Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer December 31, 2023, 12:35 p.m. ET
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- Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL for ESPN. Kevin has been covering the NFL for over 20 years and joined ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and The Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter @SeifertESPN.
The merged XFL-USFL Spring Football League will be known as the UFL — “United Football League” — its partners confirmed Sunday.
Former XFL President/CEO Russ Brandon will hold the same title for the UFL, and former USFL President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston will lead the new league's football operations.
Further details will be announced at a later date, including the number of teams and the cities they will represent. However, the UFL has confirmed that the inaugural game will be played on March 30, 2024 between the 2023 league champions: the Arlington Renegades (XFL) and the Birmingham Stallions (USFL).
A press release listed five UFL “partners.” The list includes the three XFL owners – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital Partners – USFL owner Fox Sports (represented by CEO Eric Shanks) and ESPN (represented by chairman Jimmy Pitaro). Disney/ESPN was the exclusive broadcast partner for the 2023 XFL season.
“From day one, our mission has been to grow football and be a league full of opportunity, culture and innovation,” Johnson said in a statement. “When we come together to create the UFL, we can build something powerful, exciting and very cool for soccer fans – a spring league with lasting impact for every player who dreams of playing professional soccer and for the hardest workers in the space.” 'Mentality to make their dreams come true.'
Shanks said, “FOX is football, and the USFL’s success has proven that spring football has a bright future. The opportunity to bring our two leagues together – each with a commitment to advancing broadcast practices, rules innovation and community – – only enhances the potential of the United Football League and cements its place in the sporting calendar.”
The USFL and the negotiations did not result in an agreement.