The DC Defenders flipped the script in emphatic fashion, routing the Michigan Panthers 58-34 in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Sunday night. It was a resounding redemption after the Panthers throttled the Defenders in their only regular-season meeting earlier this year. This time, DC returned the favor—on the biggest stage of them all.
Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu etched his name in UFL history with a jaw-dropping performance that earned him the game’s MVP honors. Ta’amu torched the Panthers’ defense for a league-record 390 passing yards and accounted for five total touchdowns. His highlight reel included a perfect 73-yard bomb to Ty Scott, a pass that showcased both his deep-ball accuracy and command of the moment.
“I’ve been waiting for this chance to make it right,” Ta’amu said. “We remembered what they did to us, and we weren’t going to let that happen again—not with a title on the line.”
Under the leadership of interim head coach Shannon Harris—who took over just six days before the season opener after Reggie Barlow departed for the college ranks at Tennessee State—the Defenders soared down the stretch of the season and saved their best for last.
The Defenders’ offense wasn’t alone in making waves. Defensive coordinator Blake Williams dialed up relentless pressure that flustered the Panthers for much of the game. Michigan quarterback E.J. Perry and the Panthers offense struggled to find a rhythm early, and while they rallied in the fourth quarter, it was too little, too late.
The Panthers made a dramatic push, successfully executing the UFL’s onside-kick alternative twice—a gutsy fourth-and-12 play from their own 28-yard line—and narrowed the lead to 18 points with just minutes to go. Momentum appeared to be shifting, but cornerback Kiondre Thomas slammed the door by breaking up a critical pass intended for tight end Cole Hikutini.
That defensive stand led directly to a 19-yard touchdown run by Defenders receiver Chris Rowland, sealing the outcome and sending the DC sideline into celebration.
“It was a complete team effort,” said Harris. “Jordan led us like a true champion, the defense came up big when we needed it most, and this group believed in each other through everything. I’m just proud to be a part of it.”
The win marks the first UFL championship for the Defenders and completes an improbable season under Harris’ guidance. What began with uncertainty ended with confetti and a trophy, capping off a rollercoaster year with championship gold.
As for Michigan, despite their offensive firepower and resilience, the early hole proved insurmountable. They’ll head into the offseason with questions, while the Defenders will savor a season-ending statement: Champions of the UFL.
