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Trailer Dropped, Release Date Announced for Player 54: Chasing the XFL Dream

February 15, 2023 - XFL (XFL) News Release


When XFL chairwoman Dany Garcia pitched the idea of buying the league in 2020 to fellow co-owner Dwayne Johnson, she had many different visions for how to grow and develop the league.

One thing she wanted to do was make the XFL a league of opportunity, providing a platform for people to chase their dreams. The upcoming ESPN+ original docuseriesPlayer 54: Chasing the XFL Dreamis all about players and coaches on that journey.

"Player 54is the culmination of many of the things that make the XFL special, but, most importantly, it focuses on our players and coaches - the soul and heartbeat of our League," said Garcia, who is the first woman to own an equal or majority ownership stake in a major professional sports league in the United States. "Since the beginning, we've been committed to elevating these players, providing them with a platform to share their stories, cultivate their individual brands, and establish themselves as professional athletes."

There are few people better to understand and motivate the players on their own Player 54 journeys than Johnson himself, who knows the heartbreak firsthand and the success in life that can come after it.

"My dream was to play in the league, to play in the NFL," Johnson says in the opening moments ofPlayer 54. "That was my goal. And that never happened."

"To be able to partner up with Dany and create that opportunity for players just like me years ago," he continues, "man, life comes full circle."

The docuseries, which was announced Wednesday along with an initial trailer, will take viewers behind the scenes of the league as they are introduced to the players and coaches who have taken the leap to continue pursuing their love of the game.

It also provides access to the league's ownership group and the team they have assembled as it worked to make the 2023 season a reality.

The show will run for nine episodes and premieres Thursday, February 16 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The first episode will also run on ABC on Saturday, February 18 at 2 p.m. ET ahead of the 2023 XFL season opener between the Arlington Renegades and the Vegas Vipers.

"The passion and determination from Dany and DJ are utterly infectious," filmmaker Peter Berg said. "They are playing to win, and I am honored to be a part of this stellar team. The love of the game is real!"

Berg, who has one of the most diverse film directing resumes in Hollywood, is helping lead the project. Among his many film credits include directing and co-writing the movieFriday Night Lights, creating the TV seriesFriday Night Lightsand creating the opening sequence for Monday Night Football.

The project also comes from the Film 45 brand, which has produced many great sports documentaries over the years. Their resume includesBeing Serena,QB1: Beyond the Lights,All or Nothing: Manchester CityandSimone vs. Herself.

The name of the series comes from the idea that the last person cut from a 53-man NFL roster would have been, in a different world, the 54thplayer on the team. For many years, it was tough to for those 54thplayers to make it back to league without the film, reps and coaching of a professional team.

"The Player 54 docuseries greatly complements our robust slate of live games," ESPN Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed said in a statement. "The powerful storytelling will help fans better understand the motivation and inspiration of the XFL players they'll watch throughout the season."

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