Jump to content

2025 DC Defenders season

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2025 DC Defenders season
OwnerAlpha Acquico, LLC
General managerVon Hutchins
Head coachShannon Harris
Home stadiumAudi Field
Results
Record6–4
Conference place2nd in XFL Conference
PlayoffsWon Conference Finals (at St. Louis Battlehawks) 36–18
Won UFL Championship (vs. Michigan Panthers) 58–34
Uniform

The 2025 DC Defenders season was the fourth season for the DC Defenders as a professional American football franchise and the second season in the United Football League (UFL).[1] The Defenders played their home games at Audi Field and were led by interim head coach Shannon Harris. The Defenders won their first UFL championship, defeating Michigan Panthers, 58–34, in the 2025 UFL championship game

In the offseason, quarterback Jordan Ta'amu re-signed for his third straight season with the Defenders. On March 22, 2025, head coach Reggie Barlow departed the Defenders and quarterback coach Shannon Harris took over in an interim role for the 2025 season.[2] In week eight, the Defenders defeated Arlington 33–30, clinching their second postseason berth in franchise history and first since the 2023 season. Ta'amu rested the second half of week nine and all of game ten in preparation of the XFL conference championship against the St. Louis Battlehawks. After losing to Houston in week nine, backup quarterback Mike DiLiello received his first professional start in the season finale against St. Louis in heavy rainfall and the Defenders lost and finished the regular season 6–4. They split the regular season series with St. Louis. However, even if they won their final two games, they wouldn't have hosted the XFL Conference Championship Game due to a scheduling conflict.[3]

In the XFL conference championship against St. Louis, the Defenders never trailed and won by a convincing score of 36–18. Ta'amu threw for 204 yards and a touchdown while running backs Deon Jackson and Abram Smith ran for a combined 180 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Malik Fisher had a game high two sacks while the Defenders had a total of five sacks and nine tackles for losses.[4] This victory clinched their second championship game appearance in franchise history. The Defenders then faced the Panthers who they had lost to 14–38 in week six of the regular season.

Leading up to the championship game, quarterback Jordan Ta'amu was not selected for the All-UFL team, Offensive Player of the Year or Most Valuable Player.[5] Ta'amu led the UFL with 17 touchdown passes despite missing the final game and a half of the season. In the 58–34 victory over the Panthers, Ta'amu was 21-of-28 for 390 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for another score in a pivotal fourth-and-goal situation in the first half. For his performance he was named the games Most Valuable Player.[6]

On the season, wide receiver Cornell Powell led the league with seven touchdown receptions. His counterpart Chris Rowland led the league with 1,070 All-purpose yards and was named All-UFL team for wide receiver and return specialist. Offensive lineman Yasir Durant was named All-UFL. Defensively, the Defenders had four players named All-UFL. This included lineman Joe Wallace and edge Derrick Roberson. Linebacker Anthony Hines and cornerback Deandre Baker rounded out the All-UFL list for the Defenders. In week eight against Arlington, Baker had a game ending interception that helped clinch a postseason berth.

Head coach Shannon Harris and Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss were selected for Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year.[7] Through the 2025 season, the DC Defenders hold a 22–13 overall record, including a 10–10 record in two seasons of play in UFL.

Final Roster

[edit]
2025 DC Defenders roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)
  • 45 Brian Abraham ILB
  • 44 Micah Baskerville ILB
  • 57 Anthony Hines III ILB
  • 11 MoMo Sanogo ILB
  • 33 Shayne Simon ILB

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Reserve

Rookies in italics
50 active, 4 reserve

Staff

[edit]
DC Defenders staff
Front Office
Head Coach
Offensive Coaches
  • Offensive coordinator/running backs – Fred Kaiss
  • Wide receivers – Andre Simmons
  • Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator – Brian Braswell
  
Defensive Coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Blake Williams
  • Linebackers/special teams – Deion Harris
  • Defensive backs – Vernon Dean


Draft

[edit]
Main article: 2024 UFL draft

The UFL held its first draft since the creation of the league on July 17, 2024.[8]

