San Antonio officially back in the game: Hines Ward to coach city’s XFL team

It will be four years from the time the San Antonio Commanders made their debut in the AAF in 2019 until the city’s new team kicks off the 2023 XFL season in February.

The XFL officially announced on Sunday that San Antonio is one of eight teams that will be part of the league when it resumes action. The season opens Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward will be San Antonio’s head coach.

Ward made his first order of business stirring up the in-state rivalries. Arlington and Houston will also have teams in XFL 2023.

“I’m know how competitive Texas is so I’m going to put it out there right now, go San Antonio! We will bring home the Texas state title.”

“The state of Texas is so passionate about football,” Ward said. “I’m know how competitive Texas is so I’m going to put it out there right now, go San Antonio! We will bring home the Texas state title. …

“When we come here to Arlington, we go to Houston, I want to hear all the boos because I guarantee when you’re in the Alamodome, we’re going to boo the crap out of yourself too.”

When the Commanders played in the AAF in the spring of 2019, Ward served as that league’s director of player development.

Ward is best known from his 13 seasons as an NFL receiver, including two appearances in the Super Bowl. He is the Steelers all-time leader in receptions. He was most recently the wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic University. He was also an assistant coach with the New York Jets and interviewed for the Houston Texans head coaching job.

Ward envisions the XFL bringing the fans a closer look at what goes on within the teams as the games happen.

“At the end of the day the fans, they want transparency” Ward said. “They want to see the connection that the coaches have with the players. They want to hear the dialog that goes on. They want to go behind enemy lines, what really goes on and hear the conversations.

“They want to see that engagement between the coaches and the players. Hopefully this season will be transparent to the fans. We want to bring that entertainment to you guys.”

SAN ANTONIO STAFF:

Head coach: Hines Ward
Director of team operations: Jose Jefferson
Director of player personnel: Will Lewis
Offensive coordinator: Jaime Elizondo
Defensive coordinator: Jim Herrmann

XFL 2023 TEAMS:

San Antonio
Arlington
Houston
Las Vegas
Orlando
St. Louis
Seattle
Washington DC