Wade Phillips will be one of the head coaches when the XFL makes its return in 2023, the league announced on Wednesday.
Phillips was one of eight coaches named, with teams still to be determined. The league, slated currently to kick off in February of 2023, is still working out logistics and plans for what they intend to do for teams, cities, and venues.
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Phillips has coached in numerous capacities for 40 years, including as a head coach for the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys, with a 82-64 overall head coaching record during the regular season over a span of 12 seasons.
Phillips attended the University of Houston, where he played college football, and is also the son of the late Bum Phillips, the head coach loved by many Houstonians for his time leading the “Luv Ya Blue” Houston Oilers.
Shortly after Wednesday’s announcement, Phillips tweeted, “So excited and honored to be picked as an XFL Head Coach. Great that XFL is back and so happy to be back myself!”
Others who were announced Wednesday who will be XFL head coaches in the league’s return, along with Phillips, include Reggie Barlow, Anthony Becht, Terrell Buckley, Jim Haslett, Bob Stoops, Hines Ward and Rod Woodson.
The XFL first came to the world in 2001, shut down after that season, came back in 2020, then shut down that year and filed for bankruptcy, citing the pandemic as the main reason. The league was sold later that year to a partnership including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Johnson was a part of Wednesday’s broadcast announcement for the new head coaches.
Earlier this week, on Monday, the XFL announced an exclusive partnership with the NFL Alumni Academy to help develop players for its 2023 return.