The DC Defenders are a professional American football team based in Washington, D.C. The Defenders compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team was founded by Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment and is owned and operated by a consortium led by Mike Repole. The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field. The team won the UFL championship in 2025.
History McMahon era (2020) On December 5, 2018, Washington, D.C., was announced as one of eight cities that would join the newly reformed XFL, as well as Seattle, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Dallas. On February 21, 2019, the team hired Pep Hamilton, who was most recently an assistant with the Michigan Wolverines football team, as its first head coach and general manager. The team name and logo were revealed on August 21, 2019, followed by the uniforms on December 3, 2019.
On October 15, 2019, the Defenders announced their first player in team history, being assigned former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones. Later that day, the 2020 XFL draft took place. The Defenders selected wide receiver Rashard Davis with the first overall pick, but he did not play for the team and later signed with the Tennessee Titans.
On February 8, 2020, the Defenders won the first game in modern XFL history, defeating the Seattle Dragons by a score of 31–19. On February 15, 2020, the Defenders beat the New York Guardians by a score of 27–0, which was the first shutout in modern XFL history. On March 12, 2020, the XFL announced that the remainder of the 2020 XFL season had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 10, 2020, the XFL suspended operations and terminated all employees, players, and staff.
Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia era (2023–present) On August 3, 2020, it was reported that a consortium led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Gerry Cardinale (through Cardinale's fund RedBird Capital Partners) purchased the XFL for $15 million just hours before an auction could take place; the purchase received court approval on August 7, 2020. In March 2022, a report emerged that Reggie Barlow would become the new head coach of the D.C. XFL franchise, confirming that Washington, D.C., would return as an XFL city. Barlow's hire was official on April 13, 2022, as well as the return of the D.C. franchise on July 24, 2022. On October 31, 2022, the XFL announced that the Defenders name would be returning, this time with a brand new logo.
In September 2023, Axios reported that the XFL was in advanced talks with the USFL to merge the two leagues prior to the start of their 2024 seasons. On September 28, 2023, the XFL and USFL announced their intent to merge with details surrounding the merger to be announced at a later date. The merger would also require regulatory approval. In October 2023 the XFL filed a trademark application for the name "United Football League". On November 30, 2023, Garcia announced via her Instagram page that the leagues had received regulatory approval for the merger and were finalizing plans for a "combined season" to begin March 30, 2024. The merger was made official on December 31, 2023.
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. Three days later, Harris also appeared to resign to join Barlow at Tennessee State but later clarified that such a change would not take place until at least the end of the season. Harris would be named UFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 6–4 record, culminating in a 58–34 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL championship game. Harris accepted the DC head coaching position permanently on July 23; he will join Tennessee State's staff for the 2025 season and will return to DC for 2026.
Current roster
Players
Staff DC Defenders staffHead coach Head coach – Shannon Harris
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Fred Kaiss Quarterbacks – Davis Johnson Wide receivers – Andre Simmons Offensive line – Brian Braswell Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Blake Williams Linebackers/special teams – Jerod Kruse Defensive backs – Vernon Dean
Player history
Current NFL players SeasonPosNameNFL team2020CBElijah CampbellNew York Giants2023PDaniel WhelanGreen Bay Packers2023WRChris BlairAtlanta Falcons2023–2024WRBrandon SmithPittsburgh Steelers
Notable players SeasonPosNameNotes2020QBCardale JonesFormer Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback2020WREli RogersFormer Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver2020SMatt ElamFormer Baltimore Ravens safety, 2013 1st round pick2020SRahim MooreFormer Denver Broncos safety, 2011 2nd round pick2024WRPreston WilliamsFormer Miami Dolphins wide receiver2024LBJordan EvansFormer Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, 2017 6th round pick2023–2024SD. J. SwearingerFormer Houston Texans safety, 2013 2nd round pick2023–2025SMontae NicholsonFormer Washington Redskins safety, 2017 4th round pick2024–presentCBGareon ConleyFormer Oakland Raiders cornerback, 2016 1st round pick2024–presentCBDeandre BakerFormer New York Giants cornerback, 2019 1st round pick2024–presentWRKeke CouteeFormer Houston Texans wide receiver, 2018 4th round pick2025WRLynn BowdenFormer New Orleans Saints wide receiver, 2020 3rd round pick2025WRJaydon MickensFormer Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver2025CBKelvin JosephFormer Dallas Cowboys cornerback, 2021 2nd round pick2025OTD. J. FlukerFormer Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle, 2013 1st round pick2026–presentDEBoogie BashamFormer Buffalo Bills defensive end, 2021 2nd round pick
XFL Offensive Player of the Year award winners Defenders XFL OPOY winnersYearPlayerPositionSelector2023Jordan Ta'amuQBXFL
UFL Championship MVP award winners Defenders UFL Championship MVP winnersYearPlayerPositionSelector2025Jordan Ta'amuQBUFL
Coach history
Head coaches #CoachTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwardsGCWLWin %GCWLDC Defenders1Pep Hamilton2020532.600 – – –2Reggie Barlow 2023–2024 20 13 7.650 2 1 12023 XFL Coach of the Year3Shannon Harris2025–present20119.5504312025 UFL Coach of the Year
Offensive coordinators #CoachTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwardsGCWLWin %GCWLDC Defenders1Tanner Engstrand2020 5 3 2 .600 – – –2Fred Kaiss2023–present402416.600 6 4 22025 UFL Assistant Coach of the Year
Defensive coordinators #CoachTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwardsGCWLWin %GCWLDC Defenders1Jeff FitzGerald2020 – – – – – – –2Louie Cioffi2020532.600 – – –3Gregg Williams 2023–2025 22 15 7.612 2 1 14Blake Williams2025–present 18 9 9 .500 4 3 1
Championships
North Division championship games Year Coach Stadium Location Opponent Score Record 2023 Reggie Barlow Audi Field Washington, D.C. Seattle Sea Dragons 37–21 9–1 Total North Division championship games won: 1
XFL Conference championship games Year Coach Stadium Location Opponent Score Record 2025 Shannon Harris The Dome at America's Center St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Battlehawks 36–18 6–4 Total XFL Conference championship games won: 1
UFL championship games Year Coach Stadium Location Opponent Score Record 2025 Shannon Harris The Dome at America's Center St. Louis, Missouri Michigan Panthers 58–34 6–4 Total UFL championship games won: 1
Rivalries
St. Louis Battlehawks The Defenders' main rivalry is against the St. Louis Battlehawks. At the end of their first meeting of the 2023 season, three players were ejected after a brawl broke out. A week later, the Battlehawks' quarterback, A. J. McCarron, called their competition the "first XFL rivalry." DC leads the overall series 6–3 and leads the playoff series 1–0.
