For Shannon Harris and DC Defenders, continuity is key in UFL title defense

Shannon Harris became the DC Defenders' head coach just six days before the 2025 UFL season . Fast forward one year and he is now one of the league's longest-tenured coaches. The UFL underwent significant changes to its operating structure ahead of its 2026 campaign.

The league relocated three of its eight franchises , hired six new coaches and shifted one of its two holdovers – Anthony Becht – from the St. Louis Battlehawks to the Orlando Storm. That leaves Harris as the only coach returning to the team he led the previous season.

The Defenders will also return most of their support staff along with a "core group of guys" from last season's championship-winning roster. Harris believes that could provide the Defenders with an advantage as they look to defend their 2025 UFL title. "Any time you can have that continuity across the board, that's part of our roster organization, you want to feel some confidence," Harris told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview.

Harris seemed particularly excited about returning the team's entire quarterback room from their championship season. That includes Jordan Ta'amu, who led the UFL with 17 touchdown passes last season and was named MVP of the 2025 UFL championship game . "Jordan has definitely taken this offense to another level for us," Harris said.