Dwayne Johnson announced to form United Football League

[{"selector":"#anim-18e4cc44-356f-4bf3-b545-ccc85ec1724d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e45b4fb4-8889-4982-a997-caacf76f679e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(134.26295%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95201bb3-721c-40f0-88d9-26fcbd972600","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6041396-3961-4cc2-8431-83681f718888","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The XFL and USFL, rival football minor leagues, have merged to form the United Football League beginning on March 30, 2024. By Harsifat Kaur

[{"selector":"#anim-825f9344-f276-47fb-a2cc-2ae9420ca5d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-127.49004%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9bebfb8-36da-4998-96e0-cd514e4d72ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a04caae6-18fd-442d-8ca5-14f2c1b62e41","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dad72ff-9feb-4cbd-af50-7099a4ccfc1d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Co-owned by Dwayne Johnson and Danny Garcia, the announcement was made Sunday on FOX's NFL. By Harsifat Kaur

[{"selector":"#anim-f266a176-cc33-4634-812a-62de46c60b23 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f8c49bc-b3c8-491f-81bf-ad936fa699a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfa60b85-9d79-4cfe-b08f-f2a944006c21","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(134.26295%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The inaugural matchup features the Arlington Renegades and Birmingham Stallions, the reigning champions of the XFL and USFL, respectively. By Harsifat Kaur

The merger decision was initially disclosed in September.

[{"selector":"#anim-250f37bd-256c-44ae-977f-5be2919cded3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62edd2be-12bb-42f9-8e14-7aece4afc209","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(122.50000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8d9a87c-944b-4eb0-ae99-6ffccd4758ae","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] By Harsifat Kaur

Described as the Unified Spring League, the UFL aims to fulfill the aspirations of players, coaches, staff and fans.

[{"selector":"#anim-1af07d7e-7078-4a5d-81af-19ca59862b15 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27b00fe3-9b35-4e88-9b51-0ed140fb6c20","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.57143%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aeb3f9fc-f80e-4609-8abe-533480bacba2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-634ba7c3-106e-4a39-b422-b75c1198e326","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] By Harsifat Kaur

Danny Garcia committed to building on the legacy and growth of spring football.

[{"selector":"#anim-2ec69f8a-560c-4c35-a0a6-f2c3ab06a588","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dc05b1d-0ddb-4dc2-a4ea-15a9d9303207 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] By Harsifat Kaur

Historically, spring football leagues have faced challenges.

[{"selector":"#anim-c5302e68-5736-47b5-a9a6-e359f15a9aa8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9ceba8b-fa33-43d5-99ed-65dc509ba19d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.64285%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93746b8b-f08f-40b0-85c8-473d39f2c2ef","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] By Harsifat Kaur

The original USFL, founded in 1982, lasted four years, while the first iteration of the XFL, in 2001, lasted only one season.

[{"selector":"#anim-99f0b2cb-6b8d-4949-804a-bc062b6f8145","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.64285%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-066b8608-d905-49ee-8f65-0eda6f1f6bdb","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb882555-4ffa-4da0-ac8f-c08fa3e04054 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] By Harsifat Kaur

Revived in 2018, the XFL faced bankruptcy in 2020, later being acquired by a conglomerate featuring Johnson and Garcia.

[{"selector":"#anim-9fc1865d-e8f7-4195-8581-50d3229c9c7d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12e83e54-fdf9-45be-8c1f-6eb5903a2af7","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] By Harsifat Kaur

The USFL was born in 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama.

[{"selector":"#anim-e8f1b4e1-80ba-4a8c-8289-b6914ca7c8ea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(123.57142%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d964e0d-3b87-46aa-9dc3-1081eeb3232d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e27676fe-840a-4739-833f-2494d4c3422f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c436a3c-863d-4042-b013-c27984d4202a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] By Harsifat Kaur

Dwayne Johnson emphasized the opportunity to establish spring football as a permanent presence after years of setbacks.

[{"selector":"#anim-adbba4ea-c4e7-4a69-97be-fabad3cbb6ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57082c8e-5e7f-4542-a186-00005cbfc5b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(130.30304%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ee47778-7271-4e5f-86a7-8cc5dab6eb16","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5258e022-51ac-499d-bd0a-ec399f5a64e1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] By Harsifat Kaur