2025 UFL Memphis Showboats Season Summary

This is the second part of an eight-part look at each UFL team’s 2025 season.

Part One: San Antonio Brahmas

What went right

Under new general manager Jim Monos, Memphis’s roster got a facelift and improved the talent level across the board. They seemed to be competitive in more games than they were the previous season. They found a couple of young, hungry linebackers in Steele Chambers (who finished second in the UFL in tackles), Zeke Vandenburgh and in-season addition Andrew Dowell that seem like building blocks of the defense. The “D” gave up the fewest passing yards per game in the league. Kicker Matt Coghlin had another solid season. Memphis’s two wins were thrilling overtime victories, including one over the playoff-bound Birmingham Stallions. That game also featured what could’ve been the play of the year in the UFL, the kick-six, in which Isiah Hennie returned a missed Harrison Mevis field goal for a touchdown just prior to halftime.

What went wrong

Despite the feeling that progress was made in numerous areas with the team, Memphis finished with the same 2-8 record they earned in 2024. After John DeFilippo stepped down as head coach following last season, the UFL hired veteran NFL coach Ken Whisenhunt along with Monos as GM. It was a short honeymoon, as Whisenhunt took a leave from the team on two separate occasions, the final one apparently permanently. That thrust offensive line coach Jim Turner into the interim head coach role. Longtime offensive coach Noel Mazzone was brought in to lead the offense (Whisenhunt was also the offensive coordinator), and the staff completely changed the offensive scheme midway through the season. While incremental improvements were made, Memphis still finished at the bottom of most offensive and defensive rankings: They were last in rushing offense, second-to-last in total offense, last in sacks and last in rushing defense. The quarterback position was not clarified and in fact was mired in controversy after the pre-season release of presumed #1 Quinten Dormady, who then accused the team and the league of conspiring to release him for his union activities. Memphis was the poster child for dwindling attendance across the league, ranking last in that category, offering little to no home field advantage.

Stat to note

A large part of Memphis’s woes came because they could not force turnovers on defense and turned the ball over too much on offense. The Showboats led the league in giveaways with 19, including a UFL-high 10 interceptions, while forcing a league-low six turnovers. They recovered just one fumble all season. This led to a -13 turnover differential, last of all teams by a significant margin (the next lowest margin was -2).

Offensive MVP

No matter who was under center, WR Jonathan Adams provided a reliable target for his quarterback. He was far-and-away the most consistent receiver on the Showboats, pacing the team in receptions, yardage, and receiving touchdowns. The Arkansas State grad just finished his fourth season in spring football: two years with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL followed by two years with the Showboats. He’s four years removed from his last NFL contract, but he made the case in 2025 that he deserves another look.

Defensive MVP

It was a lot of fun to watch LB Steele Chambers in his first Showboats season. As mentioned above, Chambers was second in the UFL in tackles, adding two tackles for loss. At another site, I broke down the early season positives and negatives of the young linebacker duo of Chambers and Vandenburgh. Undrafted by the NFL in 2024 out of Ohio State, Chambers kicked around the workout circuit in between stints with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions. If the NFL passes him over this year, he’ll likely be welcomed back into the Memphis fold in 2026.

Special Teams MVP

It’s not an exaggeration to say that without WR Isiah Hennie‘s kick-six against Birmingham, Memphis would’ve lost that game and shared the basement with San Antonio at 1-9. It was as impressive a play as we saw all year in the UFL. Add to it that Hennie was the Showboats’ primary punt returner, averaging over 10 yards per attempt and finishing third in the UFL in punt return yardage, and those ingredients are the makings of a special teams MVP.

Most likely to succeed (in getting NFL opportunities)

QB Dresser Winn would not have topped this list, but he returned to the Los Angeles Rams as a camp arm and potential number three this training camp. Matthew Stafford’s back issues have likely given Winn more work already than he otherwise would’ve received. Alec Lindstrom was solid in the middle of the Memphis offensive line and he could get another look. I think Adams deserves a shot, but he’s been off NFL radars for a while. OLB Jaylon Allen signed with San Francisco just before this article went live. He had already worked out for four teams to that point. At least one of the Memphis linebacker trio could find a new NFL home. Based solely on 2025 performances, I didn’t see a lot of next-level talent jump out at me.

QB concern level for 2024 (1-5)

Troy Williams was the only hold-over from 2024 in the quarterback room, and even then, he was buried as third in line for much of the season. With Memphis out of the playoff picture, interim head coach Jim Turner rotated his quarterbacks so they could all have a turn leading the team. None stood out above the others as deserving of the number one role heading into 2026. Winn probably looked the best of the three, though that’s damning with faint praise. There’s still work to do to improve the supporting cast – the offensive line struggled mightily to run block the first half of the year, resulting in the team becoming one dimensional for the most part – and with that improvement, the team may be able to get away with starting a Winn or an E.J. Perry and being competitive. But it won’t put them over the hump. Quarterback should again be on the Jim Monos shopping list in the off-season, no matter who the new head coach or offensive coordinator is. I’ll label the level a 3.5.

Head coach hot seat rating (1-5)

Whisenhunt’s departure certainly complicated issues for Memphis. Turner, with his military background, had no problem in a leadership role and I wouldn’t hate the idea of him being promoted to head coach next year. I’m not sure how likely that is at this point. A little continuity would be a plus for a franchise that has had four head coaches in three years. It may be especially important if the team is relocated, as rumors insist. A cop-out, but without a permanent head coach in place, there’s no one to place in the hot seat. Therefore, this rating is N/A.

Offseason needs for 2026

Finding a new home and potentially a new head coach are one and two. Then we get to the roster itself. The running game was abysmal; the team probably needs multiple running backs in addition to an upgrade along the offensive line. There weren’t any receivers that put fear into defensive coordinators, especially with the trade of Dee Anderson to San Antonio and the ineffectiveness of Daewood Davis, who returned late in the year off an injury sustained in the NFL in 2024. Tight ends were a non-factor in the pass game. The new offensive system may dictate what is needed there. On defense, they need players that can take the ball away and get to the QB, at any level of the defense. The team ranked last in gross punting average and punts inside the 20, so a new specialist may be sought as well.