The XFL has suspended all operations and laid off nearly all of its employees with no immediate plans to return in 2021, according to a report by Kevin Seifert and Field Yates of ESPN.
NEWS: on a call today with COO Jeffery Pollock, XFL employees were just informed that the league is suspending operations and all employees have been laid off. Another sport impacted further by the current COVID-19 crisis.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 10, 2020
Just a handful of league executive remain employed following the league’s mass layoffs.
According NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, league employees will be paid through Sunday, with uncertainty regarding a potential restart in the future.
Employees are being paid through Sunday. After that, could be curtains. There was no discussion of when operations could restart, source says. https://t.co/nfaRuVPngC
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 10, 2020
The league’s inaugural season was cancelled last month after just five games amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan at that point was to return next season.
The Steelers have made five XFL signings in offensive tackle Jardon Jones, safety Tyree Kinnel, long snapper/linebacker Christian Kuntz and defensive ends Dewayne Hendrix and Cavon Walker. Walker led the XFL with 4.5 sacks for the New York Guardians. Hendrix and Kuntz played their college ball at Pitt and Duquesne, respectively.