In a recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, McAfee and his co-hosts discussed the United Football League (UFL) and its ongoing challenges. The conversation highlighted issues with quarterback talent, league sustainability, and a developing ‘strike’.
No matter what you think of McAfee, it is good the show is talking about the United Football League. This 2 minute clip is more than the show talked about the UFL in its the kick-off last season. Since McAfee joined ESPN, the league that is 50% owned by ESPN barley gets any mention on this predominantly football talk show.
UFL Quarterback Talent Gap
McAfee explains why spring football leagues struggle to secure quality quarterback talent:
“These NFL teams all have four or five quarterbacks, and every young quarterback that’s good is going or potentially good is going to the NFL, so they can’t join the NFL. It’s like, what level of competition? You have O’G’s. Remember AJ McCarron? Yeah. What he played in there. Then there’s some guys that have become spring football legends, like the kid that was on St. Louis originally. (Jordan Ta’ Amu)”
Quarterback play in Spring football has always been challenge. Spring football had its fair share of hyped backup NFL quarterback’s play and are busts. So not everyone that is good is in the NFL.
It is better for quarterback’s in spots 4 and 5 on an NFL roster to play in the UFL rather than sit on the bench. Just ask P.J. Walker, Ben Dinucci, Adrian Martinez or even the aforementioned AJ McCarron. He went back to the NFL after a successful run in the UFL and made a couple million dollars.
UFL Financial Challenges
The conversation turns to the Rock’s investment in the UFL which is WAY OFF. Dwayne Johnson did not personally pay $100 million for the league.
“It was reported as lost everything. He made a sizable investment into this and lost. He’s got a lot of money. He made $90 million this year. He’s net negative $10 million. He’s got the quarterbacks around the picking line. No wonder he’s pissed off.”
Reportedly the XFL in 2023 had a a $60 million loss, where they spent $140 million and generated $80 million in revenue. The UFL in 2024 had indicated that it was not profitable, but did exceeded internal revenue projections.
Quarterback Strike Timing
McAfee questions the timing of the UFL quarterback strike:
“I don’t know how it works out. But as soon as I read that the quarterbacks are striking, I’m like, read the room.”
UFL players ‘striking’ would be a real bad look for the league going into the second season. UFL News Hub is hearing from multiple sources, conflicting messages. Some say, the league is fine and there will be no ‘strike’. Others are saying there could be something as we get closer to kick-off. McAfee suggests the players may be overplaying their hand given the league’s fragile state. That I agree with.
Remember, technically there is no strike as the players have no agreement in place with the United Football League. It would be a walkout, which still would be bad. The league could get replacement players from AF1 or IFL but there is not enough time to get trained before the UFL season would start.
League Awareness Issues
The show highlights marketing challenges facing the UFL. AJ Hawk said the following:
“To be fair, though, I mean, maybe I’m going to live in under a rock. I wasn’t sure the league was happening until I heard that these guys were holding out. I didn’t really know. We didn’t know year two was around the corner either.”
This exchange reveals a significant marketing problem for the UFL. When even sports media personalities aren’t aware of the league’s schedule, it indicates challenges in building audience awareness and engagement heading into its second season.
What makes it even worse, the UFL plays on the same network this show is on. Games will be on the same exact channel and its football, which this show talks about all the time. I lay this blame more on ESPN than the United Football League for that.
Where Does The UFL Go From Here
If the UFL has any pull with ESPN, I would have UFL executive vice president of football operations Daryl Johnston appear on The Pat McAfee Show. They can discuss the league, what is the current walkout situation. Then have the guys on the show ask him questions about the UFL or the Cowboys.
It would be fine for Johnston to give a standard none answer about the potential walkout. Then at the end of the interview tease UFL expansion and maybe a team in Indianapolis and how Pat would make a great owner. That would tun this into a win for the league.
We have discussed in the past how McAfee is the only valuable e personality at ESPN. The league must leverage that in season two. This is the perfect time to do it. There is nothing going on in the NFL right now.
The UFL’s second season kicks off on March 28th when the St Louis Battlehawks take on the Houston Roughnecks Friday night on FOX.
1 Comment
by 4th&long
The UFL is not owned 50% by ESPN (Disney). Fox owns 50% and RBC-DG-Rock (primarily RBC) the other 50%. We’ve hear that Disney owns a piece of the that half but there are conflicting reports.
Agreed league awarness is an issue. Instead of focusing on ticket sales per se – the focus should be on league awareness locally and nationally.
But McAfee… is an idiot in a man’s body. Sounds like a uninformed moron. Rock invested $100mm ? Get a grip McAfee. But that lie at least associates UFL and Rock.
Never liked the guy though I can see why some do. He can be entertaining but he sounds like an idiot blowhard. I don’t listen to him for that. As far as AJ Hawk. – Doesnt know spring FB playing. You’re in the biz Hawk, get a clue.