The United Football League

With the signing of former Buffalo Bills starting quarterback J.P. Losman the question has to be asked whether the United Football League can be considered a true competitor for talent with the National Football League? This type of question pops up every three or four years as a nascent, start up league arrives on the scene. Other business people get it in their head that the market for professional football here in the United States is so big that surely the National Football League cannot dominate it all and other competitors can survive. Of course Donald Trump tried this theory with the USFL and WWE promoter/businessman Vince McMahon tested the theory with the XFL and failed.

The United Football League is starting up as the Arena Football League decided not to have a season this year. The Arena Football League has famous owners such as Jon Bon Jovi and former Denver Broncos legend John Elway, but the league still struggles to raise revenue. The United Football League appears to be attempting to build its strength on some high profiles names in the coaching ranks, as opposed to the owner’s box. The Las Vegas franchise has hired Jim Fassel to be their head coach. Fassel was the head coach of the New York Giants when they played in the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens. Fassel will be coaching Losman, who now appears likely to be the headlining name in the league

The San Francisco franchise has hired a coach who was on the cusp of going to numerous Super Bowls when he was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. I am referring to a Bill Walsh disciple, that being Dennis Green. Green despite his success with the Vikings now may be better known for a post game outburst following a loss to the Chicago Bears during his tenure as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Orlando franchise has hired former New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett. Haslett was also briefly the interim head coach of the St. Louis Rams along with being a noted defensive coordinator around the league. Haslett also had a successful career as a player mainly at linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. The other known UFL franchise in New York has hired the well traveled defensive guru Ted Cottrell to be a head coach. It will be interesting to see what the overall results of this league will be.