Last week, the world learned that Vince McMahon’s resurrected XFL was officially ceasing operations, meaning it somehow lasted for a shorter period of time than it did during its original run.

The XFL’s season (like that of basically every other league) was brought to an abrupt halt last month, which is a tough blow for any organization that’s trying to establish itself. It was initially unclear if the people in charge were just cutting costs in an attempt to ride things out, but after it was revealed the XFL is filing for bankruptcy, it’s now pretty clear they won’t.

It’s a real shame. While the interest level gradually declined following the league’s debut in early February, there was still enough momentum that made it seem like this iteration of the XFL would last beyond one season.

So, if this is truly the end, what will its legacy be this time around?

If I was a betting man (which I am), I’d wager this version of the XFL will still live on thanks to the innovations it brought to the game of football, as some of the ideas introduced by the O.G. XFL—like the Skycam—became commonplace across football after the league’s demise.

So, what should the NFL look at adopting this time around?

Helmet Radios For Skill Position Players

One of my favorite things the XFL did was allow more than just quarterbacks to have radio receivers in their helmets. Up to 15 players on offense were permitted to have them, which added an interesting wrinkle to play-calling.

Coaches and offensive coordinators could address most of their players quickly, which allowed them to adjust things on the fly. Even better, broadcasters had access to these channels and it was interesting to hear the play calls in real-time.

Mid-Game Sideline Interviews

Speaking of broadcasts, I personally felt they were one of the highlights of the XFL. There was a solid roster of announcers, commentators, and sideline reporters across all three networks that carried games.

One thing that stood out was the emphasis on interviewing coaches and players on the sidelines while there was still action on the field. Interviewing a player immediately following the high of scoring a touchdown or the low of fumbling because of a momentary lapse in remembering the two most important words in football — “ball security” — make for great television.

Just like allowing viewers to hear the play calls, it provided an unprecedented level of access to the teams and it let players put their personalities on display—something the NFL always seems to be hesitant to do.

Some of the league’s most viral moments came from these interviews, like when DC Defenders defensive lineman Anthony Johnson gave his take on reclining airplane seats or when New York Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin ripped his own team’s offense just before halftime, which led to the former Penn Stater getting benched.

You can’t put a price on gaining a little social media heat and the NFL would have no shortage of memorable moments if it went this route.

Kickoffs

Whenever there’s talk of which football rules could use an adjustment, kickoffs are usually at the top of the list. It’s not a cut and dry issue, as they’re an exciting part of football but also one of the most dangerous aspects.

So how do you balance these two issues? The XFL seemed to find the solution.

The league decided to place the ball on a team’s 30-yard line and the kicker was tasked with booting it somewhere between the opposing 20-yard line and end zone. Both squads lined up on the returning side’s 30 and 35-yard lines and weren’t allowed to move until the player returning the kick caught the ball.

The first time you see one of these kickoffs, it looks like 20 players on the field have been frozen in time. It was weird, but it worked really well. Once the ball was caught, it was business as usual but prevented a returner getting belted into the next century by someone with 50-yards of momentum on their side.

Double Forward Passes

I like when sports unveil a simple rule that shakes things up just a little bit and keeps teams on their toes. Double forward passes do just that.

Under XFL rules, a second forward pass was allowed as long as the ball had not crossed the line of scrimmage. It’s an exciting option for offenses to have at their disposal and encourages creativity when it comes to designing plays.

This rule was shown off for the first time by the Defenders during the second week of the season, but if you blink, you’ll miss the “forward pass” from Cardale Jones immediately after the ball is snapped.

Video Review Transparency

It’s no secret that the NFL needs to fix the video replay system. There are times when it feels like a decision was made entirely at random, whether it was by throwing darts or holding an impromptu county fair-style pig race.

The XFL gave viewers access to the discussions being had by the referees on the field in addition to those involving the replay officials stationed in the booth. It makes a tough call a little bit easier to swallow if you can at least hear the line of reasoning that’s being used to arrive at a given conclusion.

Now, I have to give credit where credit is due: this was an Alliance of American Football innovation that the XFL decided to adopt as well, which just makes it more insane that the NFL hasn’t started doing it too.