XFL

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson said he's effectively looking to create more P.J. Walkers by investing in the XFL.

Walker was one of the top stars during the XFL's recent relaunch, throwing for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games with the Houston Roughnecks. He parlayed that success into a roster spot on the Carolina Panthers. 

Johnson explained that Walker's story "is the fundamental core reason I wanted to acquire the XFL:

This is the fundamental core reason I wanted to acquire the XFL.
Create the opportunity for players to live their dreams and take care of their families.
@DanyGarciaCo, myself and our exec team are hungry to build this league out for the players and fans. #XFL#opportunity 🏈 https://t.co/z32GPT6F6x

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 7, 2020

Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia are part of the group that spent around $15 million to buy the XFL after the league filed for bankruptcy. ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported in August that Garcia is hopeful to get things back underway next season.

Many have tried and failed in their pursuit of a professional football league to either complement or compete with the NFL.

Walker is proof positive the XFL can be a stepping stone to bigger things.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is part owner of the XFL and celebrated the fact with new decorations Tuesday:

The new owner of the XFL.@TheRock is keeping $7 framed in his office because that was the amount of money he had when he got cut from the CFL before his wrestling career

✊ @BRWrestling pic.twitter.com/uVVoe32gAG

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 1, 2020

"My XFL helmets arrived to my office and (holy s--t!) I'm humbled and grateful at how full circle life can sometimes be," he wrote in his Instagram post. "My dreams of playing in the NFL never came true, but now years later - I have the honor of buying an entire pro football league so the dreams of other players CAN COME TRUE."

The actor and former WWE star was part of a group that purchased the XFL in August for $15 million, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Other investors include Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital Partners founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale.

The league was restarted by WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon in 2020, but its first season back ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The XFL filed for bankruptcy in April, allowing new ownership to take over.

Per Seifert, Johnson and Co. are planning for the league to play games in 2021.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announced Friday that his purchase of the XFL is now official:

The deal is official closed and “the keys” to the XFL have been handed over. I humbly accept and promise to put my callouses to hard work building our new brand. Congrats to my partners @DanyGarciaCo & #GerryCardinale and our sharp, hungry team. #XFLOwner #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/ctwRlewxxA

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 21, 2020

Johnson's business partner and ex-wife, Dany Garcia, also tweeted about her excitement over being a part owner of the league:

https://twitter.com/DanyGarciaCo/status/1296836105887612928

It was announced this month that a group headed by Johnson had purchased the XFL for $15 million. The news release noted that the ownership group is hoping to have a season as soon as 2021 with a bubble concept in place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The original XFL was founded by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and launched in 2001. The ratings were a success initially, but they dropped sharply over the course of the season and the league folded after just one year.

McMahon brought the XFL back this year, and it once again had strong ratings out of the gate, only for them to fall. The league received praise for some of its unique rules and the in-game sideline interviews of players after big plays.

Even so, the league ceased operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April.

Johnson, who rose to prominence under McMahon in WWE during the 1990s and 2000s before becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, is the type of big-name owner who could potentially help the XFL become a long-term success.

The Rock has deep pockets and knows how to promote a product, so perhaps the third iteration of the XFL will be the one that manages to last more than one season.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, business partner Dany Garcia and the RedBird Capital Partners investment firm will take control of the XFL from WWE chairman Vince McMahon later this month after their purchase of the league was approved Friday by a Delaware bankruptcy court.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported U.S. district judge Laurie Silverstein cleared the sale after the XFL and the court's unsecured creditor's committee resolved issues related to the $15 million sale price.

The XFL enjoyed initial success, including an average of 3.12 million viewers for its Week 1 games, but the numbers declined over the next four weeks before the remainder of the season was canceled in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Alpha Entertainment, a company founded by McMahon to run the league, declared bankruptcy in April.

The group led by Johnson and Garcia submitted the only qualified bid during the sale process, which led the XFL to cancel an auction planned for Monday, per Seifert.

