Although they are separate entities, the original and current USFL leagues have one major thing in common, and that is the number of players who have made the jump from their league to the NFL. As Reggie White, Steve Young and other future stars transitioned from the USFL to the NFL in the mid-1980s, more than 50 players participated in the USFL’s recently concluded 2022 season. are currently on NFL rosters.
The rapid influx of USFL talent into the NFL was a major goal of the current league, according to former NFL star and current USFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Daryl Johnston .
“I owe everything to our players and our coaches,” Johnston told CBS Sports this week. “It exceeded my expectations. … I still think there are a few guys who I’m surprised haven’t been invited to a camp yet, but we’ll wait and see what happens here later.”
One of those players is Houston Gamblers running back Mark Thompson, who was among the USFL leaders last season in rushing yards, touchdown passes and all-purpose yards. While he acknowledges the NFL has moved away from the classic power back, Johnston believes Thompson’s skill set would fit the pattern of several NFL teams.
“I think Mark in Tennessee would be a good choice,” Johnston said. “I think he’s a Derrick Henry guy. … When you’re 6-foot-3 and 235 yards and you can run away from people, that’s something unique.”
Although he has yet to receive his opportunity, Johnston believes USFL players like Thompson will have the opportunity to join an NFL team in the coming weeks, particularly if teams continue to struggle with injuries. to specific positions.
“There are opportunities for our guys who are football fit and ready to go to jump into an NFL camp,” Johnston said. “Their experience that they are going to have [in the NFL] is why we did this. I couldn’t be happier for our guys who had the opportunity to spend this time in training camp.”
Along with players and coaches, Johnston credits the USFL schedule as a major reason for the league’s success in helping players get onto NFL rosters. The league played a 10-week regular season that was capped by a two-week, three-game playoff format.
“I just felt the way the schedule was structured – even if you were going to the championship game on July 3 – you had enough time to let your body heal to get into an NFL playbook,” Johnston said. “You are already in footballing shape, you have just finished a season of 10, 11, 12 games. Your body is ready for football.”
By all accounts, the USFL had a successful inaugural season, capped off with a very entertaining championship game. Another victory for the USFL was the fact that it was the first spring league in over 20 years to complete its season.
Along with those successes, Johnston believes one of the USFL’s greatest successes is its growing partnership with the NFL, as NFL games this season will be littered with former USFL stars.
“We know what kind of brand the NFL is, and we know we can’t compete with that,” Johnston said. “We want to be a stand-alone professional football league that provides a non-traditional path to the NFL.”
