How could the first five games of the 2025 UFL season be any worse for the San Antonio Brahmas? After a disappointing 1 – 4 start during a season, the Brahmas was the polar opposite of the 2024 Brahmas that won the XFL Conference championship. Head coach Wade Phillips is on medical leave, former offensive coordinator AJ Smith quit mid-season, interim head coach Payton Pardee is left holding it all together, and the Brahmas quarterback position is a complete disaster. The only way the Brahmas 2025 season could be worse is if they could not upset the then-undefeated DC Defenders in Week 4 to pick up their line win for the first half of the season.
While the first five games have been a massive failure by the Brahmas, there is a bright side because there is a good chance that the Brahmas have hit rock bottom. During the 2nd half of the season, we will see if the Brahmas can find solutions and bounce back after a poor start, or will they play out the rest of the season and accept their 2025 reality. The expectation will be that the Brahmas come out fighting, and they genuinely have nothing to lose, so they should relax, show up, and compete.
Let’s examine what went wrong on the field for the Brahmas during their 1-4 start to the season.
The Brahmas Offense has Imploded
Coming into the 2025 season, the San Antonio Brahmas had an abundance of hope that the Brahmas offense would be significantly better compared to the 2024 season, in which the Brahmas struggled with an unending series of injuries. San Antonio expected to see an improved Brahmas offense built around the belief that quarterback Kellen Mond, a native of San Antonio, would be coming into the UFL season with something to prove. Mond struggled to start the season, but during Week 5, this quickly became a full-scale meltdown. Last week was a homecoming for Mond. Instead, it resulted in Mond getting pulled from the game so that Jarrett Guarantano could come in after Mond only completed 4 out of 9 passes for 35 yards and an interception with no touchdowns.
Many of Mond’s struggles, coupled with numerous dropped passes by Jontre Kirklin and Jacob Harris, have amplified the failures of the Brahmas offense. To make matters worse, the Brahmas have failed to lean on a running game led by a fleet of running backs, including Anthony McFarland, John Lovett, and Aidan Robbins. The Brahma’s running backs have overcome an offensive line that has underperformed all season. In the future, the Brahmas and coach Pardee must make establishing the run game a priority if they want to have a chance to turn things around in the 2nd half of the season. That turnaround must start with the Brahmas scoring more than 13.6 points per game.
San Antonio’s Defensive Performance is Offensive
Along with the Brahma’s struggles on the offensive side of the ball, a more concerning problem is the complete lack of production by the Brahma’s defense. During the 2024 UFL season, the Brahmas, led by one of the best defenses in the UFL, were the league leaders in quarterback sacks. This season, the Brahmas only have four quarterback sacks in five games, and they have been unable to stop their opponents’ running game, which has led to the Brahmas defense having a hard time getting off the field.
In addition, the Brahmas have not been able to force turnovers to help reverse the trend of allowing teams to move the ball at will against them. The result is a Brahmas defense that has given up 26.0 points per game in 2025 and is the worst defense in the UFL in 2025. There are no easy answers for the Brahmas problems, but the Brahmas coaching staff must find ways to become more aggressive and help set their offense up for success. That will start with stopping their opponent’s run game, and then they need to be able to pressure opposing quarterbacks and force them to make mistakes.
Playoffs? Are We Talking About Playoffs?
Last year, at the season’s midpoint, the Brahmas were looking to finish strong in the 2nd half of the UFL season and win the XFL Conference championship. This year, even if the Brahmas completely turn around their performance and go undefeated for the next five games, they will still have a low probability of qualifying for the playoffs at the end of the 2025 UFL season. The Brahmas must move forward on getting better every week and finding playmakers. That recipe may not lead to a championship, but it will lead to the Brahmas ending the 2025 season with some self-respect.
Mid-Season Roster Addition: Brahmas Sign defensive tackle Paul Maola
San Antonio has signed an additional linebacker to improve a struggling defense, especially a Brahmas defensive front that has failed to put up much resistance against the rushing attacks they have faced in the 2025 UFL season. According to a UFL press release, the Brahmas have signed inside linebacker Paul Moala.
Moala comes to the UFL after spending time with the Chicago Bears during the 2024 NFL season. The 6’0″, 229-pound Moala will need to step in and help a Brahmas defensive front seven that has failed to stop nearly every rushing attack in the UFL. For Moala, playing for the Brahmas will be an opportunity to show he has what it takes to get back to an NFL opportunity.
Collegiately, Moala started his career at the University of Notre Dame from 2018 until 2021; in 2022, he transferred to FCS Idaho, and in 2023, he returned to FBS football while playing for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. While playing at Notre Dame, Moala played 23 games and recorded 12 solo tackles and 10 assists in four seasons. During the 2022 season at Idaho, Moala played in 12 games and stood out with four interceptions, 30 solo tackles, 30 assists, and two quarterback sacks. In 2023, Moala played in 13 games at Georgia Tech and had an outstanding season with 36 solo tackles, 28 assists, four quarterback sacks, and three forced fumbles.
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