Garcia told Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated there are hurdles to overcome related to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to relaunch the league, but she's planning to quickly add teams in more markets:

"Expansion. Expansion and more storytelling. Storytelling that lives in a 365-day way, we're talking 24/7. Those five weeks that the league had made an impact. Engagement was incredible on social media. The TV ratings spiked and then they settled where they should have and then they were really starting to get entrenched and they had wonderful attendance. That engagement is an opportunity for that to happen all year round even though that live aspect will be in a specific period of time. I think that's an incredible thing. I think it would be an incredible thing to see even more teams added. There's a lot out there."

In a separate interview with Yahoo Sports' Shalise Manza Young, she explained the XFL is hoping to play in 2021, potentially using the "bubble" environment being used by the NBA and NHL:

"What we do have in our back pocket is scenarios where we do go in 2021 and 2022. We have eight teams so we do have the ability to bubble. We're really looking at that. I think the audience is getting used to not having fans, fan sounds, as odd as it is, it seems to be working, obviously if that bodes well I think there's a case for 2021 but we're going to be figuring that out.

"It's about the safety of the players, really making sure we can have the players safe and have a level of play that is still high quality. I would love to see it happen in 2021 but we are taking our time."

Johnson, a former college football player who worked for McMahon during his time as a WWE Superstar, said in an Instagram post his goal is to "create something special for the fans."

"My dreams of playing professional football never came true, however—this passion venture allows me to create opportunities for other players to showcase their talents, take care of their families and make their own dreams come true," he wrote.

The XFL's first iteration lasted a single season in 2001. The rebuilt brand focused more on standard football rather than gimmicks and created several ideas, including reworked kickoff rules and various options to score additional points after a touchdown, that were met with acclaim.

 

The XFL suspended operations and laid off all employees April 11 before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 13, naming the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason. 

Ben Fischer of Sports Business Daily reported Monday that a judge ruled in favor of the defunct league's auctioning its assets this summer:

https://twitter.com/BenFischerSBJ/status/1267563251715526658

The XFL began its inaugural reboot season in February and played only five weeks' worth of games before the COVID-19 pandemic forced sports around the world to suspend action.

"[XFL CEO] Vince McMahon has pulled out of bidding for his bankrupt XFL, but dozens of bidders are looking over the league's financials and interested in relaunching it next February," The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan relayed last week.

McMahon has been accused of filing for bankruptcy just to buy the league again.

McMahon is also being sued by former XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck over the handling of the latter's contract. Luck is seeking $23.8 million.

The auction is scheduled for Aug. 3 (h/t Pro Football Talk). 

More than one month after the XFL's parent company filed for bankruptcy, league owner Vince McMahon won't bid on the assets.

In a bankruptcy court filing Tuesday (via ESPN's Kevin Seifert), McMahon said in his deposition that he's "not going to be a bidder" amid claims from the unsecured creditors committee that the WWE chairman would attempt to buy back the XFL without fully paying back debtors. 

The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan wrote last week that some XFL creditors felt McMahon was trying to buy back the league, with his sources also saying "XFL president Jeffrey Pollack has called venues in St. Louis and Seattle about reinstating the lease agreements."

Alpha Entertainment, owned and operated by McMahon, announced in Jan. 2018 a revival of the XFL. The league previously ran for one season in 2001 before it folded due in part to financial losses around $35 million after taxes.

Darren Rovell wrote for ESPN.com in June 2018 that McMahon was planning to spend $500 million over the XFL's first three comeback seasons to pay players, coaches and cover insurance premiums. 

The XFL's return season ended March 12 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The league filed for bankruptcy April 13, three days after suspending operations, and listed assets and liabilities between $10 million to $50 million. 

WWE Chairman and XFL owner Vince McMahon's lawyers presented his reasons for firing XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck in a court filing Wednesday. 

