XFL (2001) played its only season in 2001 and was a joint venture between the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and NBC, which also carried the game on its broadcast network.

It was conceived as an outdoor football league that would begin play immediately after the National Football League (NFL) season ended, to take advantage of the perceived lingering public desire to watch football after the NFL and college football seasons conclude.

It was promoted as having fewer rules to encourage rougher play than other major leagues, inspired by professional wrestling (and in particular, the WWF's then-current "Attitude Era"), including heat and kayfabe, and suggestively-dressed cheerleaders. Commentary crews also featured WWF commentators (such as Jesse Ventura, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler) joined by sportscasters and veteran football players. Despite the wrestling influence, the games and their outcomes were legitimate and not based on scripted storylines.

The league operated as a single entity with all teams owned by the league, compared to the usual franchise model adopted by most major professional leagues.

The league was relaunched briefly in 2020, cut short due to the Coronavirus-19 Pandemic, and then returned for a full regular season and playoffs in 2023 before merging with the USFL to form the UFL in 2024.

East Division
BIRMINGHAM
BOLTS
(BIRMINGHAM, AL)

LEGION FIELD
CHICAGO
ENFORCERS(CHICAGO, IL)

SOLDIER FIELD
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
HITMEN
(E.RUTHERFORD, NJ)

GIANTS STADIUM
ORLANDO
RAGE
(ORLANDO, FL)
CITRUS BOWL
Division CHAMPIONS
2001 ORLANDO RAGE
West Division
LAS VEGAS
OUTLAWS
(LAS VEGAS, NV)
SAM BOYD STADIUM
LOS ANGELES
XTREME
(LOS ANGELES, CA)

(MEMORIAL COLISEUM)
MEMPHIS
MANIAX
(MEMPHIS, TN)

LIBERTY STADIUM
SAN FRANCISCO
DEMONS
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA)

PACIFIC BELL PARK
Division CHAMPIONS
2001 LOS ANGELES XTREME

The top 2 teams, per division, qualified for the playoffs.

All playoffs show '@' for away games and 'VS' for home games.

SEASON WINNER SCORE LOSER STADIUM
2001
LOS ANGELES
XTREME (1)
38 VS 6
SAN FRANCISCO
DEMONS

Memorial Coliseum
LOS ANGELES,CA

HALL OF CHAMPIONS

2001

LOS ANGELES
XTREME