The XFL is not the only pro football league that is expected to launch in the coming years, and the other organization may already have a high-profile name lined up as a potential head coach.
Steve Spurrier told Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday that he has been contacted by Alliance of American Football organizers about possibly coaching one of the league’s eight teams. The 72-year-old said he is interested in the opportunity.
“I can’t talk a lot about it,” Spurrier said. “It sounds like an interesting and intriguing format and could be a lot of fun. I’m fired up about it, and we’ll see what happens. But I do have an interest.”
The belief is that Spurrier would potentially coach a team in Orlando, though the locations of the franchises have yet to be unveiled. Spurrier, of course, is one of the most recognizable coaches in college football history and won a national title at the University of Florida in 1996. He stepped down as the head coach at South Carolina in 2015 and has been serving as an ambassador and consultant at Florida since.
The AAF was founded by Charlie Ebersol, who is the son of legendary broadcaster and NBC executive Dick Ebersol. Former Indianapolis Colts vice chairman Bill Polian and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu are among the league’s organizers, and there is already a contract in place with CBS starting in 2019. The league has been described as more of a complement to the NFL than a competitor, as games will be played during the spring and end in April. Polian said he hopes the AAF will serve as a feeder for the NFL.
Spurrier has demonstrated since he stepped down at South Carolina that he still has plenty of confidence in his coaching ability, and his popularity in Florida is undeniable. He would be a huge get for the AAF as it starts out.