According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the filing noted that McMahon fired Luck for "gross neglect" of his job early in the coronavirus pandemic, the signing of wide receiver Antonio Callaway despite the league's policy against signing players with legal issues and personal use of an XFL-issued iPhone.

Last month, Luck filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against McMahon after he was fired on April 9. Luck claimed he was fired without cause, but McMahon's lawyer, Jerry McDevitt, said Luck was informed of the reasons in a letter.

Luck was fired one day before the XFL officially suspended operations because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

After suspending operations and laying off its staff, the XFL filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As a result, McMahon's attempt to revive the XFL came to an end after less than one season.

Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Luck was hired as the league's commissioner in May 2018 to a deal that was reportedly worth $20 million. In his lawsuit against McMahon, Luck is seeking unspecified damages.

The original XFL ran for one season in 2001 before folding, but McMahon tried to bring it back this year. The league started promisingly and many of its rule changes were widely praised, but the coronavirus pandemic forced play to be halted after five weeks and the decision was made to close it down.

One of the reasons for Luck's firing mentioned in the filing—the signing of Callaway—didn't have much of an impact on the league since a leg injury landed him on injured reserve and prevented him from appearing in any games for the Tampa Bay Vipers.

Before signing with the XFL, Callaway spent parts of two seasons with the NFL's Cleveland Browns after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Florida.

Callaway showed promise as a rookie with 43 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns, but his second year was cut short after just four games when he was suspended 10 weeks for violating the NFL's policy on substances of abuse.

Also, during his collegiate playing days at the University of Florida, Callaway was accused of sexual assault. Callaway was found not responsible in a Title IX hearing.

Luck's hiring as XFL commissioner was viewed as a coup for the league due to his experience at all levels of football. Luck, who is the father of former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, spent five seasons in the NFL as a quarterback for the Houston Oilers.

He later went on to serve as the president of NFL Europe and was the NCAA's executive vice president for regulatory affairs from 2014-18.

Per Fischer, Luck's lawyers said they will issue a statement regarding McMahon's filing on Wednesday.

This was supposed to be a story about a blossoming football league. A league that was given a second chance to innovate and proved professional football outside of the NFL can thrive in the United States.

No extra points. Shorter play clocks. An inventive kickoff format. In-game interviews and access to coaches' thoughts and headsets. An open celebration of gambling in broadcasts. And, of course, celebratory beer and hard seltzer chugging postgame.

The XFL had the formula. And for five weeks, it seemed that it just might do what others could not: survive long enough to become legitimate.

The easy narrative might be that it was always destined to become the latest in a line of startup leagues that have failed to become sustainable. The XFL's first crack, in 2001, lasted one season. The Alliance of American Football, which came to market before the XFL this time around, succumbed to financial woes after only a few months. And indeed, the XFL's ratings had been sliding after a strong opening week.

But there were other, encouraging signs. Attendance numbers had mostly held steady. Games were still being televised on major networks. And more than anything, people still believed in the product.

"They did it correctly this time," says June Jones, the legendary offensive guru who's been around the game at a high level since the early 1970s and became a part of the new XFL as the head coach of the Houston Roughnecks. "We had a great brand, and we had a spot that would have worked in the spring.

"We just couldn't finish."

That's, of course, in large part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the league first to suspend play and then in mid-April to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

And what's left behind? Beyond the lawsuits over the way the league shuttered and the rumors that it might still somehow survive?

It's the players who made up eight XFL rosters, now searching for football homes. It's the coaches, many of them football lifers like Jones, wondering where and if someone will have them next. And it's those behind the scenes who brought the league to life, wondering where their experiences will take them.

Each of them has a story. Right now, all they can do is wait and hope there will be another team or league willing to tell it.

---

He doesn't sound angry about his past or nervous about his future. Instead, Luis Perez oozes confidence and certainty in uncertain times.

