N 'if' L: What if the USFL hadn't folded? | NFL

Dave Dameshek explores the possibility of a USFL-NFL Super Bowl and how the NFL landscape would look had the USFL not folded.

[@Jefff72]

USFL should have stayed a spring league.

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

Imagine how popular it’d be today

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

@@mikeyoungblood1642 I dont think it would have lasted. The owners overspent and lost tens of millions.

[@terrancethomas9792]

The New Jersey Generals can’t compete head to head with the Giants and the Jets. Who will buy Generals tickets? Where would they play?

[@Nalon.1242]

It's back I think

[@edwardjones1482]

The usfl is Back in April 2022

[@gmcummings]

The USFL was good football. Could have been something special.

[@donaldpaluga]

+gmcummings But Trump thought the USFL could make it as a fall league, and I think it would've lasted one year at the most

[@jhawk889]

It should have been something special. But Drumpf was dumb. The USFL wouldn't have lasted a full season in the fall

[@bufnyfan1]

there are reports that a new league will begin in 2019 backed by Silicon Valley money and with Bill Polian as president--apparently it will consist of 8 teams and there won't be individual team owners--each team will be run exclusively by the league

[@DoubleEdged7]

gmcummings maybe if the games were played on a different channel but still the game on in the fall

[@marcpower4167]

david graham yeah the AAFL, plus the XFL is coming back in 2020 (struggles to hold a straight face, bursts laughing)

[@billytheconqueror5803]

I wish the usfl was still around. Having a league in the spring and summer sounds like fun and more bbqs

[@voidsabre_]

Spring 22

[@dannygrant639]

LETS GO! Spring 2022!!

[@ghettonerddrip]

Am I invited BRO!!!!???

[@ja18musik]

you got your wish.

[@Ryan10865]

I think your wish just came true

[@user-sb1vz9pv5y]

Could you imagine Bo Jackson playing in the USFL in the spring, MLB in the summer and in the NFL in the fall?

[@jmcgee39]

He never would've played in the NFL had the USFL stayed around.

[@Marylandbrony]

A more interesting idea would be if Bo Jackson time traveled into a now Bo Jacksonless present and with modern medical technology. How long does he play then?

[@RollOnToVictory]

Jesus! that marker sound effect makes me want to die

[@decenthumans]

You get used to it

[@decenthumans]

What about Stan's pencil in "Stan"? At least the marker didn't ruin a song.

[@Swoll1231]

RollOnToVictory I must be a psycho because I liked it Wtf

[@flaccidwhitecoat]

squeaksqueaksqueak

[@geleneceline2310]

I actually like it

[@lukehernandez5259]

They should do one about Bo Jackson not getting injured and how it would have affected the NFL and MLB.

[@tripnick3]

Sorry for being 6 years late... but this!

[@vinyllpreviews9462]

If the USFL had been around Bo probably never plays baseball. As a Royals fan, I wonder what his baseball career would have been like if he never played football.

[@cs40660]

its fun when the AFL logo is the Australian Football League logo

[@franklinclinton3207]

and Arena Football League

[@rockvilleraven]

@@franklinclinton3207 Aussie rules, where they only people wearing pads are the referees and the spectators.

[@RenegadeLK]

They should bring these what if's back!!

[@taelis11]

Loved the AFL logo haha Aussie rules!!

[@NatoCaloGaming]

2:49 Is that the Australian Rules Football AFL logo?

[@grisssle]

yep

[@fmzca]

Yes

[@RugbyRyan]

I noticed too

[@JamesGhee3]

NatoCaloGaming what logo?

[@RugbyRyan]

Bulgarian Mapper the one that says afl on it at 3:05

[@AceOfHerts]

Wrong AFL logo, that was the "Australian Football League"

[@kllbll85]

One of the greatest films ever produced! I was a big USFL fan.. If only?

[@nickhill8612]

Yeah I like it too.

[@bradyh1782]

its back

[@kllbll85]

@@bradyh1782 Great game Sunday!! Philly takes it if QB stays upright!!!

[@QBStough12]

Bring this series back pls!

[@GreenPartyHat]

Hope the USFL of XFL stay around this time.

[@the_vsitor]

Me too

[@OGNoah25]

They merged into the UFL

[@GreenPartyHat]

@@OGNoah25 2 Years late but thanks lol

[@davidrivera9743]

1. What if the USFL stayed a spring league with 12-14 teams in only two markets where there were both usfl/nfl teams? Does it stick around longer?

