Bob Stoops leads the Arlington Renegades to their first ever XFL Championship

Coach Bob Stoops and the Arlington Renegades – 2023 XFL Champions

Head Coach Bob Stoops adds another piece of championship hardware to his stacked trophy case. Last night, Stoops and his Arlington Renegades defeated the D.C. Defenders 35-26 in the first-ever XFL Championship game.

This was Stoops’ first season as an XFL coach. In fact, it was the XFL’s first full season. The XFL attempted a relaunch in 2020 but saw the season cut short due to the pandemic. An ownership group headed by front-man Dewayne Johnson and chairwoman/owner Dany Garcia purchased the league and re-branded it completely. The league was changed to showcase itself as a league of opportunity for players. The XFL has become a league that, instead of competing against the NFL, wants to coexist parallel to the NFL. So far, its strategy has been successful.

I am a football guy. How big of a football guy? Well, I watched every game of the Renegades this season. Even went to a game in person. The product I saw on the football field was excellent. Obviously, the first week of the season was messy. Still, outside of that, the football product put onto the field by the XFL was impressive. I genuinely hope the XFL is a new mainstay in the Spring sports schedule.

Stoops’ renegades finished the regular season with a 4-6 record. Due to the XFL’s playoff bracketing, the Renegades got a spot in the XFL South Division Championship game against the Houston Roughnecks. They blew out the Roughnecks and advanced to the finals against the XFL’s best regular-season team, the 10-1 D.C. Defenders.

The Renegades took over the game early and forced XFL Offensive Player of the Year, Q.B. Jordan Ta’amu, into three interceptions. He had thrown three total interceptions all season. Renegades quarterback Luis Perez was the Renegade’s savior this season. The field general was fantastic for the Renegades this season, especially in the playoffs. Against Houston, Perez went 19 for 27 for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. Against D.C. in the title game, Perez was 26 of 36 for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns. Perez (#12 above) was named as the XFL Championship game’s MVP.

Coach Stoops weathered the experimental storm of the early season XFL. He managed a team constructed of phenomenal athletes who simply needed a little extra guidance to achieve football stardom. That’s precisely what Stoops did. It was refreshing to see Coach Stoops on the sideline again, especially winning like he always has.

I wonder where Stoops goes from here. Does he stay in the XFL with the Renegades and continue to build the brand? Or does he move on to the NFL? It’s my hope he stays in Arlington. I like the XFL, and I want to see it grow. The league’s best players will move onto NFL opportunities. In fact, 45 players from around the XFL had received rookie minicamp invites at the time of this article. That’s without players from the Renegades and Defenders being allowed to accept an invite too. The players can receive invites now that the season is over.

The XFL’s first complete season was a total success for three reasons. First and foremost, the football was real. Players knew what they were doing, flew around and hit hard, and played the game like professionals.

Second, the marketing was phenomenal. The league wasn’t an “in your face” WWE-style promo. Instead, it was formatted well and presented in an excellent fashion.

Finally, the league did what it said it would do. Players are getting second chances. Players wanted to use the XFL as a second chance to springboard into the NFL, and 45 have done that.

I look forward to becoming a regular XFL fan. I am excited about what the league has in store for its first off-season. I look forward to watching Coach Stoops again next season as well. He took his winning ways to Arlington, and I don’t know why he’d leave. He’s the best coach in the XFL. Will there be more Sooners in the XFL in the future? An eventual Tampa quarterback?

Congratulations, Coach Stoops. It was an incredible experience seeing you back on the sidelines this season. You’re a champion again. Professional Spring football is a massive success, and you’re a big reason for it. See you in Norman in the fall.

Check out the XFL’s website here and follow all the Arlington Renegades news and updates here.