Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu part of new football league

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are part of the new Alliance of American Football.

Related: Pittsburgh Steelers season schedule

Television and film producer Charlie Ebersol will serve as co-founder and CEO of the league, which will debut on Feb. 9, 2019, the week after the NFL's Super Bowl. Bill Polian, a former NFL general manager and current analyst for ESPN, is also a co-founder of the nascent league.

TRENDING NOW:

• Timeline of snow's return Tuesday into Wednesday
• Maryland school shooting: 3 injured, including shooter, at Great Mills High School
• Police seeking witnesses in crash that killed local mother
• VIDEO: Researchers Say Bottled Water Contaminated With Plastic Particles

"The Alliance of American Football represents a fundamental shift in the way we approach professional sports," said Ebersol. "We believe fans and players are what's most important, so our approach is simple -- we've created an alliance where fans and players share in the success of their teams."

Polamalu will oversee the player side of the league. Ward will serve as an adviser, along with Dick Ebersol and former NFL player Justin Tuck.

Related: Steelers sign inside linebacker Jon Bostic to 2-year deal

Some differences between the new league and the NFL:

• Kickoffs are eliminated, allowing the offense to start on the 25 yard line.
• In place of the onside kick, the trailing team will receive the ball on its own 35 yard line, facing fourth down and 10.

• A shorter play clock is instituted with fewer commercial breaks in the interest of shortening the game's total time.
• Extra point is eliminated, requiring two-point conversions after every touchdown.

The History Of The NFL The History Of The NFL

Cox Media Group