Another new American football league is coming, and this one will start the Sunday after the Super Bowl in 2019.
The American Alliance of Football league was officially unveiled on Tuesday by Co-Founder and CEO Charlie Ebersol and Co-Founder and Head of Football Bill Polian.
Last year, Ebersol directed a documentary on the XFL for the ESPN series “30 for 30.” Polian is a former NFL general manager of the Buffalo Bills (1986-92), Carolina Panthers (1995-97), and Indianapolis Colts (1997-2009) and was Team President of the Colts from 1998 through 2011.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu is the Head of Player Relations for the AAF. J.K. McKay, who played on two USC national championship teams, serves as the Head of Football Operations. Other staff members include former players Hines Ward, Jared Allen, and Justin Tuck.
The AAF will consist of eight teams owned by the league. The league will begin a 12-week season on February 9, 2019 on CBS and will conclude with the championship game during the weekend of April 26-28, 2019, also on CBS.
One game per week will also air on CBS Sports Network, while the remaining games will be available to stream through the league’s app. Live fantasy play will also be integrated into the broadcasts.
The draft for the AAF will be conducted in the Fall after the conclusion of the college football season. It will reportedly start with regional drafts to protect “…eligible players who played in the local community for their college days.”
Rule changes from the NFL include no kickoffs and all extra points are 2-point conversions from the 2-yard line. There will also be an alternative to onside kicks, “…with the team wanting to try one instead taking possession at its 35 yard-line on a fourth-and-10 to try one play to keep the ball.”
Today’s announcement comes roughly two months after Vince McMahon announced that the XFL is set to return in 2020.
You can view the composite AAF Schedule at the link below. Individual team schedules will be added to the site soon.