XFL announces eight head coaches for 2023 return including Wade Phillips

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XFL announces eight head coaches for 2023 return: Wade Phillips, Jim Haslett, Rod Woodson among new hires​

The new United States Football League (USFL) launches this week, with eight different franchises kicking off spring football. But it's not the only professional league making noise during the NFLoffseason. On Tuesday, the XFL, which is set to return in 2023 after a short-lived 2020 revival, announced on ESPN its eight teams' new head coaches. Among them are former NFL head coaches Wade Phillips and Jim Haslett, as well as Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and longtime Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Here's the full rundown of the eight head coaches announced for the XFL's 2023 return:

• Wade Phillips: Most recently the Rams' defensive coordinator (2017-2019), Phillips is a legend of the game, running defenses since the 1980s. He last served as a head coach with the Cowboys(2007-2010) and won a Super Bowl as the Broncos' defensive coordinator in 2015.
• Jim Haslett: Last seen as the Titans' inside linebackers coach (2020-2021), Haslett is a veteran defensive mind best known for a six-year run as Saints head coach (2000-2005). He's also held three different coordinator jobs.
• Bob Stoops: Head coach of the XFL's Dallas Renegades during the league's 2020 revival, Stoops spent 18 years as the Sooners' coach (1999-2016), winning one national title, and returned as Oklahoma's interim coach in 2021.
• Rod Woodson: The former 11-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame defensive back was last seen on the sidelines in 2017, when he served as the Raiders' CBs coach. He previously spent five years as a coaching intern/assistant.
• Hines Ward: An all-time Steelers wide receiver who won two Super Bowls during a 14-year career, Ward has transitioned to coaching in recent years, serving as a Jets assistant (2019-2020) and Florida Atlantic's WRs coach (2021).
• Reggie Barlow: A former NFL wide receiver, Barlow spent the last six years as Virginia State's head coach. Before that, he served as Alabama State's head coach from 2007-2014.
• Terrell Buckley: A former Super Bowl champion cornerback, Buckley has spent more than a decade as a college football assistant, most recently as the CBs coach for Mississippi State (2016-2019) and Ole Miss (2020-2021).
• Anthony Becht: An 11-year NFL tight end, the former Jets and Buccaneers veteran was last seen as the TEs coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019.

The XFL is slated to return to action in February 2023.

 

[RamDino]

The XFL is slated to return to action in February 2023.

And slated to cease operations in August 2023.

 

[nighttrain]

And slated to cease operations in August 2023.

probably

 

[RamDino]

probably

And for the record... I'm not against a new football league, it's just that they've tried it so many times.

 

[Mister Sin]

Hopefully it’s ran properly but the new ownership group. Dwayne Johnson being one of them, I feel he has terrific branding and marketing skills.

I loved watching the Battlehawks. St.Louis area really showed up and supported them. It was nice to see it. I love the thought of a developmental league here in America. Whether or not that league would be the XFL or not, im not sure. But, I think they need to be headed that way.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think the XFL would have made it had covid not shut it down. They had legit TV contracts, and had terrific game positioning to maximize viewership.
I hope the USFL and/or the XFL make it, there is definitely a place for football in the spring

 

[RamDino]

Just no more "HE HATE ME" jerseys.. please!

 

[Merlin]

Glad to see Wade get a gig. Which team will he run? Oh and btw looking at that field I have to assume Stoops runs the table.

XFL's quick fade last time left a bad taste though. So I would hope they have their business model unfucked and ready to go this time around.

 

[SWAdude]

I think the XFL would have made it had covid not shut it down. They had legit TV contracts, and had terrific game positioning to maximize viewership.
I hope the USFL and/or the XFL make it, there is definitely a place for football in the spring

I had never been a fan for these "alternate" leagues.

I must admit I did tune in this last time and it was interesting. Then Covid killed it.

I will try it again.

 

[wolfdogg]

And slated to cease operations in August 2023.

That's being optimistic

 

[CGI_Ram]

The XFL was pretty good football until Covid messed up their season.

With The Rock part owner, I have high hopes and will give it a shot.

 

[nighttrain]

just me probably, but i would be more interested if franchises were affiliated with NFL teams, like baseball minor league teams..
train

 

[dieterbrock]

just me probably, but i would be more interested if franchises were affiliated with NFL teams, like baseball minor league teams..
train

There's just too much red tape. They have to be separate entities or it becomes a whole issue of being part of the NFLPA, service time etc. It would almost need to be reverse engineered. If a spring league could prove to be a success over time, become a feeder league and not try to be in competition, maybe something could be done. Ultimately its just a near impossible calculation, the sport which has the largest game day roster (by far) that plays the least amount of games (by even farther).

 

[Angry Ram]

The XFL was pretty good football until Covid messed up their season.

With The Rock part owner, I have high hopes and will give it a shot.

Yeah Dwayne has had like 3 years to plan and invest. He's a smart dude, and last time it was super popular. USFL...ick.

 

[VegasRam]

I thought the original XFL was pretty cool. Espn/TV pretty much killed it through ridicule and lack of network support.
It's different now, and I think it will succeed.

Go Las Vegas Outlaws!