Oliver Luck named as XFL commissioner and CEO

When announcing the revival of the XFL, Vince McMahon promised that “experienced executives” would be hired to be at the forefront of the league.

The league followed up on that today, with Oliver Luck being named as the commissioner and chief executive officer of the XFL. Luck, who is the father of Indianapolis Colts star Andrew Luck, played quarterback at West Virginia University and had a stint as a backup in the NFL in the 1980s.

Luck is leaving a position as the executive vice president of regulatory affairs for the NCAA. Prior to that, Luck served as the athletic director at West Virginia University, was the president of NFL Europe and the Houston Dynamo soccer team. and was the CEO of the Houston Sports Authority.

“Oliver and I share the same vision and passion for reimagining the game of football. His experience as both an athlete and executive will ensure the long-term success of the XFL,” McMahon said in a statement.

In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, Luck said that the XFL respects individual freedoms but will require players to stand for the national anthem.

The relaunched XFL is planning on starting in 2020 but will face competition from Charlie Ebersol’s Alliance of American Football, which will be debuting on CBS Sports in 2019.