The Alliance of American Football just folded
They say that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it, a lesson that the fledgling Alliance of American Football learned resoundingly on Tuesday, as the 8-week-old league joined the XFL, UFL, and USFL as the latest NFL alternative to fold, a source told ESPN.
The 8-team alliance was hampered financially almost immediately, with Tom Dundon, the owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, infusing $250 million into the league after its first week of games in February. But it wasn't nearly enough to offset a variety of problems, including insurance issues, negligible fan (and commentator) interest, and the NFL's refusal to allow its lesser players from appearing in the AAF.
The Alliance — whose head coaches included former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier and Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Mike Singletary — gained attention in mid-March when NFL and CFL washout Johnny Manziel signed with its Memphis Express. Following the league's dissolution on Tuesday, the quarterback tweeted, "great concept, good football on the field and fun for fans to watch. Just not enough money to go around which has been the main problem with 'other' leagues for a long time." Manziel and some 400 other Alliance players can at least take solace in the fact that for a few short weeks, they made a handful of football lovers unexpectedly happy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jacob Lambert is the art director of TheWeek.com. He was previously an editor at MAD magazine, and has written and illustrated for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and The Millions.
-
Why the Earth's water cycle is under threat
Under The Radar Disturbances in the system that moves water around the world place more than half of global food production at risk
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - October 20, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Secret Service flaws, weather control, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cartoon critiques of the Kamala Harris media blitz
Cartoons Artists take on 60 surrealist minutes, word salad, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
South Carolina ends perfect season with NCAA title
Speed Read The women's basketball team won a victory over superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record
speed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Eight-year-old Brit Bodhana Sivanandan makes chess history
Speed Read Sivanandan has been described as a 'phenomenon' by chess masters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Watch Simone Biles win her record 8th US gymnastics championship
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Spain beats England 1-0 to win its first Women's World Cup
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
US knocked out of Women's World Cup in stunning exit
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps for most world championship titles
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published