NFL
What is the agreement between the NFL and XFL?
The National Football League has come to an agreement with the XFL to collaborate on expanding the game and protecting the health of football players.
The NFL has come to a partnership agreement with the XFL that would entail collaboration in particular programs to innovate the game and focus on the health and safety of football players.
After a long absence, the XFL will be back this February 18th when the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades face each other at 3 p.m. ET at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Before the XFL announced that it was coming back a year ago, the league signed a partnership with the NFL to focus on the growth of players both on and off the field by developing programs that will benefit their physical and mental fitness.
What kind of deal did the NFL and the XFL sign?
The joint project will include “the study of playing surfaces and equipment and the sharing of game trends and data,” according to the XFL website.
“We have an open field for innovative rules to enhance in-game access. Sharing insights and practices between the XFL and NFL will do a tremendous amount of good for the game of football and support the player ecosystem overall,” according to Dany Garcia, co-owner and XFL chairperson.
Other points of possible cooperation include international football development, the use of technology to improve officiating and trying out different game rules to boost overall play while keeping the players protected.
Garcia, Johnson, and RedBird Capital Partners bought the XFL after it suspended its operations due to the covid-19 pandemic.
This venture is also led by actor Dwayne’ The Rock’ Johnson. The former Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle says the XFL league will grow the game and it will be “a force to be reckoned with.”
The NFL and the XFL will not be sharing players
The XFL clarified that the partnership will not cover sharing players for developmental purposes, according to ESPN. But the new partnership remains significant as it comes in the face of the growth of alternative football leagues. The United States Football League had earlier announced that it will hold its inaugural game in April.
NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent says he hopes the relationship they have forged will result in “improvements in the game of football at all levels”.
The agreement is not exclusive and will allow both leagues to collaborate with others if there are opportunities to do so in the future.