Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel the crowd prior to the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field on June 4, 2014 in Cleveland. Jason Miller/Getty Images

WWE chairman Vince McMahon faces several obstacles in his reported venture to bring back the XFL. Getting people to watch a second football league when the NFL is already seeing declining ratings won’t be an easy task.

Adding marquee names to some of the rosters could be one way to attract viewers, at least in the beginning. It’s something that the league failed to do in it’s inaugural and only season in 2001, and a few players stand out as potential stars when the XFL finally returns.

Johnny Manziel might be first on the list when it comes to football players that could bring eyes to the XFL. The quarterback remains relevant, even though he hasn’t taken an NFL snap in two years.

After struggling to find success on the field in his first two seasons, Manziel was released by the Cleveland Browns amid problems off the field. He has not given up on his dream of playing professional football, and he’s in discussions to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

PWInsider has reported that the XFL is expected to officially return in 2020. Perhaps Johnny “Football” will be drafted by an XFL team after showing what he can do for a couple of years in the CFL.

Manziel, 25, might not have what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He posted a 74.4 passer rating with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 career games. But he could have plenty of success in the XFL, starring among players that weren’t quite good enough to make it in the world’s No.1 football league.

It wasn’t too long ago that Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy award. In two seasons as the Texas A&M starting quarterback, he completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 7,820 yards, 63 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Manziel added 2,169 rushing yards and 30 scores on the ground.

Tim Tebow might be in a similar position, having been a star in college football and unable to make it in the NFL. He’ll be 32 years old on New Year’s Day 2020, but there’s plenty of reason to believe he could play well in the XFL.

After having one of the greatest college football careers in history at Florida, Tebow actually did have some success in the NFL. During his second year with the Denver Broncos in 2011, the quarterback led the team to the playoffs and even beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round.

Tebow played sparingly for the New York Jets in 2012 and hasn’t been on an NFL roster since. He hasn’t given up his dream of being a professional athlete, playing in the minor leagues for the New York Mets’ organization in 2017. Tebow has accepted an invitation to Mets spring training for the 2018 season, according to TMZ.

Tebow was one of the most popular players in the NFL, even though he wasn’t nearly as good as the league’s top stars. Only Aaron Rodgers sold more jerseys in the 2011 season.

Dozens of players that were on an XFL roster in 2001 had brief NFL careers. Rod Smart, famously known as “He Hate Me” in the XFL, went on to play five NFL seasons between the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. Tommy Maddox, the XFL MVP, started 32 games at quarterback for the Steelers after the XFL folded.

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