Fresh off their 3rd championship appearance the D.C. Defenders now will patiently wait as the UFL offseason goes into its first week. So far D.C. has seen two of its major contributors sign NFL deals, however fresh off their loss to the Louisville Kings the Defenders staff may be looking at the shortcomings at quarterback that ultimately played a huge factor in their loss.
Recapping the season at Quarterback:
D.C. ran it back with Jordan Ta'amu for the fourth consecutive season after their 2025 championship run. After a slow start (which at this point is tradition) for the first three weeks, Ta'amu sprung to the top of the MVP conversations during weeks four through seven. Unfortunately, a season ending injury during week eight ended a campaign that with him suffering a knee injury.
The team then turned to the conglomerate of Spencer Sanders and Jason Bean (who was traded in exchange for Mike DiLiello), with the hopes of reclaiming some hope of repeating for the season. The Defenders decided to lean on Spencer Sanders for the remainder of their week eight matchup, and week nine, with Jason Bean finishing the season as the starter in week 10 through the playoffs.
Without Ta'amu out, the team would go 1-4 (playoffs included), with Sanders and Bean combining for 660 passing yards 2 TD and 4 INTs through the playoffs. The team even saw a cameo from E.J. Perry who in the 2nd half of the UFL championship game, put together a performance of 5/12 for 60 yards 1 INT, while adding 43 yards on the ground.
Ta'amu's Timeline:
Per Jenny Taft, Ta'amu did tear his ACL, which caused him to miss the rest of the 2026 UFL season. The injury happened during the Defenders May 18th matchup against the Louisville Kings and per most medical experts would force him to spend the next 8 to 12 months rehabbing said injury. The bottom line, best case Ta'amu is cleared for football activities on January 18th, 2027, with the worst case him joining the team in the middle of May.
While the UFL seems to always be in flux when it comes to when the season may or may not start with Owner Mike Repole mentioning some exterior factors that may or may not lead to a decision regarding opening weekend next season. But with the season most likely beginning around March 26th, 2027, that would put Ta'amu around the 10-month mark in his recovery.
Ta'amu has taken to social media affirming he wants to and intends to return to D.C., and with Shannon Harris no longer listed as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee State it appears that the Defenders staff is set to return in 2027. With many of the key decision makers in place, it only makes sense to see Ta'amu have another chance to lead the franchise.
Who is in place for the 2027 QB room:
While it's unclear on what pieces could be added to the 2027 QB room, outside of Ta'amu, the team currently rosters Spencer Sanders, Jason Bean, and E.J. Perry. In his second season with the Defenders, Sanders was 17/36 for 243 and an interception, while also serving as a wide receiver at times as well. 2026 saw the most extended action at quarterback since his time at Oklahoma State in 2022. While Sanders possesses above average athletic ability, his sample size during this season as a quarterback has left much to be desired for. Sanders has shown ability to provide value to the Defenders and could do so as a wide receiver in 2027.
Bean didn't fare much better than Sanders in his week 10 start, however he did flash promise with the Kings in weeks one through four, including the Defenders playoff victory against the Orlando Storm. While Bean has above average athletic ability (like Sanders), it's clear he has the intention to be a starter in the UFL in the hopes of playing quarterback.
The Defenders also roster E.J. Perry who after years with the Michigan Panthers, and Memphis Showboats spent time with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL after the 2025 UFL season, along with part of the spring. Perry was thrust into the UFL championship after being signed by D.C. after Ta’amu’s injury. Perry’s effort was valiant but ultimately not enough to propel the Defenders to their second consecutive championship.
Moving Forward:
For the time being, it's unclear what the quarterback classes from 2025 through 2027 plan to do with their careers. The UFL took the initiative with bringing in Jack Plummer, Austin Reed, Jason Bean, Hunter Dekkers, and Michael Pratt all members from the 2024/25 NFL draft class injecting fresh blood into the position. That’s not including reserve quarterbacks like Hank Bachmeier and Aidan Sayin who are both members of the 2025 NFL draft class as well. With that being the case it’s unknown to see if D.C. chooses to transition to from Ta’amu post-ACL surgery.
With the continuity of the staff, it would be safe to assume that Ta’amu will have an opportunity to reclaim his starting position once cleared and healthy, however it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Ta’amu miss the first couple of games of the 2027 season. With D.C. seeing essentially three auditions from quarterbacks during his absence, is it possible to think D.C. brings back a familiar face?
With Chandler Rogers now QB1 in Louisville, it could be within the realm of possibility to return Mike DiLiello to the Defenders in exchange for Perry or Sanders? DiLiello has been with Harris and Offensive Coordinator Fred Kaiss since 2024, until his trade midseason this year, and had performed admirably during spot performances in their offense in 2025, along with his week 10 performance this year for the Kings.
While DiLiello’s ceiling is unknown, his output when called upon has been admirable and he has plenty of experience within the Defenders system that could be utilized for the first couple of weeks of the 2027 season.
Final Thoughts:
There will be plenty of questions over the next months for not just the Defenders but all 8 UFL teams. With rosters consistently being turned over, via retirements, trades, and NFL signings the Defenders could have plenty of options to assist the offense if Ta’amu is not ready.
Regardless, of whoever the Shannon Harris and Fred Kaiss bring in, they’ll be waiting for the return of the “sultan of summer” who's within striking distance of becoming the spring football’s most prolific passer.