As the XFL prepares for their first season under new ownership, the league has made a potentially huge hire. On Tuesday the XFL announced that Jordan Palmer would serve as the league’s Director of Quarterback Development.
The XFL announced the move on social media, with a nod to how important the position is, and how difficult it can be to develop quarterbacks at any level:
The hardest position to play in all of sports is quarterback and we recognize how crucial QBs will be to our game. That's why we've brought 15 years of gridiron experience in Jordan Palmer (@JwPalms) onboard and we are starting their development in September.
Let's get to work.
— XFL (@XFL2023) August 16, 2022
Following his own playing days, Palmer has established himself as one of the top private quarterback coaches in the game. Over the years he has worked with passers such as Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and more. He might best be known for his work with Josh Allen, whose journey from raw but talented prospect into one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks has become a model other teams are trying to emulate.
From the announcement:
Jordan is one of the top quarterback consultants in the entire sport of football, helping QBs refine and strengthen their physical, mental, and emotional skills to reach their greatest potential. To have him as a consultant, coach, and role model for our athletes – and for him to share our holistic player development strategy – is a huge value add to our League.
Palmer’s work begins now, as the league looks ahead to starting the season in February. “Through the months of September to December, the XFL QBs will work with Palmer and focus on movement efficiency and throwing mechanics. In addition, the XFL QBs will be provided with an actionable plan for continuous development opportunities throughout the offseason and establish consistent remote consulting with Palmer and his team.”
The move might be one of the smartest decisions made by an upstart football league in recent memory. Inconsistent quarterback play has been a hurdle every new football league struggles to overcome, and having some with Palmer’s resume in place to help the entire league is a wise investment.
