The XFL 3.0 just ended its first season and it was an extreme success. It saw two former Ohio State football players really shine when given an opportunity in the upstart league with Rod Smith starting for the Vegas Vipers and Antwuan Jackson for the Seattle Sea Dragons.
Jackson shined so bright he was actually able to parlay that opportunity into an NFL shot with the Carolina Panthers, which is ultimately the goal for most of these players. The XFL, which is owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, has announced that there will be a season in 2024. The league is already beginning the process of adding free agents.
One of the largest free agents of note for the D.C. Defenders is former Ohio State cornerback, Gareon Conley. The former All-Big Ten defensive back has not had the smoothest NFL career. After being drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, Conley was not horrible, but not at the quality of a first-round selection. As a result, they elected to trade him to the Houston Texans in 2019.
BREAKING: The @XFLDefenders are adding CB Gareon Conley to their #XFL roster, per @xflanalyst.
The former NFL first rounder recorded four interceptions with his stint with the Oakland Raiders, and now lands in DC ahead of the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/OeNAl50m1R
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) July 29, 2023
Conley was again OK in Houston — he continued to deal with some injuries and his final season in the NFL was in 2020. He is still only 28 years old and has some juice left in the football tank, so getting another shot in the XFL appears to be an ideal situation. But he did not seem sold on the situation according to his X account, formerly known as Twitter.
Lol it’s a complex situation but grateful for the opportunity for sure
— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) July 29, 2023
I’m unsure why Conley has labeled the situation as “complex,” but we wish him good luck.
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