The XFL suspended operations Friday morning, and multiple sources told ESPN that the league has laid off nearly all of its staff -- a handful of executives remain employed -- and currently has no plans to return in 2021.
The XFL is owned by WWE CEO/President Vince McMahon and Alpha Entertainment. In a statement, the WWE said: "Given the uncertainty of the current environment, the XFL has suspended operations and is evaluating next steps."
The XFL canceled its season last month after five games as part of a nationwide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, pledging to return next year.
But XFL CEO Jeffrey Pollack changed course Friday, conducting a 10-minute conference call to inform employees of the news.
Commissioner Oliver Luck, hired in 2018 to guide the most ambitious spring football league in decades, did not speak on the call. It was not immediately clear if he is still with the league.
According to a prominent former XFL staffer who was on the call, Pollack stopped short of saying the league was going out of business. But the strong implication was clear. "It's done," the staffer said. "It's not coming back."
There was no immediate comment from the league.
St. Louis Battlehawks receiver L'Damian Washington was among those reacting to the league's decision on social media.
WWE's McMahon was making his second foray into professional football. His rowdy 2001 version of the XFL also folded after one year.
McMahon pivoted 180 degrees for XFL 2.0, asking Luck to create a serious football league that would market a new version of the game while avoiding direct competition with the NFL. Luck led a group of staffers through two years of product development, establishing a series of innovations -- from its new kickoff alignment to its three-tiered extra point structure -- that caught the eye of multiple members of the NFL competition committee.
XFL staffers believed that the league would resume play in 2021. Players had previously been told they would be paid through the end of the regular season, which was scheduled to end this weekend.
The XFL is the second spring football league in as many years to suspend operations before completing its final season, albeit for much different reasons. The Alliance of American Football (AAF) ran out of money in 2019 and closed after eight weeks of play. The XFL might be the first pro sports league to fall victim to the economic crisis caused by the global pandemic.
Steelers sign DT Cavon Walker, OT Jarron Jones, S Tyree Kinnel
PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers signed a trio of XFL products on Wednesday, supplementing their free-agency signings with two members of the New York Guardians -- including the league's sacks leader -- and one alum of the DC Defenders.
The Steelers agreed to contracts with defensive tackle Cavon Walker, offensive tackle Jarron Jones and safety Tyree Kinnel. The positions filled are ones of need for the Steelers, who lost depth at all three spots during free agency with the departures of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, offensive linemen Ramon Foster and B.J. Finney, and safety Sean Davis.
The Steelers have been open in the past to signing players from alternative football leagues, signing safety Kameron Kelly from the Alliance of American Football prior to last season. Kelly started one game for the Steelers but was released after he was arrested at a local bar late in the season.
In an interview with local beat writers in February, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the team would be monitoring and evaluating the XFL for talent.
"The XFL has taken some of the guys we would have signed as futures [contracts]," Colbert said prior to the NFL scouting combine. "We'll have to do more work on undrafted guys because of that. Traditionally, we sign about 15, but we might have to sign 20-22."
"We got an initial feel for that group, and we'll continue to monitor those teams throughout the season."
Though the XFL season was shortened due to COVID-19, the Steelers saw enough to merit signing the trio of players.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 284 pounds, Walker led the XFL with 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits as a member of Guardians. The Maryland product went undrafted in 2018, but spent preseasons with the Bears and the Chiefs. Walker became the second defensive lineman added by the Steelers in free agency, joining former Baltimore DL Chris Wormley, who arrived in Pittsburgh via trade.
Jones, a Notre Dame product, spent training camp or preseason with the Bills, Cowboys, Giants and Seahawks, but couldn't stick with any of them. He converted from defensive line to offensive line upon joining the Giants, and the much-needed reps as the Guardians' left tackle should allow the the 6-6, 320-pound offensive tackle to compete for a roster spot in Pittsburgh.
Kinnel was the final signing of the group after his stint with the Defenders. Kinnel had 17 total tackles in the shortened season. After a Michigan career during which he had 170 tackles, two interceptions and one sack, Kinnel signed with the Bengals as a undrafted free agent in 2019 but was cut after training camp.
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