“The USFL is back!”
So proclaimed local football legend Doug Flutie today on social media about the return of the United States Football League, scheduled to return to action come Spring 2022. Flutie had an infamous stint in 1985 with one of the previously defunct leagues’s teams, the New Jersey Generals. The same New Jersey Generals who were owned by former President of the United States Donald Trump. Wild times those 1980’s.
So what’s the story with this USFL 2.0?
“It’s football. It’s real football. It’s pro football at the highest level.” said Flutie, who also reminded us as to just how much talent played a part in the three year money losing effort.
“We had fifteen guys that played in the USFL that played in the NFL Pro Bowl the following year.” Household NFL names like Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young were a part of the failed NFL competitor.
Flutie had an odd history with the league. He was coming off an incredible career with the Boston College Eagles, yet wasn’t seen as a top pro prospect due to his size, so he took a five year, seven million dollar offer to become the highest paid player in USFL history. He only lasted a year as the league folded after his first season in 1985. Flutie later went on to much success in the CFL for eight seasons before finally landing in the NFL for 12 seasons, capping his career with the most famous dropkick in Patriots history.
But now it’s back! This USFL 2.0 will be run by Spring League founder Brian Woods, and will be broadcast on FOX Sports, who will also have a minority stake in the league. The league said they will have eight teams like before, when Boston initially had one of the franchises, the Breakers. They played at BU’s Nickerson Field for one year before relocating. That name has since been used for a National Women’s Soccer League team, but is available again, should Boston be awarded a franchise.
Competitors to the NFL have not fared very well historically. The AAF, Alliance of American Football, didn’t even make it through their inaugural campaign in 2018. The XFL, now co-owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is attempting their third iteration, now in cooperation with the CFL. And this now, a second USFL. Be worth watching to see if this attempt, with the backing of FOX, and the endorsement of Flutie, will catch on.
No word on any potential involvement from Flutie, nor whether President Trump will have any involvement in the league, either.