2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I think it's obvious what's going on here. Vince no doubt got encouragement from his good friend Donald to try to take on the NFL again. Both McMahon and Trump hate the NFL with a passion due to previous axes to grind. I'm sure we'll see plenty of Trump Tweets promoting the XFL as a great way for football fans to thumb their nose at the "un-American" NFL.

And I think we know how this is going to end. Same as the first time the XFL came and went. The amount of money Vince is putting into this venture is barely a fraction of what would be needed to form a viable sports league. The $100 million Vince is supposedly spending is a drop in the bucket. It will fail. Probably within one year as the first XFL did.

XFL was absolutely terrible the first time around. This just seems like bad business.

[BizCat]

XFL was ahead of it's time in some aspects. They were not prepared to handle the initial popularity of it. Some mistakes were made, and I'm sure those won't be repeated. Be optimistic and hope for the best.

[kidkash]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

XFL was absolutely terrible the first time around. This just seems like bad business.

Unless he pays well and says anyone over 18 can do it. Would steal a lot of college kids.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by kidkash

Unless he pays well and says anyone over 18 can do it. Would steal a lot of college kids.

I don’t think you’ll see too many kids kick college football for the XFL.

[Tony208]

They rushed into the XFL the first time around. Sounds like they are taking their time and trying to do it right.

[dcowboy7]

No cheerleaders - im out.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I don’t think you’ll see too many kids kick college football for the XFL.

Same here. Maybe a few who really, really suck academically or have run ins with the law, but that's about it. I remember people thinking high school basketball stars would go play overseas professionally for a year or so when the NBA raised the age of an try to 19. By and large that doesn't happen with fee exceptions. It's hard to imagine many high school stars choosing the XFL over a power college program.

[BizCat]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I don’t think you’ll see too many kids kick college football for the XFL.

I imagine it'll be littered with players who don't get drafted into the NFL that have potential.

Or maybe veterans that still want to play and have playing time, or guys like Ray Rice.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by BizCat

I imagine it'll be littered with players who don't get drafted into the NFL that have potential.

Or maybe veterans that still want to play and have playing time, or guys like Ray Rice.

Tebow

[BizCat]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Tebow

Manziel

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by BizCat

Manziel

Kaepernick

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Kaepernick

Vick and Young

[Tony208]

Jamarcus Russell.

You laugh now but they could be successful against poorer talent

[Tony208]

Vince said a DUI would disqualify you so no Johnny XFL?

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Vince said a DUI would disqualify you so no Johnny XFL?

Evidently not.

[kidkash]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I don’t think you’ll see too many kids kick college football for the XFL.

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Same here. Maybe a few who really, really suck academically or have run ins with the law, but that's about it. I remember people thinking high school basketball stars would go play overseas professionally for a year or so when the NBA raised the age of an try to 19. By and large that doesn't happen with fee exceptions. It's hard to imagine many high school stars choosing the XFL over a power college program.

Basketball is way different it’s only 1 year no big deal. But an 18 year old who could make 250,000 or maybe more. I could see a few kids who don’t wanna do school and instead make money. It’s gonna happen how many kids leave after 3 years cause they need to help their family. You guys dismiss this but when your poor any money is nice. It’s not a huge risk to college now but if the xfl takes off more and more 18 year olds will skip college for the xfl.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by kidkash

Basketball is way different it’s only 1 year no big deal. But an 18 year old who could make 250,000 or maybe more. I could see a few kids who don’t wanna do school and instead make money. It’s gonna happen how many kids leave after 3 years cause they need to help their family. You guys dismiss this but when your poor any money is nice. It’s not a huge risk to college now but if the xfl takes off more and more 18 year olds will skip it for the nfl.

The economics would have to add up. In every pro football team except the NFL going back decades it has not. The most successful pro football league after the NFL in recent decades is probably the Arena League, and even that league has had numerous problems including most players not making enough to live on, many lockouts, numerous teams folding and the entire league on life support in recent years.

The XFL is probably going to have at best similar problems. It's hard to imagine the league being able to financially support salaries of more than maybe, at best around $50k a year for an average player, maybe low six figures for a few of the league's top players. And Vince McMahon has a reputation for stiffing his employees on benefits by union busting and labeling athletes independent contractors. That's not going to be a very attractive option compared with a college education for the vast majority of 18 year old football players.

[kidkash]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

The economics would have to add up. In every pro football team except the NFL going back decades it has not. The most successful pro football league after the NFL in recent decades is probably the Arena League, and even that league has had numerous problems including most players not making enough to live on, many lockouts, numerous teams folding and the entire league on life support in recent years.

The XFL is probably going to have at best similar problems. It's hard to imagine the league being able to financially support salaries of more than maybe, at best around $50k a year for an average player, maybe low six figures for a few of the league's top players. And Vince McMahon has a reputation for stiffing his employees on benefits by union busting and labeling athletes independent contractors. That's not going to be a very attractive option compared with a college education for the vast majority of 18 year old football players.

Maybe but $100,000 sounds pretty nice at 18 plus endorsements. If xfl debuts in February or March the ratings will be 5-6 million which is great. $100,000 covers a lot of classes. Players are already skipping bowl games only need a few to sign with the XFL before it becomes a thing. How many stories are there where Vince showed up to a college with a MILLION dollars and signed top athletes for WWE.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by kidkash

Maybe but $100,000 sounds pretty nice at 18 plus endorsements. If xfl debuts in February or March the ratings will be 5-6 million which is great. $100,000 covers a lot of classes. Players are already skipping bowl games only need a few to sign with the XFL before it becomes a thing. How many stories are there where Vince showed up to a college with a MILLION dollars and signed top athletes for WWE.

What makes you think the XFL is going to be successful?

[El Rey]

Eh good riddance to Costas. He was a good broadcaster but like most of the modern media he likes to grandstand and editorialize, make it about himself. People watch sports to get away from everything being politicized.

In regards to the XFL, I think Vince learned from his mistakes. I think he sees an opportunity now with the NFL losing viewers and fans due to the whole anthem controversy and wants to capitalize. Also I don't think the goal is to be as big as the NFL, if anything I think if it gets just enough popularity it could serve as a minor league of sorts.
There was an ESPN 30 For 30 a couple months ago about the XFL, was really good, seek it out if you can.

Edit - just read the updated story with Vince's quotes about it not being a developmental league for the NFL but honestly besides an outright failing again, I think being a minor league would be best case scenario. There's just no way to compete with the NFL.
He also said that he didn't see the timing of NFL losing viewers as why he is striking now but I mean that has to be a part of it. I think he is just saying the right things at the moment. He seems to be taking a more measured, subtle approach this time around.