The XFL canceled the remainder of its maiden season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league announced Friday.
In the wake of that decision, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the NFL announced that the league’s teams will be allowed to begin signing former XFL players on Monday at 9 a.m. ET.
Originally, the XFL players were considered off-limits until April 27, the day after the league’s scheduled championship game.
The spread of coronavirus, however, ultimately canceled the XFL’s season.
“The COVID-19 pandemic, and the most recent local and state regulations, have left the XFL no choice but to officially cancel the remainder of the 2020 season. This decision has been made with the health and safety of the entire XFL family as our top priority,” XFL commissioner Oliver Luck and president Jeffrey Pollack said in a statement to the fans on the league’s website.
The eight-team XFL followed the lead of almost all other major sports organizations, which have either suspended, delayed or outright canceled seasons or events.
The decision to cancel the remainder of the season comes nearly one week after an unidentified player for the Seattle Dragons tested positive for COVID-19.
The Houston Roughnecks were leading the West division as well as the league with a 5-0 record. Three teams were tied with a 3-2 mark atop the East division.