[@Railroadracer49]

Who’s here after the USFL came back🤯

[@richardharris8626]

What would have happened if the USFL hadn't folded in 1986? After carefully analyzing all the player information, historical trends, fan reaction, economic data, etc. from that time period, I have come to a different conclusion than the one in this video. Hold on to your butts, are you ready for this? Because this is a real jaw dropper! I am now convinced that if the USFL hadn't folded in 1986, this earth shattering event would have happened: The USFL would have folded in 1987!

[@mikedecarlo9057]

Richard Harris i dont think they would have survived past 1986 even if they stayed a spring league......they had no Chicago team and no suitable ownership group for LA ( league ran Express in 85) The Gunslingers were revoked....Houston missed several payrolls and being run by league for several weeks in 85. The Breakers played in 3 different cities and lost millions in Portland. Another question about switching to fall i always had was where would Generals play?

[@DoubleEdged7]

mike de carlo unless they play hours later after the Giants jets game or be a visiting team

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

Pretty reasonable predictions EXCEPT the Generals wouldn’t have stayed in New Jersey since that would’ve meant 3 different pro teams all sharing the Meadowlands in the Fall. The scheduling would’ve been impossible.

[@big8dog887]

This video is assuming the USFL remains in the spring. (Bo Jackson signs with the Invaders to play football in the spring and baseball in the summer).

[@toddbiesel4288]

How about this "what if": The USFL sticks with 16 teams and moved them to cities with no NFL teams in 1986: Can you imagine this lineup: USFL Western Division: Oakland, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, Sacramento. Eastern Division: Memphis, Nashville, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Birmingham, Columbus, Baltimore, Orlando. The NFL's expansions and relocations would be much different.

[@InvaderKush]

Funny watching this in 2022 months away from the USFL coming back lol. Especially after both the AAF and XFL folded, well XFL again, then revived again for 2023. haha This is wild.

[@canine221]

And without the Vikings trading their whole team to the Cowboys they win their first Super Bowl

[@supermarvelnerd1728]

Jordan Mazzitelli that would be awesome we'd have emmet smith and maybe we'd get Montana or young or Brett farve

[@ieuan67]

No they still would've choked

[@DoubleEdged7]

Jordan Mazzitelli because Walker would be obliged to his contract

[@DoubleEdged7]

Jordan Mazzitelli Reggie white wouldn't be playing for the Pack

[@jayNicks10]

DoubleEdged7 best defensive player in both Eagles AND Packers history. But in this universe, he doesn’t play for either team. 😯

[@jorgealan997]

what if the browns were to win a super bowl :0

[@cityhawk]

jorge alan Shhhh.... no one is supposed to know about the apocalypse.

[@pixelbricksproductions4144]

jorge alan there would have been no other NFL teams

[@derpman7056]

jorge alan well if it happens better get to nearest nuke shelter while you still can

[@johnstebbins24]

Actually..."What if they never moved?" would be a really good question. Belichick stays on as coach, Ozzie Newsome stays on running the drafts...

[@brownsfan6447]

jorge alan they win two super bowls to elaborate for you.

[@09coleplays32]

Who else is here after the USFL coming back in 2022?

[@asherdossetter4480]

Maybe they should do a video on what if the All-American Football Conference from 1946-1949 which the 49ers and Browns were originally part of never folded.

[@asherdossetter4480]

Dennis Bastek jr. I think they really should do a video on hat so badly!

[@rememberneal9754]

Glad to see dave dameshek again that means foot all is jus around the corner

[@ImanClips695]

Wacth this 6 years later and usfl starts back up tommorw

[@judiatetruthkinggg]

Wow I guess I be joining the rebirth USFL in 2022!!!

[@trevorhembrough1290]

I was with you until the insinuation Marinovich would take a team to the Super Bowl. In no universe is that even remotely possible.

[@hawksfan9217]

Every time i watch this my mind is blown

[@lpflux9619]

The Vince McMahon shot is so pure

[@micshork]

THEY'RE BACK!!!

[@rjakobi]

You had me until "Bills Quarterback Todd Marinovich".

