# Defenders look forward to continuity once again in 2027

- Author: Greg Parks
- Published: 2026-11-11T14:37:00Z
- Updated: 2026-11-11T14:37:18Z
- Categories: UFL (ufl), DC Defenders (dc-defenders)
- Canonical URL: https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/defenders-look-forward-continuity-once-2027

The D.C. [Defenders](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/ufl-nfl-pipeline-top-5-standout-players-week-9) have enjoyed an unusual amount of continuity in their roster and coaching staff over the past several years. That continuity is expected to continue into 2027.

Defenders head coach Shannon Harris confirmed to me at the UFL Showcase in Orlando on Sunday that much of his staff will return. "Our coaching staff is pretty much still intact," he said. "We're excited about that."

Offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss is going into his fifth season with the team. If he were in the same position in the NFL, he'd be tied for the second-longest tenured offensive coordinator in that league. Defensive coordinator Blake Williams will be entering his second full season calling plays, though he took over for his dad, Gregg, in 2025 when Gregg stepped aside mid-season to prepare for his new job at Tennessee State. Gregg had been D.C.'s coordinator since 2023 and you can imagine that not a lot changed schematically in the switch.

Harris himself took over for Reggie Barlow as head coach when Barlow accepted the head job at Tennessee State on the eve of the 2025 UFL kickoff. The transition was smooth in part because Harris had coached under Barlow before and had been D.C.'s quarterbacks coach since 2023.

Speaking of quarterbacks, that's been another place of rare continuity in the UFL, as [Jordan Ta'amu](https://uflnewshub.com/player/jordan-taamu-2033) has been under center for D.C. for four seasons. Late last year, however, Ta'amu suffered a torn ACL, putting a damper on the Defenders' hopes of repeating as league champion. Harris noted to me that Ta'amu is "on schedule" in his recovery from the injury.

"We're excited about that," Harris said of Ta'amu's impending return. "To see him train and where he is in the process of everything...I'm looking forward to him coming back stronger than ever." If there was any doubt about Harris's attachment to Ta'amu as the team's starter, he used the word "excited" three times in discussing Ta'amu's recovery and D.C. getting him back for 2027.

First, however, is the UFL Draft, set to [take place](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/2027-ufl-draft-set-take-place-st-louis-nov-18) next Wednesday. Continuity is not infinite and Harris will have to replace some players who will not return, either by their own choice or by his. Harris talked about making sure players were scheme fits first and foremost and having his coaching staff help him review the players and create a pecking order of sorts.

"For me and our scouting department, (we want) to make sure we do our due diligence from a coaching staff standpoint," he said. "Where these players fit within schemes offensively, defensively, and special teams. And then we try to make our assessment from there."

Harris agreed with Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl, [who said his priority in the draft would be in the trenches](https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/changes-horizon-battlehawks-2027). "There's always a need from an offensive line and defensive line standpoint," Harris said. "It's hard to find really good tight ends, really good blocking, in-line tight ends. So that's a need for us as well."

The first two rounds of the UFL Draft will be broadcast live on the NFL Network on Wednesday, November 18, beginning at 8pm EST.

From UFL News Hub. Please link to https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/defenders-look-forward-continuity-once-2027 when citing. More at https://uflnewshub.com/llms.txt