The XFL professional football league begins its 2023 regular season this weekend (Feb 18-19) with four nationally-televised games between the league’s eight teams.
The goals of any minor football league include promoting the sport and providing a showcase for its players and coaches to exhibit their skills to NFL teams. We are particularly interested in the job opportunities it provides NFL alumni.
Six former NFL players are head coaches in the league and nearly two dozen more alumni are assistants on the eight coaching staffs and front offices.
The six NFL alums who will be XFL head coaches on the field this weekend are:
- Rod Woodson (with the XFL Vegas Vipers): He was a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety (Steelers, 49ers, Ravens, Raiders; 1987-2003) and Super Bowl XXXV champion who also has been an assistant coach for the Raiders.
- Terrell Buckley (Orlando Guardians): He was a Super Bowl XXXVI-winning cornerback with the Patriots and also played for five other teams from 1992-2005. He has been a college assistant coach since 2007.
- Hines Ward (San Antonio Brahmas): He was the MVP of Super Bowl XL and a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Steelers (1998-2011). He has been an NFL & college assistant coach since his playing days ended.
- Jim Haslett (Seattle Sea Dragons): He was the 1979 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Bills. He completed his linebacker playing career with the Jets in 1987. His coaching resume includes head coach of the Saints (2000-2005) and an assistant coach for seven other NFL teams.
- Anthony Becht (St. Louis BattleHawks): He was a 12-year NFL tight end (2000-11) starting his career with the Jets and playing with four other teams. He has coached on the minor league level and now is general manager and head coach in the XFL.
- Reggie Barlow (D.C. Defenders): He was a wide receiver-kick returner for three teams during his eight-year NFL career. His coaching experience includes being head coach for both his alma mater Alabama State and Virginia State during the last 15 years.
Two other familiar football names–Wade Phillips (Houston Roughnecks) and Bob Stoops (Arlington Renegades)–are the other XFL head coaches.
NFL alumni who are serving as assistant coaches include: LaRoi Glover, Ricky Proehl, June Jones, Joey Porter, Lamar Thomas and nearly two dozen other former NFL players.
We continue to support and salute all our NFL Alumni brothers who have chosen coaching as a career on the professional, collegiate, or high school level. Good luck to them and the XFL!
