The Houston Roughnecks are slated to return to the gridiron in 2023, per reports from Houston-based media outlets.
The Roughnecks are a part of a slew of franchises that make up the twice revived XFL, the professional football league co-owned by actor and former wrestling superstar Dwayne Johnson.
An unveiling of brand identities, names and logos for the eight teams took place on Monday, according to a league-issued press release.
A part of the first reincarnation of the league two years ago, the Roughnecks are one of two Texas-based teams.
They’re joined by the Arlington Renegades and the San Antonio Brahmas, both of whom are new to the XFL.
“The Roughnecks are home in Houston!” new head coach Wade Phillips said, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported. “We’re excited to be back and ready to work as hard and tough as our fans to make this city proud.”
Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported that Phillips, the son of the late Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, returns to the sidelines three years after he oversaw the Los Angeles Rams defense.
Phillips was also the defensive coordinator and an interim head coach for the Houston Texans a decade ago.
The Roughnecks were the XFL’s lone undefeated team in 2020 with a 5-0 record under first head coach June Jones before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to cancel the season.
According to the XFL, its second comeback season will kick off on Feb. 18, 2023, with a draft slated for November.
KHOU reported that while the Roughnecks will play their home games at TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston (UH) as they did before, the players will live and practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where the league is headquartered.