Saturday, June 21, 2025

Jordan Ta'amu Is Finally A Champion! UFL End Of Season Review

DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu poses with UFL trophy.


It's been a long time coming but Jordan Ta'amu can finally call himself a champion. He started his professional career in 2019 with the Texans where he was only there for a couple weeks before getting cut. Thankfully, the XFL was resurrected and he became starting QB for the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic killed the league just when they were hitting their stride after 5 games. He bounced around various NFL practice squads until returning to spring football in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the also revived USFL.

He may have been the best QB in the league but the team was trash, hampered by a dipshit flame out of an NFL coach Todd Haley. He returned to the XFL (now under new management) the following year this time with the DC Defenders. He got his mojo back leading his team to the top of the standings at 9-1 and got to experience his first postseason. After the season he had a cup of coffee with the Vikings and was even claimed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders if he chose to play in the CFL. Instead, he returned to the Defenders as now part of the UFL.

In this new fused league that's a revival of a previous league, he took on the best of both the XFL and USFL. It ended up being a repeat of his time with the Bandits where he leads in passing stats but he also leads in interceptions and getting sacked. Now it's 2025, he's back with the Defenders but lost his coach. Can he shed the stigma of being a turnover machine? Yes he does as he finished 2nd in passing with 2,155 yards, 17 TDs and 4 INTs capping off the year with a dominant 21/28 for 390 yards and 5 total TD performance beating the Panthers 58-34.

It was nice to see all that hard work finally pay off like when Luis Perez won the XFL championship with the Renegades 2 years ago. He's 27 so there is still a chance an NFL team signs him but it's unlikely. Not everyone can be a NFL player and that's fine. We could use some spring football legends who didn't make it to the NFL but made their mark outside of it. As enjoyable it was reliving his career through my blog, it's time to get on with the season review.


END OF SEASON REVIEW


St. Louis Battlehawks QB getting tackled by Memphis Showboats defender.
St. Louis Battlehawks 8-2

Another year, another disappointing finish leaving St. Louis with no team to root for in the championship game. I originally thought the Battlehawks was gonna suck because coach Anthony Becht dumped A.J McCarron in favor of unknown and unproven QBs. They finished at the top of the standings but got their ass kicked by DC in the semifinal. Despite getting doubled upped by Jordan and the boys, Max Duggan was their best QB as he used his duel threat capabilities to score 9 total TDs. I can see him returning as their starter next season.


All 5 QBs the Birmingham Stallions used this 2025 season.
Birmingham Stallions 7-3

Man, injuries really kicked the Stallions ass this year. They went through 5 QBs and still made it to the postseason. But they couldn't overcome the slow start that plagued them this season and they was overwhelmed by Michigan ending their dynasty. It was a nice run but it's time to send these ponies to the glue factory. Maybe next year they will get some new thoroughbreds to race.


DC Defenders celebrating winning the 2025 UFL championship.
DC Defenders 6-4

I gushed over Jordan Ta'amu's journey but coach Shannon Harris deserves a lot of credit too. I wrote them off after Reggie Barlow fucked off to college thinking this squad would be dysfunctional. Instead, his departure was an improvement as the Defenders got their shit together with their defense and O-Line along with cutting down Jordan's INTs and sacks. He was awarded coach of the year honors for turning this previously sad sack franchise around. He might not get an NFL gig now but another year like this will get his phone ringing with offers.


A Michigan Panthers QB scrambling against the DC Defenders.
Michigan Panthers 6-4

I was pretty meh to the Panthers this season. I picked them to win various games but I wasn't really paying attention to them. I took them seriously after they bitch slapped Birmingham. Then when they made it to the championship game, of course they got beat down making me winless in the postseason. With that said, they should stick with Bryce Perkins next year.


Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez looking shellshocked during a game.
Arlington Renegades 5-5

Arlington was another team I didn't really pay attention to this season. Luis Perez finished with 2,298 passing yards and 9 TDs but he also had 5 INTs and fumbles. As a team, they gave up 23 sacks so I assume that played a big part to their .500 season. Like Jordan, Luis can help your team win but he can't overcome a bad O-Line or defense. Better luck next year I suppose. 


A Houston Roughnecks QB scrambling with the ball.
Houston Gamblers 5-5

Oddly, Houston has the most promising future among the bottom half teams. They sucked at first but after a change at QB, they went on a run. Jalan McClendon is another QB who I can see starting next season after passing for 1,464 yards and 6 TDs. Of course, he needs to do a better job at holding the ball because 6 fumbles are unacceptable even if they recovered each one. But like with DC, they would be better served with dumping their coach in favor of a new one.


A Arlington Renegades player stiff arming a Memphis Showboats defender.
Memphis Showboats 2-8

Getting stiff armed by a punter is the best representation of the Showboats season. YIKES!


A St. Louis Battlehawks player stiff arming a San Antonio Brahmas defender.
San Antonio Brahmas 1-9

When Wade Phillips left the Brahmas, I thought he was bouncing early because he got a heads up that this league is shutting down. Considering they're offering perks to those who renew their season tickets, that's probably not the case. His absence didn't spark the team as they was straight up cheeks this season. I assume they will bring in a new coach next year. As for Wade, ESPN put him on their All-Quarter Century team at defensive coordinator so that was neat.


XFL final standings

USFL final standings

LAST WEEK:  0-1

PLAYOFFS:    0-3

OVERALL:    26-19


DC Defenders 2025 UFL championship poster.

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