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!

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.

The Battlehawks surrendered five sacks to the Defenders and committed two turnovers. They lost one of four fumbles. The Defenders will meet the Michigan Panthers in the UFL Championship game on Saturday, June 14, at The Dome at America’s Center. The Panthers defeated the Birmingham Stallions 44-29 on Sunday to punch their ticket to the title game.

The D.C. Defenders upended the Battlehawks on Sunday, 36-18, for the XFL Conference berth in next weekend’s UFL Championship. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Deon Jackson racked up 110 rushing yards on 21 carries, with a pair of touchdowns.

Joseph was charged with driving while intoxicated after a collision resulted in the death of a motorcycle driver.