[@marcpower4167]

The invaders were in financial trouble and folded after 85 so.... my take: let's assume they had gone ahead with the 86 fall season the plan called for the Arizona Outlaws, the Jacksonville Bulls, the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Orlando Renegades to be in the Independence division, while the Baltimore Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats and New Jersey Generals played in the liberty division. The Bandits went bankrupt after a judge seized their assets to cover the contract of Bret Clark so they would have folded just before the start of the season and the league would be scrambling to reschedule on the fly, Birmingham had to rely on a bailout from the city to finish 1985, they fold citing financial issues so down to 6 teams, the Tathams (the owners of the Outlaws) had tried to join the CFL, promising to abide by the league rules around Canadian players, but the Canadian league rejected the bid citing legal concerns around a US based team doing that), more interested in joining the NFL the Outlaws fold. down to 5 teams, with so few teams The league reaches out to the NFL and proposes a merger which gets rejected, Trump then proposes the Generals defect from the usfl and be allowed to join the NFL as an expansion team (much like the WHA Houston Aeros tried to get into the nhl). However, it gets rejected due to pressure from the jets and giants and the league wanting Trump to place the members of his roster into a dispersal draft which he won't agree to. Trump reluctantly folds the team. With just 4 teams left and having lost their wealthiest owner, the league folds.

[@tombate1613]

for everyone saying that the afl's logo is the 'Arena Football League' its not its the 'australian football league's'logo

[@moementum821]

As a Detroiter, I loved the USFL in 83 when our Michigan Panthers won the title. 2 years later they folded up and merged with the Invaders in Oakland. After that I rooted against the USFL's existence and was glad to see the Michiganless league fold up.

[@savagecabbage2667]

Weird McMahon just announced the XFL to be back

[@justinhillenburg9286]

Ugh! Don't remind me!

[@jonaheasaw5216]

And now it’s folded again

[@cringesaurus6588]

@@jonaheasaw5216 because covid lol. And there returning 2022

[@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498]

@@cringesaurus6588 next year, the #XFL2023 will be better

[@cringesaurus6588]

@@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498 I know now, I said this 8 months ago before they announced they will be back in 2023

[@insertcolorfulmetaphor8520]

Bills QB Todd Marinovich!?!? I choked on my coca cola when I heard that... Lol

[@rpandya97]

If the Eagles make it far in the playoffs this year, then do an N'if'L of if Sam Bradford hadn't gotten injured and the Rams kept him instead of dealing him off pronto.

[@DoctorEw220]

Two questions. Number one, would there be a Tennessee Titans or Houston Texans? Number two, would Cleveland have won two Super Bowls by now?

[@theprolificnetwork4670]

Heres a lil fun fact: The AFL was the only league the NFL initiated a merger with prevoius leagues were not merges they were absorbed teams after the league folded. Thats were we got the 49ers, Colts, Browns & Steelers from. The WFL & USFL tried to force mergers to as a bail out but the AFL was the only league in good financial shape that made sense to the NFL for business.

[@cobracommander6420]

Anyone here after the USFL returned?

[@OGNoah25]

And they have merged with the XFL to form the UFL

[@grid-natics2983]

ITS COMING BACK !!!!!!!!! 2022

[@Rockhound6165]

Gunslingers? Really? They were the most unstable franchise out there. Players used to race each other to the bank to cash their checks before they bounced. Neuheisel said it was a regular Gumball Rally on payday to see who can reach this one particular bank first.

[@DoubleEdged7]

Studa Baker Arizona wranglers switched players with another team . Very unstable

[@s1ap396]

2:42 Nice Price-is-Right reference

[@davidrivera9743]

2. What if the Mayflower vans had been spotted six hours earlier? Would the Irsays have been forced out as owners and Indianapolis never happened?

[@nickhill8612]

That's a good one.

[@johcoh1]

There should be a what if the NFL and USFL merged.

[@lucasborja3797]

Bro I used to love these videos

[@coulterdittman]

The algorithm is never wrong 💪

[@abigailarhin5925]

who's here after they announced that it's coming back

[@licensedblockhead]

please dont tell me that this league i just now heard of could have had a role in keeping the cleveland browns in cleveland. i.e. they'd be something today if this league still existed

[@ck-1649]

Now I have a another reason to hate Trump!

[@MrJuniorGuyThing12]

N if L: What if the Seahawks ran the ball

[@ck-1649]

KTO made of video about that

[@victor7gomez]

This channel has some mad alternate-history skills.

[@heavybassX]

.... Yeah missing the Bandits.

