D.C. Defenders UFL Season Recap
The 2025 UFL betting season belonged to the D.C. Defenders. After entering the year with modest expectations, opening as +650 longshots to win the title, the Defenders defied the odds with a dominant postseason run that culminated in a historic 58-34 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the UFL Championship Game. It was a complete campaign marked by explosive offense, timely defense, and elite coaching—all culminating in the franchise’s first UFL title and a place in spring football history.
D.C. finished the regular season 6-4, clinching the second seed in the XFL Conference. The team was led by head coach Shannon Harris, who was named UFL Coach of the Year after masterfully guiding a balanced and dynamic squad. His offense, led by veteran quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, evolved into the league’s most dangerous unit over the second half of the season, peaking at the perfect time.
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Ta’amu had a career year, capping the season as the UFL Championship Game MVP. In the title game, he threw for a league-record 390 yards and four touchdowns, completing 21 of 28 passes in a near-flawless performance. Throughout the season, he showcased his dual-threat capabilities and elite deep-ball accuracy, spreading the ball to a versatile receiving corps that included Chris Rowland, Jaydon Mickens, Cornell Powell, and Ty Scott. Rowland led all D.C. receivers with 522 yards in the regular season, but it was Mickens that went off for 132 yards in the championship game.
Running backs Deon Jackson and Abram Smith powered a tough, north-south rushing attack that helped control tempo and protect leads. Jackson’s two touchdowns in the UFL Championship were a fitting end to a campaign that saw him emerge as a red zone hammer and clutch performer.
Defensively, the Defenders weren’t always elite on paper but delivered when it mattered most. Blake Williams’ unit excelled at creating pressure, generating turnovers, and stepping up in critical moments. Key contributors like Malik Fisher and Anthony Hines III routinely disrupted opposing backfields and helped D.C. win the battle in the trenches. In the title game, the defense forced a fumble on special teams and intercepted Bryce Perkins in the third quarter, turning momentum firmly in their favor.
The team’s playoff run was as dominant as it was defining. After dispatching the St. Louis BattleHawks 36-18 in the XFL Conference Championship—holding the league’s best rushing offense to just 83 yards—the Defenders entered the title game as slight underdogs on the UFL odds. That status didn’t last long. A 31-6 second-quarter outburst against Michigan blew the game wide open, as the Defenders became the first UFL team to break the 50-point mark in a game, setting a league scoring record in the process.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Defenders have been installed +250 favorites to repeat. Whether or not Ta’amu returns under center remains to be seen, but the culture, system, and coaching staff are firmly in place. If they can retain their core, D.C. is poised to continue its run as a premier force in spring football.
D.C. Defenders UFL Championship Game Recap
The D.C. Defenders (8-4, 6-6 ATS) delivered a record-setting performance in the 2025 UFL Championship Game, overpowering the Michigan Panthers 58-34 to capture the franchise’s first league title. A second-quarter explosion—where D.C. outscored Michigan 31-6—turned an early deficit into a commanding lead, and the Defenders never looked back en route to cashing in on the UFL futures odds that initially saw them +650 to take home bragging rights. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was named UFL Championship MVP after a historic outing, completing 21 of 28 passes for a UFL-record 390 yards and four touchdowns. Jaydon Mickens led the receiving corps with six receptions for 132 yards, while Ty Scott, Cornell Powell, and Briley Moore also contributed with touchdown snares. Running back Deon Jackson chipped in with two rushing touchdowns, helping D.C. rack up points in every phase.
After trailing 13-6 early, D.C. responded with 25 unanswered points. A Matt McCrane field goal, a 19-yard TD pass to Cornell Powell, a short rushing score by Ta’amu after a Michigan fumble, and a Jackson touchdown capped off a dominant stretch. Just before halftime, Ta’amu hit Scott for a 73-yard bomb, putting D.C. ahead 37-19 at the break. The defense stepped up in the second half, forcing a Perkins interception that led to Jackson’s second score. D.C. added another Ta’amu touchdown pass early in the fourth to make it 52-19. Michigan’s late rally cut the deficit to 18, but the Defenders sealed the win with a final defensive stop and touchdown. D.C.’s 58 points were the most ever scored in a UFL game and in modern spring football history, cementing their championship run as one of the most dominant in league history.
2025 D.C. Defenders Schedule & Scores
| WEEK |
DATE |
MATCHUP |
TIME (ET) |
RESULT |
RECORD |
| Week 1 |
March 30 |
vs. Birmingham Stallions |
3:00 PM |
W 18-11 |
1-0 |
| Week 2 |
April 5 |
vs. Memphis Showboats |
8:00 PM |
W 17-12 |
2-0 |
| Week 3 |
April 13 |
at St. Louis Battlehawks |
3:00 PM |
W 27-15 |
3-0 |
| Week 4 |
April 20 |
vs. San Antonio Brahmas |
5:00 PM |
L 18-24 |
3-1 |
| Week 5 |
April 27 |
at Arlington Renegades |
12:00 PM |
W 37-32 |
4-1 |
| Week 6 |
May 4 |
at Michigan Panthers |
12:00 PM |
L 14-38 |
4-2 |
| Week 7 |
May 9 |
at San Antonio Brahmas |
8:00 PM |
W 32-24 |
5-2 |
| Week 8 |
May 18 |
vs. Arlington Renegades |
12:00 PM |
W 33-30 |
6-2 |
| Week 9 |
May 25 |
at Houston Roughnecks |
4:00 PM |
L 21-24 |
6-3 |
| Week 10 |
May 30 |
vs. St. Louis Battlehawks |
8:00 PM |
L 8-13 |
6-4 |
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