CBS to air new professional football league in 2019 - a year before the XFL is set to relaunch

  • Charlie Ebersol, the son of longtime NBC executive Dick Ebersol, unveiled the Alliance of American Football, which will have a 10-week season and eight teams
  • Dick Ebersol was the president of NBC sports when the network aired the first season of McMahon's XFL in 2001. That league lasted only one year 
  • The XFL briefly enjoyed notoriety for its physical style and colorful players. In fact, Charlie Ebersol directed a documentary about it that aired on ESPN
  • In addition to former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian, Charlie Ebersol tapped former Pittsburgh Steelers Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward to serve as a player relations executives
  • Play clocks will be dropped down to 30 seconds and the point after has been removed completely in favor of two-point conversions 
  • Furthermore, the league will not have kickoffs, as teams will begin every offensive possession on their own 25-yard line 

Charlie Ebersol is the founder of the new Alliance of American Football 

Charlie Ebersol is the founder of the new Alliance of American Football 

Months after Vince McMahon announced his intention to relaunch the XFL in 2020, the son of his former business partner declared his intention to start yet another professional football league, only this one will start play in February of 2019.

On Tuesday, Charlie Ebersol, the son of longtime network executive Dick Ebersol, unveiled the Alliance of American Football, which will have a 10-week season and feature eight 50-man rosters. The season will not compete directly will the NFL and will instead be played in the late winter and spring.

As president of NBC sports, Dick Ebersol was McMahon's broadcast partner for the original XFL, which had its only season in 2001 before going out of business.

McMahon is mostly known for founding World Wrestling Entertainment. However, he and the XFL did briefly enjoy notoriety for the league's physical style and colorful players. In fact, Charlie Ebersol directed a documentary about the league that aired in 2017 as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series.

The new league will have some experience before the new season launches the week after Super Bowl LIII.

In addition to former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian, Charlie Ebersol tapped former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu to serve as a player relations executive. Hines Ward, who also played for the Steelers, and former New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck are involved on that end as well.

Former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian will work with the AAF

Former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian will work with the AAF

Vince McMahon talks during the XFL Press Conference at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Californi
Television executive and a senior adviser for NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Duncan "Dick" Ebersol attends the UJA-Federation Of New York Sports For Youth 2016 Luncheon at The Roosevelt Hotel on May 17, 2016

As president of NBC sports, Dick Eberol (right) was the XFL's broadcast partner back in 2001. Vince McMahon (left) recently announced that he would be relaunching the XFL in 2020

As to is former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who is also one of the league's investors, along with Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and The Chernin Group, which is the majority owner of Barstool Sports.

'I think where businesses like this fail is that they expect to have ludicrous and unrealistic ticket and media deal projections in Year 1,' Ebersol said. 'Our investors here understand that it's a seven- to 10-year plan.'

The season opener and the championship game will be played on CBS, according to Charlie Ebersol, while the other games will be shown on the CBS Sports Network.

Troy Polamalu is one of several former NFL players who will be involved in the AAF

Troy Polamalu is one of several former NFL players who will be involved in the AAF

And despite the dwindling numbers at football's youth level, Ebersol believes his league will survive because the NFL's 32 teams only allow for 1,700 players.

'There are 28,000 Division I football players. Only 1,700 have NFL jobs,' Ebersol said, before referencing one legendary quarterback who failed to make the NFL after college. 'We're looking for those Kurt Warners working in grocery stores, and we think we will find them.'

The league will have eight teams, which will be announced over the next three months. There will be regional drafts and teams can protect eligible players from their respective regions.

Ebersol also stressed that the league will not have TV timeouts and will feature far fewer commercials than the NFL.

Furthermore, the league will not have kickoffs, as teams will begin every offensive possession on their own 25-yard line. The belief is that kickoffs typically increase the chance of serious injury.

Play clocks will be dropped down to 30 seconds and the point after has been removed completely in favor of two-point conversions.

Former NFL players Justin Tuck (left), Hines Ward (center) and Jared Allen (right) are also involved with the AAF. In addition to being an investor, Allen will also work with the players

Former NFL players Justin Tuck (left), Hines Ward (center) and Jared Allen (right) are also involved with the AAF. In addition to being an investor, Allen will also work with the players

Without top players, the XFL was forced to rely on scantily clad cheerleaders and a new set of rules that emphasized physical play while potentially putting players at further risk of injury

Without top players, the XFL was forced to rely on scantily clad cheerleaders and a new set of rules that emphasized physical play while potentially putting players at further risk of injury

The XFL struggled to attract fans in its only season
The Alliance of American Football's new logo

Whereas the XFL struggled to attract fans in 2001 (left) the AAF (right) has a 10-year plan