"I've thrown with Drew Brees and been in camps with No. 1 overall picks," says the quarterback of the XFL's New York Guardians. "I'm right in the mix. I mean, I'm right there. There's really no drop-off in throwing the ball or anything like that, so I'm not going to quit until I get the opportunity."

In the past two years, Perez has played in two defunct football leagues. He quarterbacked the Birmingham Iron in 2019 in the AAF.

This year, he started the season playing behind former Penn State and Oakland Raiders starter Matt McGloin with the Guardians but won the starting job after a few games and started to show promise around the time play was suspended.

Most would be heartbroken by this continued misfortune, and Perez is. But he's also grateful to still be chasing his dream after such a late start.

For much of his life, he dreamed not of the NFL but of becoming a professional bowler. And with 12 perfect games and a best three-game series score of 838 to his name, he came awfully close.

Perez dabbled with football early in high school at Otay Ranch High in Chula Vista, California, but lost interest when his coach moved him to tight end. He wanted to play quarterback. He set his sights on a bowling scholarship instead and became one of the top amateur bowlers in the state.

But then during his senior year, on senior night in 2012, he attended the team's football game and fell in love.

In the months that followed, Perez taught himself how to play quarterback, largely with YouTube videos and a mirror. From there, he was able to connect with 1999 No. 3 overall NFL draft pick Akili Smith, the uncle of Perez's friend, Otay Ranch running back David Mondy. Smith gave him enough guidance to walk on at Southwestern College with no high school film or stats to speak of. He began his football career ninth on the depth chart.

He was successful enough at Southwestern to transfer to Texas A&M-Commerce, a Division II program that he would lead to a national championship in 2017 while winning the Harlon Hill Trophy, the award given to the top player at the D-II level.

His performance garnered buzz and interest in NFL circles. Although he wasn't selected in the 2018 NFL draft, Perez did ultimately sign with the Los Angeles Rams. He was waived a few months later.

After his success in the AAF last year, he spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions before landing in the XFL. Now, as has been the case for much of the past few years, Perez is once again searching.

He spends his days working out in his backyard in San Diego, throwing to stationary targets or a family member willing to run routes. Since all nearby facilities are closed, he works out at his homemade gym, making do with a squat rack and bench press.

Aside from the disappointing demise of the XFL, this time hasn't been all bad for Perez. Just two months ago, his first daughter was born. An unexpected break from football has provided the opportunity to watch his daughter grow that he wouldn't have with a full season. For that, he is grateful.

Throughout it all, however, the passion hasn't deteriorated. He knows the next opportunity could be a phone call away.

"My wife's all-in," he says. "My family's all-in. No matter the circumstances, whether we're in a pandemic or not, I've got to make sure I'm ready at any moment to get on a flight and be ready. They expect you to be ready no matter what."

---

It is day three of June Jones' mandatory 14-day self-quarantine, and he is readying for another Hawaiian sunset. The journeyman coach answers the phone with an "Aloha" as he sits a few hundred feet from the Pacific Ocean, having returned to Hawaii Kai in Honolulu to figure out what comes next.

It is here that he led the University of Hawaii to new heights for the better part of a decade, doing so with his trademark offense. It is also here that Jones, years later, groomed a raw and wildly talented Tua Tagovailoa, along with his brother, Taulia, shortly before the two moved to Alabama.

At the age of 67, Jones has coached football at just about every level. High school. College. NFL. CFL. And most recently, the XFL, where he led the Roughnecks to a 5-0 record before the season was halted.

"I was disappointed, because I knew we might've won the whole thing," Jones says. "The team building and chemistry was excellent, and that's the thing I'm really sad about. Sad for our players."

When Jones learned the XFL had suspended play, he left Houston and drove west. He stopped in Las Vegas to visit his former coach, Mouse Davis, whom he played for at Portland State. Beyond coaching him in college, Davis is largely why Jones fell in love with the profession.

