XFL (2001)

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.


BIRMINGHAM
BOLTS

LEGION FIELD
(BIRMINGHAM, AL)

CHICAGO
ENFORCERS

SOLDIER FIELD
(CHICAGO, IL)

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
HITMEN

GIANTS STADIUM
(E.RUTHERFORD, NJ)

ORLANDO
RAGE
CITRUS BOWL
(ORLANDO, FL)
Division CHAMPIONS
2001 ORLANDO RAGE

LAS VEGAS
OUTLAWS
SAM BOYD STADIUM
(LAS VEGAS, NV)

LOS ANGELES
XTREME

(MEMORIAL COLISEUM)
(LOS ANGELES, CA)

MEMPHIS
MANIAX

LIBERTY STADIUM
(MEMPHIS, TN)

SAN FRANCISCO
DEMONS

PACIFIC BELL PARK
(SAN FRANCISCO, CA)
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.

SEMI-FINALS
SEASON WINNER SCORE LOSER STADIUM
APR
14

SAN FRANCISCO
DEMONS
26 @ 25
ORLANDO
RAGE

Citrus Bowl
Orlando,FL
APR
15

LOS ANGELES
XTREME
33 VS 16
CHICAGO
HITMEN

Memorial Coliseum
LOS ANGELES,CA
XFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
SEASON WINNER SCORE LOSER STADIUM

LOS ANGELES
XTREME
38 VS 6
SAN FRANCISCO
DEMONS