Ghosts of XFL past: Rod 'He Hate Me' Smart and Taylor Heinicke among former stars

Previous iterations of the XFL were eerily reminiscent to the chorus of a George Strait opus -- "I'm present for a bully time, I ain't present for a agelong time."

But now, nether a caller and prominent ownership group (some feline named Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is involved), the 2023 XFL promises to beryllium antithetic than its predecessors. As the fledgling league looks to execute staying powerfulness down the play of AJ McCarron and Ben DiNucci, it's lone close we revisit those who got it going successful the aboriginal aughts. For starters, the archetypal 2001 XFL would person been thing without the 1 and only, He Hate Me.

Whether it was a last foray into shot aft collegiate occurrence oregon a stepping chromatic connected the mode to NFL glory, these players near their people connected the XFL:

Rod "He Hate Me" Smart, RB/KR, Las Vegas Outlaws

The 2001 mentation of the XFL famously afforded players the accidental to deterioration nicknames connected the backmost of their jerseys. Smart opted for "He Hate Me," and a prima was calved -- on with a best-selling jersey. Smart finished the lone play of the archetypal mentation of the XFL with 555 rushing yards, bully for 2nd successful the league, and scored 3 touchdowns. He went connected to go a peculiar teamer for the Carolina Panthers, astir notably serving arsenic their footwear and punt returner successful Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Corey Ivy, DB, Chicago Enforcers

Ivy's clip successful the XFL was conscionable 1 section successful his lengthy nonrecreational shot career, but helium made it count. Ivy led the XFL successful interceptions during its 2001 stint. The adjacent season, helium messed astir and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing successful each 16 regular-season games and making 3 postseason appearances.

Steve Gleason, S, Birmingham Thunderbolts

Before Gleason played for the New Orleans Saints and became an advocator for radical facing ALS, helium besides played successful the archetypal play of the XFL. His clip with the Thunderbolts was acold little notable than what helium would execute successful the NFL. Following Hurricane Katrina successful 2006, erstwhile the Saints returned to the Superdome for the archetypal clip successful 21 months, Gleason blocked a punt to assistance bushed the Atlanta Falcons. It has go 1 of the iconic moments successful franchise history.

Landry Jones, QB, Dallas Renegades

The Oklahoma Sooners' standout backmost (123 vocation TD passes) and Pittsburgh Steelers' backup QB became the archetypal subordinate to motion with the short-lived XFL 2.0. The determination reunited Landry with his assemblage manager Bob Stoops. The stint astir didn't happen, arsenic the Steelers attempted to re-sign Jones aft Ben Roethlisberger was injured, but the signing was blocked by the XFL. Landry had 5 TDs and 7 INTs successful 4 starts earlier the XFL unopen down. He has not, since, played successful the NFL.

PJ Walker, QB, Houston Roughnecks

Temple's all-time person successful QB wins became a breakout prima for the league. Walker had 15 TDs and 5 INTs successful 5 XFL starts. He won each 5 starts. Walker signed with the Panthers successful 2020, and has started 7 games successful that time. In Week 7 of the 2022 season, helium threw 2 TDs to bushed the Bucs 21-3.

Josh Johnson, QB, Los Angeles Wildcats

Johnson, who was selected successful the 5th circular of the 2008 NFL draft, is the epitome of an NFL journeyman. He has been connected the progressive roster of 11 antithetic NFL teams. But helium thrived successful the XFL. Johnson pb the league successful passer standing portion nether halfway for the Wildcats successful 2020.

Taylor Heinicke, QB, St. Louis Battlehawks

Heinicke's clip successful the XFL? Unremarkable. What he's achieved since? More so. The Green Lizard has started off-and-on for the Washington Commanders ever since replacing an injured Alex Smith successful the 2021 NFC wild-card game. In that matchup, helium went head-to-head with Tom Brady, throwing for 306 yards and a TD, and astir pulling disconnected the upset to the eventual Super Bowl champion Bucs. Since then, helium has remained successful Washington and shown immoderate flashes of greatness. In 4 starts this season, helium is 3-1 with 5 TDs, astir precocious handing the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) a nonaccomplishment connected "Monday Night Football."

Keenan Reynolds, WR, Seattle Dragons

Reynolds ended his assemblage vocation astatine Navy holding rushing records upon rushing records. Despite an attempted alteration successful position, helium couldn't drawback connected successful the NFL. In 2020, helium signed with the XFL and became a prima connected peculiar teams and arsenic a wide receiver for the Dragons.

Matt Jones, RB, St. Louis BattleHawks

Jones was selected by the Commanders successful the 3rd circular of the 2015 NFL draft. After a palmy NFL vocation that included stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Eagles, helium took his talents to the XFL. Jones was named to the midseason All-XFL squad aft rushing for 314 yards and a touchdown connected 80 rushes, and having 25 receiving yards and a touchdown earlier the league was unopen down.

Cardale Jones, QB, DC Defenders

When you deliberation Cardale Jones, you apt deliberation Ohio State. Jones' XFL vocation wasn't astir arsenic palmy arsenic his collegiate tenure with the Buckeyes. He got disconnected to a beardown commencement with the Defenders, winning his archetypal 2 games arsenic a starter. But past helium went connected a four-game agelong successful which helium threw 2 TDs to 7 INTs, and watched his yards per effort autumn each game. By the clip the league folded, Tyree Jackson had replaced him arsenic QB1.