He then drove to Portland, where he stayed with family for a few weeks. Unsure how long he would have to wait it out, he flew home to Hawaii on a mostly empty flight from Seattle.

Following a statewide order for residents and visitors, Jones began a 14-day quarantine when he arrived home. Each morning, he walks four miles by himself as the sun rises. He then watches replays of the 2019 NFL season—jotting down notes on plays and formations that he likes.

While football is a fixture of his everyday life, his concerns at the moment are not about his future in coaching. Instead, he worries about Hawaii's economy, which has been crippled by the lack of tourism because of the coronavirus.

He has yet to pursue any jobs, although conversations have taken place. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, whom he coached in the CFL before leaving for the XFL, could have an opening in the organization. He's also spoken to Hawaii high school coaches about opportunities that could arise.

If the XFL is done, it's not his last stand in football.

"I want to coach," he says. "I want to be in that situation. I don't need it, but at the same time I'd love to do it. Just has to be the right place. That feeling is not going away."

---

The bike ride to the cemetery is 10 minutes, give or take. Each day, in between his cups of coffee and phone calls with potential future employers, Sam Schwartzstein visits his mentor's grave in search of inspiration.

That mentor was Bill Campbell, who died in 2016 at the age of 75. Campbell played football at Columbia University. He later coached Columbia in the '70s before leaving the profession for a career in Silicon Valley. Over the decades that followed, he worked at Apple, providing guidance for Steve Jobs, and other prominent tech companies—earning the nickname "The Trillion Dollar Coach" in reference to his seismic impact on Silicon Valley as a whole.

Schwartzstein, who is 30 years old, used to seek guidance from Campbell about his own life. And before he became the director of football operations in the XFL, he too worked in Silicon Valley.

Even before that, Schwartzstein was tasked with protecting his college roommate and close friend Andrew Luck while playing offensive line at Stanford. That's where he met Oliver Luck, Andrew's father.

When Oliver was named commissioner of the XFL and needed someone to create its rules and structure, he knew who to call. Schwartzstein was his first hire.

"We really took a traditional product-development approach," Schwartzstein says. "We tested our rules eight times before fans ever saw them and before our coaches played with them with the players."

They called it the "reimagination process." The list of changes began with 100 ideas, going as far as to consider the possibility of eliminating punting entirely. It was narrowed down to 25, and they implemented roughly 15 of the concepts.

Schwartzstein's ultimate goal was to bring the average football game to under three hours while improving the general flow and watchability of the game.

Of all of the XFL's innovations, its most celebrated was modifications to the kickoff. In keeping blockers and defensive players closer together, the XFL hoped to remove some of the danger from one of the sport's most dangerous plays. At the same time, it wanted to keep the possibility of a big play alive.

"If we're playing football in 30 years," Schwartzstein says, "they'll be using the XFL's kickoff."

While coaches and players can set their sights on specific leagues, Schwartzstein's next stop is more complicated. The idea of seeing his concepts at work in the NCAA or NFL intrigues him—as does the possibility of working in football on his terms.

"I'm trying to figure out what's the next move for me," he says. "I'm still passionate about what we did, but it would be hard for me to just say, 'I want to work in football.' No, I want to work on a really hard problem with really good people and have the ability to make positive changes."

---

Hal Mumme can still feel the lingering effects of his broken leg when he walks his dog. "It's not the size of a watermelon anymore," he says of his kneecap. "Maybe just a grapefruit."

Back in March, when he was the offensive coordinator for the XFL's Dallas Renegades, Mumme broke his leg in a sideline collision. Although he knew it was seriously injured, he coached from the sideline for the rest of the game.

Mumme's influence on football stretches back more than four decades. Largely celebrated as one of the main architects of the air raid offense, Mumme has made a profound impact on the way offense is played across all of football.

He began his career as a high school coach in Texas back in the '70s. From there, he served as college head coach at seven programs—the most notable being his stint as Kentucky's head coach in the late 1990s.

