Taylor Heinicke, Rod 'He Hate Me' Smart and XFL stars you might have forgotten

Previous iterations of the XFL were eerily reminiscent to the chorus of a George Strait song — «I'm here for a good time, I ain't here for a long time.»

But now, under a new and prominent ownership group (some guy named Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson is involved), the 2023 XFL promises to be different than its predecessors. As the fledgling league looks to achieve staying power behind the play of AJ McCarron and Ben DiNucci, it's only right we revisit those who got it going in the early aughts. For starters, the original 2001 XFL would have been nothing without the one and only, He Hate Me.

Whether it was a final foray into football after collegiate success or a stepping stone on the way to NFL glory, these players left their mark on the XFL:

The 2001 version of the XFL famously afforded players the opportunity to wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys. Smart opted for «He Hate Me,» and a star was born — along with a best-selling jersey. Smart finished the lone season of the original version of the XFL with 555 rushing yards, good for second in the league, and scored three touchdowns. He went on to become a special teamer for the Carolina Panthers, most notably serving as their kick and punt returner in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Ivy's time in the XFL was just one chapter in his lengthy professional football career, but he made it count. Ivy led the XFL in interceptions during its 2001 stint. The next season, he messed around and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing in all 16 regular-season games and making three postseason appearances.

Before Gleason played for the New Orleans Saints and became an advocate for people facing ALS, he also played in the first season of the XFL. His time with the Thunderbolts