Author: Thomas Shanks

XFL Announces Marc Trestman as Head Coach of Tampa Bay Franchise

Posted on by Thomas Shanks

Today, XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck announced Marc Trestman has been hired as the Head Coach and General Manager of the XFL Tampa Bay franchise.

Last Friday, in what seems to have become a regular occurrence for all the XFL Head Coach announcements, the Tampa Bay Times leaked that Trestman would be named as the Head Coach/General Manager of the Tampa Bay XFL franchise. This was confirmed at the press conference held today at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium.

Trestman has had mixed success as a head coach in both the NFL and CFL, and most recently worked as the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Earlier in his career he also served as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes (CFL), and Chicago Bears (NFL). His greatest glory came as a head coach in the Canadian Football League where he led the Alouettes to two consecutive Grey Cup championships and was named CFL Coach of the Year in 2009. Later in 2017, he also lead the Toronto Argonauts to a Grey Cup championship.

“Marc is a two-time coach of the year who also led his teams to three CFL Grey Cup championships,” XFL commissioner Oliver Luck said in his statement. “He’s just the kind of offensive-minded coach whose style will fit the uptempo, fast-paced game we will deliver to fans when the XFL launches next February.”

“I am very excited to be on the ground floor with Oliver, his team, and the other coaches across the XFL to help re-imagine football,” said Trestman. “I started my coaching career in Florida while I was in law school, and personally know the passion and love for the game that football fans have in the Tampa Bay area and across the state.  I can’t wait to begin putting a coaching staff together and building a team that will play disciplined, fundamentally sound and exciting football come February.”

A Minnesota native, in college Trestman played as a quarterback for three seasons with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, and one season with Minnesota State University Moorhead. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Miami Law School and has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1983.

Oliver Luck announces the hiring of Jim Zorn as the head coach and general manager of XFL Seattle

Posted on by Thomas Shanks
Jim Zorn introduced as the head coach and general manager of the XFL team in Seattle.

Replay press conference on YouTube:

At the press conference, XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck lauded Zorn. “I watched Jim Zorn play for the Seahawks, an expansion franchise, and I was totally captivated with his style of play. He was innovative. He was creative. He did all those things as a player that we want to do as a league.”

“He’s a great individual, and a man of high caliber,” Luck added.

Zorn is best known as the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks for their first eight seasons. Afterward, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks before being hired by the Washington Redskins to be their head coach starting in the 2008 season. After leaving Washington, Zorn was hired as quarterbacks coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and later as the quarterbacks’ coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Seattle takes an important step toward spring football

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Jim Zorn’s name and position on the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor. (Source)

If there is a place where spring football may thrive, it’s Seattle. After all, February weather in Seattle can be downright “spring like,” an important consideration for the potential quality of both the game and the fan experience.

Seattle has the weather, the fans, and a fabulous stadium, and on Monday the Emerald City will be given the name of the first Head Coach and General Manager of Seattle’s XFL franchise.

  • Event: Monday February 25th at 1:00PM Pacific Time. CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

The biggest name rumored to be débuted as Head Coach of XFL Seattle is Jim Zorn.  Zorn will be forever connected to Seattle as he was the first starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, a position he filled from 1976 to 1984. If Zorn is the one who is named on Monday, be sure they will talk about his career in Seattle and his name and position on the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor.

Zorn’s past coaching career includes a less than successful stint with the Washington Redskins, but don’t think that will dissuade Seattle football fans from embracing him. When it comes to football, Zorn will be a welcome sight for Seattleites when he is seen on the sidelines at CenturyLink Field.

Ever since the venerable Kingdome was imploded in March 2000, Seattle’s new gem has been CenturyLink Field. Home to the Seattle Seahawks it will now host Seattle’s XFL team. CenturyLink is an open-air stadium with a capacity of 68,000 under its overhangs that cover about seventy percent of the seating area. It’s perfect for football.  Will the XFL crowd fill the seats? Doubtful, especially in the first season. However, 25,000 fans in the lower bowl would be more than respectful.

CenturyLink Field is notorious for its crowd noise. It twice held the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar at an outdoor stadium, first at 136.6 decibels in 2013, followed by a measurement of 137.6 decibels in 2014. It will be interesting to see how an XFL fan crowd will attempt to match these levels.

Monday is an important step to bring spring football to Seattle next February. Soon, Seattle’s team name, logo and colors should be ready to be revealed. Another important step in the process, especially for fans to begin to rally around their new team.

XFL Seattle Head Coach Announcement Monday

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Seattle’s CenturyLink Field, future home to Seattle’s XFL franchise.

The XFL has announced it will reveal the Seattle franchise’s Head Coach on Monday 25 February 2019.

  • Event: Monday February 25th at 1:00PM Pacific Time. CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

This announcement will come only four days after XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck announced Pep Hamilton as Head Coach/General Manager of the XFL Washington franchise.

Earlier this week, on St. Louis radio, Luck mentioned the upcoming XFL announcements. “We’ve got a cadence going of about one Head Coach announcement per week and we will get all our markets done by the end in March,” Luck explained.

A week ago, SiriusXM NFL Radio host Alex Marvez tweeted the rumor that former Quarterback and and NFL coach Jim Zorn was rumored to join the XFL as a coach.

It is felt Zorn would be a likely candidate for the XFL Seattle Head Coach/GM position, since he has sports ties to that city and currently resides in the local area.

Zorn is best known as the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks for their first eight seasons. Afterward, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks before being hired by the Washington Redskins to be their head coach starting in the 2008 season. After leaving Washington, Zorn was hired as quarterbacks coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and later as the quarterbacks’ coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jim Zorn now added to the list of rumored XFL Head Coaches

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Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn (right) during the preseason NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in Landover, Md. (Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/)

On Friday, SiriusXM NFL Radio host Alex Marvez tweeted the rumor that former Quarterback and and NFL coach JIm Zorn is now rumored to join the XFL as a coach.

If we could go out on a limb, we would assume Zorn would be a likely candidate for the XFL Seattle Head Coach/GM position, since he has sports ties to that city and currently resides in the local area.

Zorn is best known as the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks for their first eight seasons. Afterward, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks before being hired by the Washington Redskins to be their head coach starting in the 2008 season. After leaving Washington, Zorn was hired as quarterbacks coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and later as the quarterbacks’ coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

Luck compares upcoming XFL broadcasting partner announcement to Bob Stoops hiring

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CEO & Commissioner of the XFL, Oliver Luck, joined the Dan Sileo Show on 97.3 “The Fan,” in San Diego, to talk about the success the AAF had in their first weekend, and more so about the football talent the XFL wants to showcase.

Luck pointed out that the AAF opening weekend proved, “there is no question there is an appetite for good quality football.” Luck went on the point out that there is a vast amount of football talent that doesn’t get a chance to play in the NFL, and he feels leagues like the AAF and XFL can serve to give them a place to play the game they love.

Luck also alluded to big news regarding the television partners. “We will be announcing shortly our broadcast partnerships and  they’re going to be as strong as Bob Stoops was in coaching circles,” Luck said.

Luck also revealed how well-respected NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino will be working with the league, to make sure XFL officiating is done correctly.

Listen for yourself: https://973thefansd.radio.com/media/audio-channel/xfl-vs-aaf