[@yG65gT6]

*What if this channel did not exist? YAAAAAAAAY!*

[@nicholaspalermo5986]

I would also liked to add that by Bo Jackson not going to the raiders, the injury would have never happened, and most likely, Bo would be the best HB of all time... Or atleast ONE of the best next to Barry

[@dennycrane11]

Probably would have been one of the best baseball players of all time too.

[@MVGamingYT]

Well looks like it is coming back.

[@sbblakey]

Time out. Just because the AFL played the NFL in a Super Bowl 7 years after their inception doesn't mean the USFL would've done the same.

[@pixelmongaming9285]

Look I disagree with Dave but this is the only way the USFL wouldn't have folded

[@davidmatthewvinotjr8396]

N IF L: The saints win the NFC west in 1988 and not San Francisco?

[@decenthumans]

Hmm ...

[@austinanything3890]

If the Browns never moved to Baltimore, than they would've drafted Ray Lewis, and who knows, maybe even turned into a super bowl contenter

[@nicky1536]

+Dalunchtable lmaooooo

[@nicholaskitsonidis2433]

It’s baaaaaack

[@XtremeTony]

Since you mentioned the XFL, how about doing one about if the XFL survived a few more seasons?

[@babrams007]

I miss the great USFL. My Dad and I love those Saturday games. I wish the USFL would return!!!

[@abigailarhin5925]

well it's coming back in 2022

[@hacked3141]

Well i have some news for you!!!!

[@txfreethinker]

Good video, but the Buffalo Bills would not have played in the NFL-USFL Super Bowl against the Oakland Invaders. It would have been the Oakland Invaders against the New York Giants, since the Giants beat Buffalo in what would have been the "NFL Championship Game" after Scott Norwood's kick went wide right.

[@loganstolberg2743]

Whatever happened to this series? This series is great! They need to relaunch it

[@christianperez2720]

If the usfl didn't fold the segment would be the Us if l

[@BigMattXXL]

I was wondering when the XFL was gonna come up in one of these

[@blobulous3500]

The n if l drawing of jim kelly looks like jim from the office

[@briannielsen7176]

Bring back the USFL!

[@goonerbear8659]

The AFL logo in the video is for the Australian Football League.

[@RealJackHQ]

You gave Vince McMahon my hair. Lol

[@caleb.e7880]

2:20 Early 90's Dynasty

[@caleb.e7880]

3:31 The XFL Comes along.

[@logan_nowicki]

If Jim Mora never went to the Colts, is it fair to say they wouldn't have drafted Peyton Manning? Didn't they want Ryan Leaf?

[@ericfulcher8376]

I'm pretty sure the logo on the AFL helmet is for the Australian Football League not the American Football League

[@JohnnyMidey]

Bo would never sign with raiders because of what they did to him in the NCAA baseball season

[@EljayWilcox]

Johnny M that was the bucs. He signed with the raiders as a 7th round pick the following season.

[@MrTlyoung21]

Both the USFL and the XFL have returned and both leagues are going strong.

[@GreatMewtwo]

And now they have merged. It was a better ending for the XFL this time.

[@jayNicks10]

WHAT IF SEATTLE HANDED IT TO BEAST MODE AT THE 1?

[@Dennis_Reynolds_Golden_God]

Mind = Blown

[@clarenceparkeriii6249]

What if Al Gore won the Presidency in 2000? How would that' e affected Tom Brady and Peyton Manning?

[@steveswangler190]

actually, Al Gore did win the election.

[@nickhill8612]

@Dennis Bastek jr. Haha I like that.

[@alan_vamos23]

The AFL logo is wrong (Actually in this video was AFL (Australian Football League) logo). Different of Discipline Sports.

[@nathanwallace7177]

i can see the future merger between the NFL, USFL and XFL with 48 teams and can see USFL or XFL teams in the Super Bowl starting with SB 60, 65 or 70

[@georgfriedrichhandel4390]

The USFL was doomed from the beginning. First of all, nine of the first 12 teams were playing in cities that already had NFL franchises. By contrast, when the AFL began in 1960, only two of its original teams (the LA - later San Diego - Chargers and New York Titans - later Jets) were playing in NFL cities. Since most of these NFL teams were not willing to share their stadiums with their USFL counterparts, the latter had to find alternative venues. In fact, average attendance per game for the first season was only 25,000 fans. Even though the first two USFL seasons were played during the NFL off-season, the former still had to compete with pro baseball and the NBA playoffs, which it could not do. And the biggest reason for its demise was no salary cap (the same problem that ultimately put paid to the World Football League) which allowed USFL owners to pay their top players exorbitant and unsustainable salaries in order to compete with the NFL for the best players. If the USFL had copied the AFL's business model, them maybe it could have had more success. But when it finally folded in 1986, it had lost a total of $163 million (adjusted for inflation, that's about $365 million in today's money). I hope the next billionaire who dreams of creating an alternative league will take that into consideration.

