Charlie Ebersol, who directed the “30 for 30” documentary about dad Dick Ebersol and Vince McMahon’s failed XFL, is forming his own professional football league. The Alliance of American Football will launch in 2019, undercutting the WWE chairman’s XFL reboot by a year, the TV and film producer announced Tuesday.
The eight-team AAF will air its first game and its championship game on CBS, with one game per week in-between on CBS Sports Network.
Rosters will consist of 50 players per team, the regular season will run 10 weeks. The will be a four-team playoffs.
In addition to Charlie Ebersol, the Alliance of American Football will be run by Bill Polian, former vice chairman of the Indianapolis Colts. Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will oversee the players, while J.K. McKay will run the team side. Dick Ebersol will serve as an adviser to his son’s league, as will retired NFL players Hines Ward and Justin Tuck.
The league will boast a shorter play clock than the NFL and fewer commercial breaks — both attempts to cut down the total time of the game. It will also eliminate the extra point, instead requiring two-point conversions after each touchdown.
That one is just a cool rule.
Additional rule alterations with player safety in mind include the removal of kickoffs (the offense will start at the 25-yard line) and instead of onside kicks, the losing team will begin at their own 35 yard line, facing fourth down and 10.
The Alliance’s investors include Founders Fund, Slow Ventures, The Chernin Group, Adrian Fenty and Charles King’s M Ventures, Keith Rabois and former NFL All-Pro Jared Allen.
The Alliance of American Football will kick off on Feb. 9, 2019 — one week after Super Bowl LIII.
Jennifer Maas contributed to this report.