WHAT HAPPENED TO THE USFL? // DEFUNCT LEAGUES: A USFL FOOTBALL DOCUMENTARY

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the USFL 1980s when the league shutdown after just three seasons.

Here's what this "USFL History" video covers:

The USFL came to prominence in the early 1980’s, hoping to challenge the growing popularity of the NFL. So what exactly led to the USFL being shut down after just three seasons? In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how a series of organizational mismanagements, and a misguided lawsuit against the NFL lead to the USFL’s demise.

The idea for the USFL first came to be in the early 1960's, when a man named David Dixon wanted to create a football league that could be played in the spring before the NFL and College Football seasons got underway. After helping New Orleans attract an NFL team in 1966, Dixon shelved the idea until the early 1980's when he later revisited it, thinking it was time the concept could work. The USFL draft and league formally officially launched in 1983 with 12 teams to start, such as the Los Angeles Express, Oakland Invaders, Tampa Bay Bandits, Chicago Blitz, Michigan Panthers, Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, and more. Initially, the league was a success attracting 25,000 fans per game and getting better than expected TV ratings. This was in part due to break outs like Herschel Walker New Jersey Generals star player who went onto win MVP in 1983. Other USFL highlights included USFL qbs like Jim Kelly of the USFL Houston Gamblers throwing for 5K yards. The USFL championship 1983 saw the Michigan Panthers defeat the Philadelphia Stars 24-22. Many of the teams exchanged hands in ownership during the offseason. Real estate mogul Donald Trump bought the New Jersey Generals and instantly became one of the USFL's wealthiest and most influential owners. Ownership problems began to rise with other teams, both the Chicago Blitz and LA Express owners had major money issues that forced them to abandoned their teams. In 1984, it was proposed that the USFL and Trump switch to playing in the fall to go directly head to head with the NFL in order to force a merger between the two leagues. With all of the money issues surrounding the USFL, it was clear that a merger with the NFL was very unlikely. So the USFL decided to sue the NFL using antitrust laws, declaring the NFL a monopoly. While the USFL technically won its case, the jury found that the NFL was not the reason the USFL was struggling to survive and only awarded one dollar. This essentially was the leagues last hope of surviving, and with the verdict coming to just a few dollars under antitrust laws, the USFL soon folded.

The USFL 2022 is posed to return with brand new versions of the USFL teams, with the USFL commercials saying it will kickoff in April.

So what did you guys think of the USFL suing the NFL to either force a merger or break the NFL up? And what do you think about the USFL coming back, will you watch? Let me know in the comments below!

Other sports histories:

FOOTBALL HISTORY:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE USFL? - https://youtu.be/RT_LFZkF2Rk
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL BROWNS? - https://youtu.be/iatv8Di0Mf0
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BALTIMORE COLTS? - https://youtu.be/O-t7wrJZX3Q
SUPER BOWL 1: A SUPER QUICK HISTORY - https://youtu.be/3paD1b32myU
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HOCKEY HISTORY:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ATLANTA THRASHERS? - https://youtu.be/HXMJyHicOyY
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUEBC NORDIQUES? - https://youtu.be/-sQtB-yABYs
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BASKETBALL HISTORY:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL HORNETS? - https://youtu.be/zpg1SNL3mEY
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES? - https://youtu.be/4grFd7bm68Q
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS? - https://youtu.be/zXYecVtG5EY
TORONTO RAPTORS: A SUPER QUICK HISTORY - https://youtu.be/DHUrdaKehqM

BASEBALL HISTORY:
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEATTLE PILOTS? - https://youtu.be/dUVs4xhkAik
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONTREAL EXPOS Baseball? -
https://youtu.be/k0GdfDkbdRQ
WHEN HANK AARON BROKE BABE RUTH'S RECORD - https://youtu.be/fZobA3kFhVg
THE PINE TAR GAME: A SUPER QUICK HISTORY - https://youtu.be/EpUmokwJhBw
WHEN NOLAN RYAN PITCHED HIS LAST NO HITTER - https://youtu.be/DHUrdaKehqM
WASHINGTON SENATORS AND WASHINGTON NATIONALS: A SUPER QUICK HISTORY - http://y2u.be/sbx7S8lUwXA

STADIUMS & ARENAS HISTORIES:
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE USFL? // DEFUNCT LEAGUES: A USFL FOOTBALL DOCUMENTARY