USFL Returns

April 16, 2022: The new USFL debuted its inaugural season with a game played in Birmingham, Alabama.

Three additional games were supposed to be played the next day, Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, but severe weather delayed the start, pushing the fourth and final game to Monday, April 18.

All regular-season games were to take place in Birmingham, with the playoffs and the Title game scheduled for Tom Benson Stadium next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The USFL and XFL, two prominent spring football leagues, merged to create the United Football League (UFL). 1 The announcement came on December 31, 2023, with the inaugural season ending on March 30, 2024. This merger combined both leagues' resources and fan bases, aiming to establish a more stable and prosperous spring football entity. The UFL operates with eight teams, four from each former league, competing in separate conferences (USFL and XFL) with a championship game at the end of the season. 2 The merger aimed to avoid direct competition, consolidate talent, and provide a better platform for players aspiring to reach the NFL.