With the relaunched XFL having started its inaugural season, it’s time to learn a little more about the 8 teams that are involved.
Houston Roughnecks
Head coach June Jones has experience in almost every Football league in the USA, from high school the NFL, so he should do well with the Roughnecks. PJ Walker, former Temple standout, is the starting quarterback and he’s hungry for great action and wins.
DC Defenders
Washington Football fans are dying for a winning team to back, and the Defenders could be it. Head coach Pep Hamilton targeted Cardale Jones in the draft, and now the recent NFL alum is starting quarterback. This makes sense from a sporting and business perspective; Jones has fresh experience of American Football at the highest level, and people will recognise and be more likely to watch him. The are also biggest players on NFL spreads that pull same crowds
New York Guardians
Kevin Gilbridge is the head coach of the Guardians, and the starting quarterback is Matt McGloin. Like Cardale Jones, McGloin has recent NFL experience which makes him an asset to his new team. However, the New York XFL squad is going to have to work hard to attract a fanbase in a busy Football market that already has the Giants and the Jets of the NFL.
LA Wildcats
The Wildcats, with head coach Winston Moss at the helm, are hoping to ride the new wave of Football fans in LA. Starting quarterback Josh Johnson is an excellent draft, but the rest of the team hasn’t really done anything to impress fans yet.
St. Louis BattleHawks
St Louis is the XFL’s only team that doesn’t have an NFL counterpart in the city. However, there is a strong Football fanbase thanks to the Rams who were based here before relocating to Los Angeles. This could actually work out really well for the BattleHawks, if they are able to fill the vacuum that the Rams left behind. Head coach Jonathan Hayes and his starting quarterback Jordan Ta’amu will certainly be hoping so.
Seattle Dragons
The Dragons will be sharing a home stadium, CenturyLink Field, with NFL team Seattle Seahawks and are hoping to benefit from general fan affection via their close proximity. Head coach Jim Zorn has been known as a quarterback coach all through his career, so he could well get the best performances yet from starting quarterback Brandon Silvers.
Tampa Bay Vipers
The Vipers’ starting quarterback is Aaron Murray, and while he once showed a lot of promise for the NFL a failed stint with the Kansas City Chiefs dashed those hopes. Head coach Marc Trestman has high hopes of getting back into the NFL himself, so together they might be hungry enough to pull a stellar XFL season off.
Dallas Renegades
Renegades Head coach Bob Stoops and starting quarterback Landry Jones are reunited, having been together in the Oklahoma Sooners years ago. After a few false starts the NFL has given up on Jones for now, but Stoops was eager to coach him again. And his talent is definitely enough to make the Dallas XFL team a side worth watching.