McMahon Fires Luck Over Pandemic Handling, Antonio Callaway, And iPhone Use

According to a report by Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. Vince McMahon’s reasoning for firing XFL CEO and Commissioner Oliver Luck one day before he shut down the XFL for good is over three main issues. We reported earlier on how McMahon was trying to unseal Luck’s termination letter.

“Gross neglect” for his job early on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the signing of former Browns WR Antonio Callaway and personal use of an XFL-issued iPhone. You read that right XFL fans. Vince McMahon got rid of the leader of the XFL over his cell phone usage.

In a filing today, Vince McMahon's lawyers claim he fired Oliver Luck for 3 reasons:

*"Gross neglect" of his job during the early days of the pandemic
*Signing Antonio Callaway despite XFL policy against hiring talent with legal troubles
*Personal use of a XFL-issued iPhone

— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) May 13, 2020

Last month, Luck filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against McMahon claiming he was fired without cause. Do you think that is a just reason for firing Oliver Luck? Luck was informed of the reasons for his firing in a letter from McMahon’s personal attorney Jerry McDevitt.

Sports Business Journal Goes Into Detail

• Luck left the XFL’s Connecticut HQ for his home in Indiana on March 13 and “disengage[d] from the XFL’s operations,” according to the filing. McMahon further claims Luck did not inform him of his intentions. “Put simply, at the very moment when his leadership as CEO was needed most, Luck did not devote substantially all of his business time to the XFL, as required by his contract.”
• Luck signed Callaway, a former Browns WR, to a draft contract promising a $125,000 signing bonus without informing McMahon, even though he was aware that McMahon asked for final approval rights to any player with a questionable background. The filing continues on that “Luck failed to promptly terminate Callaway in accordance with McMahon’s instructions,” and then Callaway injured his knee in a Tampa Bay Vipers practice, which triggered medical costs and worker’s compensation costs for the startup. “The cost to the XFL of this episode of gross negligence was in excess of six figures,” McMahon’s filing reads.
• Luck used his league-issued iPhone for personal matters.

If Vince McMahon tried to save face by having this letter released so he looks like the victim, it sure has backfired.