith, has signed a letter of intent to return. We’re still waiting on QB Jordan Ta’amu’s decision. Defensively, coordinator Gregg Williams will stay aggressive in 2024 – it’s the only way he knows.
Head Coach: Wade Phillips, first season (7-3 with Houston Roughnecks in ’23)
Director of Player Personnel: TBA
Home Stadium: Alamodome (capacity 64,000)
Key Players: QB Jack Coan, RB Stevie Scott III, LB Jordan Williams
History: One of three new franchises in the XFL in 2023, the Brahmas are the only one of the three to carry over into the UFL. Their head coach, however, won’t, as Hines Ward is out, replaced by former Roughnecks head coach and NFL legend Wade Phillips. San Antonio was hit hard by injuries last year, especially across the offensive line, hamstringing production on that side of the ball. There’s a nice foundation on defense for Phillips to work with. He’ll need to assemble a coaching staff and bring in a DPP quickly with the dispersal drafts right around the corner.
St. Louis Battlehawks fans filled The Dome to witness a powerful Battlehawks victory. (Twitter)
St. Louis Battlehawks
2023 Record: 7-3
Head Coach: Anthony Becht, second season (7-3)
Director of Player Personnel: Dave Boller
Home Stadium: The Dome at America’s Center (capacity 67,277)
History: Despite missing the playoffs in 2023 due to quirks of the tiebreaker system, the Battlehawks had one of the strongest rosters in the XFL. Evidence is in the number of players who’ve had NFL tryouts since then, a number that dwarfs other teams in the league. The Battlehawks have already taken advantage of the folding of their foes, scooping up Borghi from the Roughnecks and Taumoepenu from the Vipers. They’ll need to replace QB AJ McCarron, however, and that may not be an easy task. On the bright side, they’ll likely play their home games in front of the largest crowds in the league once again.
