football
Former NFL players involved in new football league
Charlie Ebersol says the Alliance of American Football will debut Feb. 9, 2019, the week after Super Bowl LIII. Once teams are announced, regional drafts will be held.
Kahron Spearman
Vince McMahon's restart of the XFL may already be in deep trouble.
Per ESPN's Darren Rovell, Charlie Ebersol announced Tuesday that his new football league, the Alliance of American Football, will debut Feb. 9, 2019 - a week after Super Bowl LIII.
He said the season runs for 10 weeks, with 50-man teams. The league's first game and the championship matchup will be shown on CBS, with one game per week telecast on CBS Sports Network. The other games will be shown via a new app that will eventually involve fantasy play.
There are 28,000 Division I football players. Only 1,700 have NFL jobs. We're looking for those Kurt Warners working in grocery stores, and we think we will find them.
Charlie Ebersol
Founder, Alliance of American Football
Ebersol directed a documentary about the XFL, as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. It aired last year. Ebersol's father, legendary television executive Dick Ebersol, was McMahon's partner in the XFL's first iteration.
"The eight teams in cities that will be announced in the next three months will start by having regional drafts, protecting eligible players who played in the local community for their college days," writes Rovell.
But that's not all - there will be crucial input from former NFL executives and players.
Ebersol has former NFL general manager Bill Polian, now an analyst for ESPN, as a co-founder. Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will oversee the player end. The team portion will be initially commanded by former USC senior associate athletic director, J.K. McKay.
Other advisers include Dick Ebersol and former NFL players Hines Ward and Justin Tuck.
Charlie Ebersol, son of TV executive Dick Ebersol, will launch a new pro football league, "Alliance of American Football."
— Stadium (@WatchStadium) March 20, 2018
Bill Polian, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and Justin Tuck will all be involved as executives in the league.
The league will debut on 2/9/19. pic.twitter.com/OZLPMitWsz
New football league launching next February, The Alliance of American Football, promises to offer players:
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 20, 2018
-- Win Bonuses
-- Stat Bonuses
-- Fan Engagement Bonuses
The Alliance of American Football, kicking off Feb. 9, 2019. pic.twitter.com/VEawVKSS2X
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) March 20, 2018
Staff for the newly announced Alliance of American Football include Bill Polian, Justin Tuck, Jared Allen and Troy Polamalu ... who looks unrecognizable! pic.twitter.com/q03U28W1bT
— Troy Hughes (@TommySledge) March 20, 2018
