Determination time for DC's Shannon Harris tops storylines from 2025 UFL season

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

Jordan Ta’amu had a easy request for the DC Defenders group after an emphatic 58-34 win over the Michigan Panthers within the 2025 UFL Championship Sport on Saturday — take away the interim tag for head coach Shannon Harris.

“We’re making an attempt to take the tag off,” Ta’amu stated.

That sentiment is definitely warranted, contemplating Harris led the Defenders to a UFL title in his first season after changing then-head coach Reggie Barlow only a week earlier than the season started. Barlow took the pinnacle teaching job at Tennessee State, and Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams adopted per week later; Williams’ son Blake Williams took over because the defensive coordinator for the Defenders after his departure.

Regardless of main modifications to the Defenders’ teaching employees, they nonetheless managed to complete the season on high, championship trophy in hand and with Harris incomes UFL Coach of the 12 months honors.

“He by no means blinked,” tight finish Briley Moore stated about Harris. “He preached to essentially have us come collectively as one all through the season, it doesn’t matter what occurred. It’s due to that we have been capable of hold our poise final week and beat them (the St. Louis Battlehawks) at house. And this week to not flinch in an enormous recreation. Shout out to Coach (Harris).”

Harris stated it is “but to be decided” whether or not he’ll comply with Barlow and Williams to Tennessee State or settle for a possible supply to stay the pinnacle coach of the Defenders completely and defend the UFL title.

“We nonetheless have plenty of conferences to go, and we nonetheless have issues to speak over … however these guys right here, it will be arduous to go away these guys,” Harris stated.

The place Harris lands will likely be one of many high storylines to keep watch over this offseason. Right here’s a have a look at the opposite large themes from Saturday’s title recreation and the 2025 UFL season general.

Ta’amu’s revenge recreation

Moore stated he texted Ta’amu on Friday after studying the UFL chief in passing touchdowns didn’t earn Offensive Participant of the 12 months or MVP honors. “Whenever you’re holding up that trophy on that stage, I’m going to be chanting M-V-P,” Moore stated he texted Ta’amu.

Moore’s prediction turned a actuality, as Ta’amu let his play do the speaking on Saturday, passing for 390 yards and 4 touchdowns in a runaway win over the Panthers. Ta’amu helped the Defenders rating on their first 10 possessions. Over the postseason, the Defenders scored on a jaw-dropping 17 of their 21 possessions and averaged 47 factors a recreation, successful by a median of 21 factors per contest.

The Defenders dominated on offense, scoring essentially the most factors in UFL historical past (58) towards what had been a tricky Panthers protection — and Ta’amu rightfully earned MVP honors for the championship recreation.

“When playoff time hit, we informed them, ‘It is a totally different season,’” Harris stated. “These guys have been prepared for that second. The one factor we challenged one another on — from coaches to gamers and help employees — is that we’re going to end the drills. … We weren’t going to finish this recreation and never be winners. That was the method.”

Not incomes UFL MVP or Offensive Participant of the 12 months served as further motivation for Ta’amu. “I informed [my teammates] pregame that I [was] going to place my physique on the road for them,” Ta’amu stated. “Bryce Perkins is a good quarterback and he deserved all of the awards, however it simply gave us an enormous chip on our shoulders to go on the market and play even more durable.”

Perkins places up numbers in loss for Panthers

Whereas Michigan didn’t earn a title, Perkins confirmed up for the Panthers. The Virginia product completed 60% of his passes (21 of 35) for 338 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and only one interception. His favourite goal was Malik Turner, who totaled 10 receptions for 168 receiving yards and three scores.

Nevertheless, the one space Michigan struggled with was working the soccer, totaling simply 104 yards on the bottom. Perkins was restricted by a balky ankle, speeding for simply eight yards on 4 carries.

It’s all in regards to the quarterback

Scoring was up this postseason, with video games averaging a mixed rating of 73.7 factors in the course of the playoffs this 12 months in comparison with 38 mixed factors per recreation within the 2024 postseason. One of many causes for improved manufacturing within the postseason was the play of Ta’amu and Perkins.

Elsewhere, the Arlington Renegades had the UFL’s regular-season passing chief in Luis Perez, however they nonetheless didn’t make the playoffs for a second straight season. The Birmingham Stallions didn’t defend their championship title as a result of they’d instability at crucial place on the sphere, utilizing 5 totally different quarterbacks attributable to harm.

Jalan McClendon rising because the Houston Roughnecks’ starter helped them enhance from 1-9 in 2024 to 5-5 this season. He was helped by personal QBs coach Jordan Palmer, who labored with varied gamers in the course of the offseason.

“You’ve acquired to stroll into Week 1 together with your main quarterback, having your man in place,” UFL head of soccer operations Daryl Johnston stated. “Then, as you get into the season, if you wish to get some reps for No. 2 or No. 3 with the best way the [Collective Bargaining Agreement] is structured now, then that’s a chance so that you can develop that place. However you need to have your man in place in Week 1, and I hope that’s the lesson our groups be taught this 12 months.”

Travis Feeney named 2025 UFL Sportsman of the 12 months

The Battlehawks’ linebacker was awarded the primary Sportsman of the 12 months award, which is given to a participant who exemplifies distinctive management, integrity and dedication to creating a distinction each on the sphere and in the neighborhood. Feeney was chosen by a panel of league and crew executives, coaches and gamers from all eight groups.

The Washington product donated his time taking part in neighborhood occasions within the UFL’s house base of Arlington, Texas and in St. Louis. Feeny volunteered his time as an advocate for CARE St. Louis Adoption Heart, the Adaptive Coaching Basis and is an envoy for the American Most cancers Society.

“Over the past three years, nobody embodies this award greater than Travis,” stated Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. “His dedication on and off the sphere has been super.”

Constructing native help stays a piece in progress

Constructing extra fan curiosity in native markets — a acknowledged aim by the league getting into this season — stays a piece in progress because the UFL heads into a 3rd season.

“We’re taking a look at each option to reengage and have a look at our market in every separate silo as we transfer ahead,” stated UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon. “We’re an amazing product. We all know it’s reasonably priced. We’re making an attempt to activate as a lot as potential in every of those native markets, and we have now an amazing plan in place, I imagine, to try this.”

UFL co-owner Danny Garcia stated the league’s imaginative and prescient for the longer term stays what’s greatest to make sure long-term progress.

“What I wish to see is … this league clicking in with its shopper, it’s viewers … [and] this league persevering with to … be that chance for its athletes, the place their efficiency right here issues,” she stated. “The place they know their expressing their love of soccer and their unimaginable talent at soccer, and it’s being appreciated, … loved and … celebrated.

“We actually have so lots of our components put down and planted, that it’s nearly letting it breathe and develop.”

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him at @eric_d_williams.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day!

FOLLOW Comply with your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports activities expertise