Less than a month after canceling the remainder of its return season, the XFL informed its employees they have been laid off and the fledgling football league is suspending operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The XFL’s chief operating officer, Jeffery Pollock, informed employees on a conference call Friday, according to multiple reports.
The Vince McMahon-owned spring league had played half of its 10-week schedule when the rest of the season was scrapped on March 12. One XFL player, from the Seattle Dragons, tested positive for coronavirus on March 14.
The league initially had announced players would continue to receive their salaries, but the shutdown also allowed them to sign with NFL teams. The Giants, for instance, added defensive back Dravon Askew-Henry off the New York Guardians’ roster.
The upstart Alliance of American Football also failed to make it through one full season in 2019, filing for bankruptcy after eight weeks of play.