The USFL has unveiled the eight teams that will begin play in spring of 2022
On Monday, the Fox-owned football league announced that the original eight team names will be used for the eight teams of the reboot that comes nearly 40 years later.
The North Division will have the Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars, and Pittsburgh Maulers. In the South Division, the four teams will be the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers, and Tampa Bay Bandits.
All eight teams will play in one location next year, according to the league’s website. Games are set to be broadcasted on FOX on a weekly basis.
As for the league’s leadership, Brian Woods –– the founder and CEO of The Spring League from 2017 to 2021 and a co-founder of the new USFL –– will serve as the league’s President of Football Operations. Former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston will serve as Executive Vice President of Football Operations.
The original USFL was founded in 1982 and played its first season the following year in 1983. The league was short-lived, however, as operations for the NFL alternative shuttered after three seasons. The final season of the league was played in 1985 before it officially ceased operations in 1986. The original league featured more a dozen teams over the course of its operations. The Michigan Panthers won the inaugural championship in 1983, before the Stars won the final two titles in 1984 and 1985. The Stars started in Philadelphia, but moved to Baltimore in time for what would be the league’s final year.