Arlington/Dallas Renegades The Defenders also have a rivalry with the Arlington/Dallas Renegades. The rivalry stems from the two teams being founded in the 2020 iteration of the XFL and both being members of the UFL's XFL Conference, as well as there being a Dallas/Washington rivalry in the NFL. The rivalry picked up steam when the Renegades upset DC in the 2023 XFL Championship Game. DC leads the overall series 5–2 while the Renegades lead the playoff series 1–0.
Franchise matchup history +TeamRecordPct.Birmingham Stallions2–1Columbus Aviators1–0Dallas Renegades6–2Houston Gamblers2–1Houston Roughnecks1–0Los Angeles Wildcats0–1Louisville Kings0–3Memphis Showboats2–0Michigan Panthers1–2Orlando Guardians1–1Orlando Storm1–2San Antonio Brahmas3–2Seattle Sea Dragons4–0St. Louis Battlehawks6–4Vegas Vipers2–1
Defunct teams in light gray.
Season-by-season record
UFL champions (2024–present)XFL champions (2023)Conference champions Division championsWild Card berth
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseason resultsAwardsHead coachesPct.Finish20202020XFLEast1st32Season Suspended after 5 games due to COVID-19Pep Hamilton2021 —202220232023XFLNorth 1st 91Won Division Finals (Sea Dragons) 37–21 Lost XFL Championship (vs. Renegades) 26–35 Jordan Ta'amu (OPOY)Reggie Barlow (COTY)Reggie Barlow20242024UFLXFL3rd4620252025UFL XFL 2nd 64Won XFL Conference Championship (at Battlehawks) 36–18Won UFL Championship (vs. Panthers) 58–34 Shannon Harris (COTY) Fred Kaiss (ACOTY)Shannon Harris20262026UFL4th 55Won Semifinals (at Storm) 28–22 Lost United Bowl (vs. Kings) 20–27Total2718All-time regular season record (2020–2026)42All-time postseason record (2020–2026)3020All-time regular season and postseason record (2020–2026)
Records All-time Defenders leadersLeader Player Record Years with Defenders Passing yards Jordan Ta'amu 7,400 passing yards 2023–presentPassing touchdownsJordan Ta'amu60 passing touchdowns2023–present Rushing yards Abram Smith 1,352 rushing yards 2023–presentRushing touchdownsDeon Jackson11 rushing touchdowns2025–present Receiving yards Ty Scott 981 receiving yards 2024–presentReceiving touchdownsTy Scott9 receiving touchdowns2024–presentReceptionsCornell Powell63 receptions2025–presentTacklesAnthony Hines III151 tackles2023–present Sacks Derick Roberson 18 sacks 2024–present Interceptions Michael JosephGareon Conley 4 interceptions 2023–20242024–presentCoaching winsReggie Barlow13 wins2023–2024
Starting quarterbacks
Regular season – As of June 14, 2026 Season(s) Quarterback(s) Notes Ref 2020 Cardale Jones 2021–2022 Suspended operations 2023 Jordan Ta'amu 2024 Jordan Ta'amu 2025 Jordan Ta'amu / Mike DiLiello 2026Jordan Ta'amu / Spencer Sanders / Jason Bean Postseason Season(s) Quarterback(s) Notes Ref 2023 Jordan Ta'amu 2025 Jordan Ta'amu Ta'amu won UFL Championship Game MVP 2026 Jason Bean Most games as starting quarterback Name Period 2023–2026 35 35 24 13 2020 5 5 3 2 2024–2026 8 1 0 1 2025-20264101.000 20261101.000
Year by year SeasonHead CoachLeagueAvg. CrowdHome Record 2020 Pep HamiltonXFL 16,179 3–0 2023Reggie Barlow 14,269 5–0 2024UFL 14,143 2–3 2025Shannon Harris 13,026 3–2 2026 9,000 3–2
Market overview The Baltimore–Washington area has a history of several teams in alternative professional football. The USFL had the Washington Federals (a mostly unsuccessful franchise) in its first two years. Then the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars moved from Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland, in 1985, winning the USFL's final championship. The Canadian Football League's Baltimore CFL Colts/Stallions were the only successful American team in the league during their two-year existence in the mid-1990s (and were the only American-based team to win the Grey Cup, the CFL's championship). Indoor teams to have played in Washington include the Washington Commandos and the Washington Valor (which folded two months before the Defenders' first game) of the Arena Football League, and the D.C. Armor of American Indoor Football Association, in addition to several teams based in Maryland.