The XFL offered Mumme an opportunity to tap into his offensive ingenuity. The 25-second play clock and the two- and three-point conversations after touchdowns were geared to a style he has gravitated toward for most of his life.

"It was such a good rollout," Mumme says. "TV ratings-wise, attendance-wise and all that kind of stuff exceeded expectations. I think there's proof of concept and a window after the Super Bowl. And I know fans that can't really get enough football."

From the patio of his townhome in Arlington, Texas, Mumme can see AT&T Stadium. It is here that he still finds a way to get his football fix.

He teaches classes for his business, Air Raid Certified, where he provides video and exams on his offense for interested coaches. He talks frequently to Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach, one of his most celebrated air raid pupils and closest friends. Not usually about football, but mostly politics and movies.

Like Leach, Mumme has a curious mind for history. He's currently reading Hymns of the Republic, a book about the Civil War.

He watches Netflix. Like many, he's seeking out ways to pass time.

"I feel like being Bill Murray in Groundhog Day," he says. "I walk the dog, read some history, walk the dog, cook with the wife, drink a little bourbon, walk the dog, eat with the wife, drink some bourbon and go to bed. Do it again the next day, and you don't even know what day it is most of the time."

At 68 years old, Mumme could spend the rest of his life refining his business and teaching his offense at clinics around the country. But the thought of removing himself from the games themselves, especially considering how his XFL tenure ended, is something he hasn't come to terms with.

"To be honest with you, I've just kind of looked at everything that was out there," he says. "I'm looking at some Texas high school jobs and other things. I don't know what it's going to look like, but I'm going to coach somewhere.

"I haven't gotten game day out of my system yet."

---

Eric Galko's work with the XFL isn't done yet, even though he's technically no longer employed. His impact will be life-changing for many. Or so he hopes.

Galko, who served as director of player personnel, played a key role in assembling the league. His connections with agents and the NFL were invaluable as he helped build rosters and coaching staffs. Now, he's helping to disassemble it as gracefully as possible.

"There were so many things I was excited to do better in 2021 that were planned and ready to go," he says. "And it's disappointing not seeing those things come to fruition. That's the most frustrating part."

Before the XFL, Galko worked as a consultant with NFL teams, players, agents and all-star games to facilitate movement and roster additions. The connections he's built over the years bring him comfort that he'll land on his feet eventually. "Fingers crossed," he says. But as he searches, he also wants to place as many former XFL players in NFL camps as possible.

He's answered questions about their paychecks. About how to apply for unemployment. About how to somehow latch onto a roster in the future.

"It's important to have these players and agents have someone to go to," Galko says. "And it's always good to be needed and especially in this small industry. I do my best to help them as best I can."

Before the coronavirus, Galko projected that 80 to 90 players in the XFL would ultimately be invited to NFL training camps. As of now, with the NFL offseason largely disrupted, he estimates the number is roughly 25.

That will change, he hopes, as the calendar distances itself from the NFL draft and the world shifts back to some sort of normalcy. But at the moment, many of the more than 400 players are waiting to see what comes next.

What can be lost in the uncertainty that surrounds those who made up the league is the product they helped deliver. While its life span was short, its impact may not be. The blueprint has the potential to disrupt professional sports around the world.

"I hope it showed that if you're going to have a non-NFL way to play football … this is the way to do it," Galko says. "It worked. … One of the hardest things is that people might have already forgotten about the XFL and what it did. But hopefully there is a legacy that carries on."

In the months and years to come, lawsuits will likely play out with millions of dollars at stake. Rumors of another resurrection will take shape. Perhaps there will be truth behind some.

The innovations the league was unearthing could find a home in college football or the NFL. It would not be the least bit surprising to see some of the rule changes and other concepts live on.

The true legacy, though, will be carried on by the players, coaches and other personnel searching for what comes next. The group that made this league possible, if only for a short while. They will wait for what comes next amid uncertain times, hoping the next opportunity is still out there.    