Rnd Pick
No. 		Player Pos. College
1 4 Gottlieb Ayedze OT Maryland
2 12 Kedon Slovis QB BYU
3 20 Leonard Taylor III DT Miami (FL)
4 28 Garret Greenfield OT South Dakota State
5 36 Braiden McGregor DE Michigan
6 44 Michael Wiley RB Arizona
7 52 Dallas Gant LB Toledo
8 60 Curtis Jacobs LB Penn State
9 68 Tanner Mordecai QB Wisconsin
10 76 Omar Brown S Nebraska

Schedule

[edit]

All times Eastern

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
1 Sunday March 30 3:00 p.m. ESPN Birmingham Stallions 18–11 1–0 Audi Field 12,254
2 Saturday April 5 8:00 p.m. ABC Memphis Showboats 17–12 2–0 Audi Field 13,142
3 Sunday April 13 3:00 p.m. ABC at St. Louis Battlehawks 27–15 3–0 The Dome at America's Center 30,014
4 Sunday April 20 5:00 p.m. Fox San Antonio Brahmas 18–24 3–1 Audi Field 12,474
5 Sunday April 27 12:00 p.m. ESPN at Arlington Renegades 37–33 4–1 Choctaw Stadium 9,544
6 Sunday May 4 12:00 p.m. ESPN at Michigan Panthers 14–38 4–2 Ford Field 11,653
7 Friday May 9 8:00 p.m. Fox at San Antonio Brahmas 32–24 5–2 Alamodome 9,884
8 Sunday May 18 12:00 p.m. ABC Arlington Renegades 33–30 6–2 Audi Field 14,638
9 Sunday May 25 4:00 p.m. Fox at Houston Roughnecks 21–24 6–3 Space City Financial Stadium 6,684
10 Friday May 30 8:00 p.m. Fox St. Louis Battlehawks 8–13 6–4 Audi Field 12,624

[9]

Standings

[edit]
2025 UFL standings
USFL Conference
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) Birmingham Stallions 7 3 .700 – 8 28 20 5–1 244 167 77 W2
(x) Michigan Panthers 6 4 .600 1 8 30 22 3–3 245 198 47 L2
(e) Houston Roughnecks 5 5 .500 2 0 22 22 3–3 183 201 -18 W2
(e) Memphis Showboats 2 8 .200 5 -13 15 28 1–5 148 246 -98 L2
XFL Conference
Team W L PCT GB TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
(y) St. Louis Battlehawks 8 2 .800 – 7 26 19 4–2 231 163 68 W6
(x) DC Defenders 6 4 .600 2 3 28 25 4–2 225 224 1 L2
(e) Arlington Renegades 5 5 .500 3 4 23 19 3–3 229 168 61 W2
(e) San Antonio Brahmas 1 9 .100 7 -17 14 31 1–5 136 274 -138 L6
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched conference; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Postseason

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
XFL Conference Championship Sunday June 8 6:00 p.m. Fox at St. Louis Battlehawks 36–18 1–0 The Dome at America's Center 27,589
UFL Championship Saturday June 14 8:00 p.m. ABC at Michigan Panthers 58–34 2–0 The Dome at America's Center 14,559

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Williams, Eric (June 19, 2024). "UFL 2024: Year 2 evolution to include more innovation, player development". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Barlow Steps Down as Head Coach of Defenders".
  3. ^ https://www.theufl.com/news/ufl-announces-birmingham-to-host-usfl-conference-championship-game-on-june-8
  4. ^ "XFL Conference Championship". footballdb.com. June 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "How Jordan Ta'amu's UFL MVP snub motivated Defenders in 2025 championship game". usatoday.com. June 18, 2025.
  6. ^ "Defenders' rout of Panthers in UFL title game proves who the true MVP is". foxsports.com. June 18, 2025.
  7. ^ "DC Defenders Head Coach Shannon Harris Named 2025 UFL Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year". theufl.com. June 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Gerding, John (July 17, 2024). "St. Louis Battlehawks announce 10 draftees". Spectrum News. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "2025 DC Defenders Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2025_DC_Defenders_season&oldid=1302747470"