Fox Sports Announce Return Of The USFL

Fox Sports have announced they will be the official broadcast partner for the United States Football League (USFL) as well as acquiring a minority stake in the league.

The USFL announced it will be returning in 2022 after an over 30-year hiatus since its last season in 1985.

The league is set to retain the rights to original team names and aims to have eight teams by the start of the 2022 season.

Co-founder of the new USFL, Brian Woods, said: “I’m extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with Fox Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavour worth pursuing.

“We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football,” he said.

Woods is also the founder and CEO of The Spring League (TSL), an American Football league that aims to be a developmental system where players can be scouted by National Football League (NFL) teams.

Fox Sports CEO and executive producer, Eric Shanks, said: “The relaunch of the USFL is a landmark day for football fans and Fox Sports.

“Football is in our DNA and the return of this innovative and iconic league is a fantastic addition to our robust slate of football programming,” he said.

This is the second re-emergence of an American Football league in the past few years with the XFL having returned in 2020 after a 19-year hiatus.

However, the league ceased operations only five weeks into play due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have since announced plans to return in 2022.