How to watch the XFL in Week 1 as it returns after a 19-year absence
Scott Halleran/Allsport
The XFL is back. The league that was one-and-done after its 2001 campaign returns this weekend with a quartet of games. Here’s how you can watch them and what to expect. The last time the league had a game the San Francisco Demons lost to the LA Extreme in the “Million Dollar Game.”
Saturday: Seattle at DC, 2 p.m. ET, ABC
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Dragons travel across the country to face the DC Defenders.
The Dragons’ roster can be found here. Seattle is coached by former Seahawks star quarterback Jim Zorn, who also was once head coach of the Washington Redskins.
Recognizable names on the Dragons’ roster are B.J. Daniels, who was a star quarterback at South Florida, and Keenan Reynolds, who will playing wide receiver for the Dragons after being a quarterback at Navy.
The DC Defenders are coached by Pep Hamilton, who has 21 years of coaching experience, including NFL roles with the Baltimore Ravens (2002), New York Jets (2003-2005), San Francisco 49ers (2006), Chicago Bears (2007-2009), Indianapolis Colts (2013-2015) and Cleveland Browns (2016).
One recognizable name on their roster is Cardale Jones (pictured above). He led Ohio State to a national championship.
The line: Defenders -7.5
Saturday: LA at Houston, 5 p.m., FOX
Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Wildcats are coached by Winston Moss. They have a few recognizable names, like quarterback Josh Johnson and kicker Nick Novak. One intriguing player is Shane Oakman, who at one point would have been considered a top NFL prospect. However, he was arrested in 2016 for sexual assault. The former Baylor star was charged and found not guilty of the crimes.
A familiar name is former Michigan State QB Connor Cook.
The line: Roughnecks -5.5
Sunday: Tampa Bay at New York, 2 p.m. ET, FOX
Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Vipers will meet the New York Guardians at MetLife Stadium. The Vipers are coached by Marc Trestman, who has been a head coach in the CFL and NFL. A couple of interesting names are Antonio Callaway, the Florida WR who played for the Browns, and former Georgia QB Aaron Murray.
A couple quarterbacks are reasonably familiar, Matt McGloin, who played for Penn State and the Raiders, and Luis Perez, who was in the AAF.
The line: Vipers -2
Sunday: St. Louis at Dallas, 5 p.m., ESPN
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The final game of the first week pits the St. Louis Battlehawks and the Dallas Renegades. The Renegades boast arguably the biggest name in the XFL game in former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
Dallas is led by former Oklahoma and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Landry Jones, who was the first player signed by this incarnation of the league.
One cautionary word about the interest in the team in Dallas comes from an ESPN feature on Jones:
On this evening, Jones and Stoops were the featured guests at the Renegades Rally meet-and-greet, but the autograph session was cut 15 minutes short due to low attendance, and no one in the sparse crowd asked a question during the public portion of the Q&A.
The Battlehawks are coached by Jonathan Hayes. Their offensive coordinator is former Iowa star Chuck Long. They should have a strong punting game with former NFL star Marquette King handling the duties.
