Philadelphia Eagles: Matt McGloin’s tenure in the XFL is not going well

While the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for free agency, their ex-quarterback Matt McGloin is lacing it up in the XFL. So far, it’s not going so well.

When Matt McGloin was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles in September of 2017, it marked the start of the end of his professional football playing career – at least it seemed like it did at the time.

After failing to latch on as the team’s third-string quarterback behind Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, with the role eventually going to practice squader Nate Sudfeld, McGloin joined the Houston Texans for a few weeks in November, before earning one final chance to compete for a roster spot behind Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Cheifs in the summer of 2018.

McGloin never actually retired, but the writing was kind of on the wall.

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So, when it was announced that the Scranton, PA native intended to join Vince McMahon’s XFL and enter his name into the league’s inaugural draft, it turned a few heads across the football-watching world.

Is McGloin even still in playing shape? Sure, he’s only 30, but he looked washed in 2017. Can the Penn State product somehow put it all together as a full-time starting quarterback for the first time since the 2012 college football season?

As it turns out, the answer is no.

Staring under center for the New York Guardians, a team that also features ex-NFL players like, um, E.J. Bibbs and Ben Heeney, McGloin has thrown for 226 yards and one touchdown versus two interceptions while leading his team to an even 1-1 record.

However, after an on-camera blowup with ABC’s Dianna Russini went live shortly before halftime, a blowup that effectively called out the team’s scheme, coaches, and head coach/general manager Kevin Gilbride, McGloin found his afternoon prematurely ended with a second half benching.

Check it out if you haven’t yet, it’s amazing.

Now I could be wrong, but McGloin doesn’t look like he’s having a whole lot of fun right now.

Look, I get it, the XFL isn’t the NFL, and at 30, it seems unlikely that McGloin could turn this opportunity into a second stint in the NFL, but it’s not like he’s doing this for free. Based on the rather incomplete numbers available, McGloin will likely earn about $125,000 for 10 games of action, with that number rising to $500,000 based on incentives that he probably won’t hit based on his Week 2 benching. That’s not NFL money, but it’s better work than selling cars at McGloin’s Happy Valley BMW or whatever line of work the college legend transitions into when his football playing career is finally over.

While players like Cardale Jones are putting together strong tape to potentially field a comeback to the big leagues, Matt McGloin has to understand that this may be his last chance to play quarterback competitively for the rest of his life. Is he in the best position to succeed? Clearly not by his own account, but why be upset when you can just have fun with it? It’s certainly more enjoyable than sitting at home.