Shannon Harris took over the Defenders six days before the 2025 UFL season. His success in the role hasn't surprised his long-time mentor, Fred Kaiss.

The DC Defenders are heading to the UFL Championship this weekend. Their path to the title game is a powerful story with a layered HBCU storyline. After a 36–18 win over the St. Louis Battlehawks, the Defenders will face the Michigan Panthers for the league title.

The DC Defenders, led by quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, defeated the Battlehawks at The Dome at America's Center Sunday, 36-18, to claim a spot in the UFL Championship.

Barlow (Alabama State) and Harris (Tennessee State) are both HBCU alumni who guided the DC Defenders into a chance to win the league championship. In 2023, Coach Barlow's DC squad was a 6.5-point favorite to defeat Arlington, but Bob Stoops' team won the XFL Championship, 35-26, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Expectations are high for the four remaining teams fighting for the 2025 UFL title. Here are the numbers to know after Week 10!

The United Football League has named former HBCU quarterback Shannon Harris, now head coach of the DC Defenders, as the 2025 UFL Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year. As a former quarterback at Tennessee State, Harris made his mark in 2001. That year, he set a school record for total offense in a season with 3,137 yards.

The UFL playoffs are here! DC is taking on St. Louis in the XFL Conference title game on Sunday. Here are the highlights!