The 2023 XFL is set to kick off on February 18th 2023, and as we inch closer to the start of the new season there's plenty of new information hitting the news every day.
So, to help clear the sea of headlines, we've rounded up all the things you REALLY need to know about the 2023 XFL.
XFL and Under Armour Announce Exclusive Uniform Partnership
The XFL has officially announced an exclusive uniform partnership with Under Armour, alongside a reveal of every uniform for each of the 2023 teams.
From the locker room to the field, UA has our guys looking 🔥🔥@XFL2023 | @UnderArmour pic.twitter.com/I8cVcMApKC
— XFL (@XFL2023) January 22, 2023
Beginning in the 2023 XFL season, Under Armour will be the exclusive provider of all on-field uniforms, including jerseys, base layer, sideline and training apparel, for all XFL teams.
The XFL revealed the new team uniforms featuring unique home and away sets that showcase each team's identity. The design was a collaboration between XFL ownership, marketing, and Under Armour teams. Each jersey includes the "Blood, Sweat, Respect" mantra on the interior collar, team wordmarks and branding at the base of the neckline, UA's ArmourGrid nameplates with twill lettering, and XFL, Under Armour, and Project Rock Brahma Bull patches.
Over the past decade, we have fostered a prolific partnership with Under Armour for Project Rock. They have proven to be a best-in-class partner and true innovators in the high-performance sports space. Integrating them into the XFL as Official Uniform Partner is a natural extension of this long-standing relationship. We have been closely collaborating with their exceptional talent to ensure these uniforms reflect the dynamic energy of each team and are engineered to deliver state-of-the-art athlete solutions to drive player performance while also prioritizing health and safety. We hope our fans are as excited about these uniforms as we are – we can’t wait to see our players hit the gridiron in them this February.
Dany Garcia, Chairwoman and Owner.
XFL Cuts Rosters to 70 Players
The 2023 XFL training camp is well underway as teams prepare for the upcoming season opener on February 18, when the Vegas Vipers take on the Arlington Renegades.
Teams built their rosters through drafts and the inclusion of NFL Alumni Academy players who were guaranteed a spot by graduating from the Academy. As a result, all teams entered camp with more players than the final week one roster will allow, leading to inevitable cuts.
The XFL announced that almost every team has now cut their roster down to the required 70 players.
All XFL Rosters sit at 70, except Arlington who sits at 72 currently
— XFL Analyst (@xflanalyst) January 22, 2023
XFL signs first player with 2023 NFL Draft eligibility
With the return of the XFL, comes the opportunity for players with college eligibility to play professional football before entering the NFL.
In 2019, the St. Louis Battlehawks selected safety Kenny Robinson, who starred for the team for five weeks in 2020 before being selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 5th round of the NFL Draft that April.
This year, the Seattle Sea Dragons have signed QB Harrison Frost, who played for West Georgia in 2022 and is eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. This signing marks the first player eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft to join the XFL.
Frost, a Mercer transfer, just finished his senior season at West Georgia. He started all 10 games for the Wolves, throwing 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Frost holds the record for most and second-most passing yards in a single season in school history, completing over 60% of his passes during his time there.
While Frost may not be a top prospect in the QB class, this signing is a win-win situation for both him and the Sea Dragons. For Frost, he gets to spend some of his draft prep working under June Jones with little pressure to make the team and little risk of in-game injury. He'll also get a chance to prepare like a professional, an experience that could set him above some of the others should he be signed as an undrafted free agent or get invited to an NFL minicamp in the spring.
For the Sea Dragons, Frost is a camp arm that can help them get through practices and scrimmages, and it also gives them a peek at a player that may be available next season should DiNucci, Lewerke, or Montez chase NFL opportunities
How much do XFL players get paid?
2023 XFL players will be signed to a minimum of a one-year contract. The total salary offered will be broken into three different factors:
- Base Salary: $59,000
- Per Game Salary: $5,000
- Bonus: $1,000 per win
At $59,000, the base XFL salary is roughly $5,000 more than the USFL’s 2022 salary. For the more highly paid players, the XFL will also provide almost $20,000 per player in benefits such as health and dental insurance, plus housing and meals.
How many games are in the 2023 XFL season?
Each team will play 10 games in the 2023 XFL regular season, with the first matchup taking place on February 18th.
The regular season will then be followed by 2 Semi-Final games on April 29th and April 30th 2023. The 2 winners of these games will face-off in the XFL Championship on May 13th 2023.
This means there will be a total of 43 XFL games in 2023.