[@carmenthefrog2313]

Do what If the wfl Hadn't folded

[@Lotmeister]

The Pittsburgh Maulers didn't fold due to financial insolvency. The team was owned by Eddie DeBartolo, Sr., the father of Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., who then owned the 49ers. The elder DeBartolo had warned the other USFL owners that if they went ahead with the lawsuit against the NFL, he would immediately leave the league because he (understandably) did not wish to be part of a lawsuit that could hurt his son. So when they went ahead with the suit, he shut down his club and left.

[@muhibkhan8163]

The usfl would have been really nice because more people get a chance of playing their dream game of football and their is more football to watch

[@VisesYT]

NBA shows: good inisght and suits an adult audience as well as children NFL shows: good insight with childish ass content

[@louisbologna4089]

What if the Detroit Lions went to a Superbowl, hard to write that with a straight face! I'm a life long Detroit resident and fan and I've earned the right to rag on my team!

[@Aboyrune]

Who’s here after the announcement that the XFL will return?

[@henryboy004]

I want football baby back!!

[@JDMatthias]

You completely neglected to mention Reggie White as a star in the USFL

[@stevensicherman4101]

Yes. And the Memphis team was very good

[@jefferyparris1999]

I dream this all the time!

[@geleneceline2310]

Same if only Donald trump wasn't so stupid, the usfl could have been something

[@carbombtorres1761]

Man ...that guy can draw ...fast!!

[@rockvilleraven]

There was a USFL merger deal, drop the lawsuit and they'll would take Baltimore and Oakland, but not Trump and the Generals. The Browns would have not moved to Baltimore and the Raiders would have stayed in L.A.

[@mdarlin33]

Is that Mcnulty and Bunk from the wire in the Baltimore Screen?

[@labpman7227]

So let me get this straight If the usfl never died the usfl will join the nfl

[@MRB16th]

More than likely - in part at least, and I guess this could take place in the early-mid 1990s. The catch is, if we keep with the 12 or 14 teams of the USFL joining the NFL in full (ala the AFL of the 1960s), then several franchises would be required to relocate as part of the merger agreement. With all things being equal, this means that at the least, the Generals, Stars and Panthers would have to leave town - three teams based out of Giants Stadium would be a logistics nightmare, while the Eagles and Lions aren't going to have another team in their city, though I believe the NFL's Buccaneers would pack up and leave Tampa Bay to the Bandits (the Bucs were a lousy team at this time). The Gamblers, Express and Invaders moving or not depend on the year this happens, while the Blitz would be a coin toss: note Chicago had two NFL teams in 1920-1959. With 40/42 teams, you would also plausibly have three or four conferences in the new NFL. Also, Carolina would get a relocated USFL team (Michigan perhaps?), and Houston has a team in any case, while I have one of the Raiders, Chargers, Invaders, Express or Gamblers moving to Las Vegas.

[@thelocochicken2833]

what if raiders drafted calvin johnson instead of Russell and kept decent jason cambell

[@jww112093]

Well here's the thing, they don't keep Jason Campbell, and they manage to draft to players in the 2007 draft, Calvin Johnson & Brady Quinn. That's right, Brady Quinn. Jamarcus Russell goes to Cleveland and they still stink it up with him.

[@austinknighton5319]

If we say Bo goes to the NFL than neither does neon Dion he goes tip the USFL and helps the braves win two world series instead of just one

[@austinknighton5319]

Doesn't go*

[@dr.awkward9075]

1st & 10...Marinovich rolls out...oh, he's snorting up the 50 yard line!

[@pivot1022]

Hey, maybe dont add squeaks for markers in for unnecessary effect, it's just kinda annoying

[@theprolificnetwork4670]

What If the Stars joined the NFL and Stayed in Baltimore. How woukd that have effected the Browns.

[@clarenceparkeriii6249]

The Browns would've moved to LA in 1996. How does that affect the Rams twenty years later? They move to San Antonio.

[@j_de_bordeaux]

Thanks a lot Donald Chump

[@user-yn1qn6dn8m]

Jae Papa way cooler than you.