XFL To Join With NFL On Innovation Opportunities To Advance The Game Of Football
February 22, 2022
The XFL has announced it will be collaborating with the NFL on select innovation programs to further expand the game of football and create increased opportunities for player development both on and off the field.
iSportConnect’s Ben Page: In my opinion, it is absolutely vital for both sides to work together, but particularly for the XFL if it wants to avoid the fate of its previous times in existence. However, it can’t be ruled out how important this also is for the NFL, as they are in desperate need of a feeder league, such as the NBA’s G-League equivalent. Having a prospering XFL will ensure that players who are coming into the NFL during the season have been playing competitively (rather than just training on practice squads), give opportunities for late developers who improve in their mid-late 20s and provide many more careers for players when they leave college, while also being another entertainment platform for the sport.
According to the XFL, health and safety will be a principal area of focus in both learning and innovation, with the league working with the NFL on forward thinking physical and mental fitness programs for players, the study of playing surfaces and equipment and the sharing of game trends and data.
“We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the NFL in these important areas,” said Dany Garcia, Co-Owner and Chairwoman of the XFL. “We are bringing forward an XFL that is progressive and forward-thinking when it comes to innovation, leveraging the newest technology to enhance gameday experience. We have an open field for innovative rules to enhance in-game access. Sharing insights and practices between the XFL and NFL will do a tremendous amount of good for the game of football and support the player ecosystem overall.”
Additional avenues for collaboration may include international football development and scouting, as well as officiating, including the testing of different game rules for player protection and enhanced overall play, and of different technologies to enhance officiating.
“The XFL has shown us that innovation is one of its core principles. We are hopeful that this relationship will support further development and improvements in the game of football at all levels.” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
