The DC Defenders are headed back to the United Bowl, and after overcoming injuries, adversity and a late-season losing streak, the defending United Football League champions are now one win away from becoming back-to-back title winners.
A year ago, the Defenders surprised the league with an improbable championship run. This season, the challenge was entirely different. Expectations followed them from opening day.
Champions carry the target
The 2026 season began with the Defenders carrying the weight of being defending champions. Head coach Shannon Harris returned alongside much of the coaching staff and more than 20 players from the title-winning roster, including 2025 championship MVP Jordan Ta’amu.
The early results suggested another strong season was on the horizon. DC opened with a 5-1 record and quickly established itself among the league’s top contenders.
The road became much more complicated, however, after consecutive losses to the Louisville Kings and the season-ending injury suffered by Ta’amu.
Quarterback change creates new challenge
Losing a starting quarterback can derail a championship season, but the Defenders refused to let that happen.
Spencer Sanders received an opportunity after Ta’amu’s injury before Jason Bean emerged as the starter entering the postseason. Bean’s path was unusual. Acquired from Louisville after Week Four, he suddenly found himself leading the defending champions during the most important stretch of the year.
The timing could hardly have been more difficult. DC entered the playoffs riding a four-game losing streak and facing the top-seeded Orlando Storm for the third consecutive meeting.
Semifinal breakthrough
The postseason brought out the best in the Defenders.
Playing in Daytona Beach, DC finally solved the Storm, jumping out to an early lead behind rushing touchdowns from Deon Jackson and Abram Smith. Jason Bean managed the offense effectively while the defense consistently disrupted one of the league’s most explosive attacks.
Derick Roberson delivered several key plays, including a critical fourth-down sack, while the defense prevented Orlando from generating the momentum that had helped produce victories in the regular season.
When the game tightened late in the fourth quarter, Matt McCrane delivered one of the biggest kicks of the season, converting a 61-yard four-point field goal that helped seal a 28-22 victory.
Home field and a championship opportunity
Now the Defenders return to Audi Field with a chance to defend their crown in front of their home fans.
Standing between DC and another championship are the Louisville Kings, one of the league’s best stories this season. The matchup also creates an intriguing storyline as Bean prepares to face the franchise that traded him earlier in the year.
The path back to the championship game has looked very different from last season’s run. But once again, the DC Defenders find themselves exactly where they wanted to be — one win away from another UFL title.
Source: UFL