         

Adam Kramer covers football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs.

Former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against WWE chairman Vince McMahon, according to The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan. 

The XFL ended its 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the initial expectation it would return in 2021. However, the league suspended operations April 10 and then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy three days later.

According to Kaplan, the language in the lawsuit indicates McMahon may have fired Luck for cause: "Mr. Luck wholly disputes and rejects the allegations set forth in the Termination Letter and contends they are pretextual and devoid of merit."

ESPN's Kevin Seifert shared a statement from McMahon's attorney about the lawsuit:

"Oliver Luck's services as Commissioner and CEO of the XFL were terminated by a letter sent to him on Apr. 9, 2020 which explained the reasons for the termination. As to the lawsuit he filed, his allegations will be disputed and the position of Mr. McMahon will be set forth in our response to this lawsuit."

Placing any level of blame on Luck for the XFL's rapid demise would seemingly be unfair unless more information is unearthed as part of the lawsuit.

The league appeared to be laying the foundations for sustained success. The quality of play didn't match the NFL but was good enough to keep fans entertained. Television viewership and attendance were trending downward yet didn't crater to the extent they did during the XFL's first run in 2001.

In general, the XFL was positioning itself as a fun diversion during the NFL's offseason.

GET YOU A LEAGUE COMMISSIONER WHO CONTRIBUTES A CUP TO THE GIANT BEER SNAKE.

OLIVER LUCK F O R E V E R.

THIS LEAGUE. pic.twitter.com/V41n5ndpNQ

— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 8, 2020

The rise of a worldwide pandemic isn't something anybody could've predicted, and the league apparently didn't have the cash reserves to sustain itself during a prolonged lull.

The specific damages sought by Luck are unknown and many of the contract details in the lawsuit have been redacted, per Kaplan. According to Sports Business Journal's Michael Smith, Luck was slated to earn at least $20 million from his contract, and his payout could've exceeded $30 based on incentives.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted that due to the XFL's bankruptcy, suing McMahon directly might give Luck a better chance of being financially compensated.

The XFL declared for bankruptcy Monday, per Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter, just days after suspending operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's the filing. https://t.co/imT052Rbci pic.twitter.com/O6dj6zB9sq

— Eriq Gardner ✍️ (@eriqgardner) April 13, 2020

Vince McMahon had 100 pct of the XFL's Class A shares. He also had 76.5% of the Class B shares, with WWE holding the rest.

— Eric Fisher (@AEricFisher) April 13, 2020

ESPN's Kevin Seifert and Field Yates reported Friday that the league had laid off nearly its entire staff and did not have plans to return for the 2021 season.

The sheer number of people — and amount — the XFL and Vince McMahon aren’t paying is crazy. https://t.co/wl7ndBkhZU

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2020

The XFL is owned by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment. Per Seifert and Yates, WWE said in a statement Friday: "Given the uncertainty of the current environment, the XFL has suspended operations and is evaluating next steps."

The league suspended play March 12 and canceled the season March 20, though the progression from that to laying off employees and declaring bankruptcy was swift. One factor that may have influenced McMahon to pull the plug is that "WWE's stock price has dropped by 42 percent this year to date," per Seifert.

Another factor in shuttering the league may have been reduced interest as the season played out. As Seifert noted, the XFL "received strong Week 1 reviews and an average of 3.12 million viewers per game. But the average dropped every week and hit about 1.5 million in Week 5, a decrease of 51 percent."

It's the second time the XFL has been one-and-done. The league was first created in 2001 and lasted just one season.

But the second iteration was a far better product, met better reviews and even created opportunities for a number of its players to sign with NFL teams. It appeared on track to potentially become as close to a professional minor league as the NFL has (outside of college football, which acts as the NFL's unpaid, de facto minor league system).

As the coronavirus pandemic halts professional sports leagues around the globe, however, the XFL ended for a second time shortly after it was revived.