Shannon Harris became the DC Defenders' head coachjust 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 leaguerelocated 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.
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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 wasnamed MVP of the 2025 UFL championship game.
"Jordan has definitely taken this offense to another level for us," Harris said.
But Harris explained that the team's backup quarterbacks – Mike DiLello and Spencer Sanders – have also been key in creating a collaborative environment in which the three-man unit operates.
"Those guys do a great job of bouncing ideas off each other," Harris explained. "They help each other in meetings, on the court, on the field as well. It's kind of like – you have that caddy in golf, where you're so comfortable with your coach, knowing that he's gonna tell you the right things. That's kind of how Mike has been with Jordan; and the same thing with Spencer."
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Harris is hopeful the trio of quarterbacks will continue to sharpen one another's skills in DC's offense. That's something the 45-year-old coach did himself during the UFL offseason.
Harris spent the 2025 college season serving as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee State, in addition to his responsibilities with the Defenders. He worked under Reggie Barlow – who previously coached DC – and got a chance to return to his roots calling plays, which he relished.
"That helped me be more locked into not just being a head coach, but making sure my skills are still intact [as] a play-caller," Harris said. "I thought it was great for me to go do that, and excited I did. It can be taxing on the body a little bit at times, but I'm glad I got a chance to do it."
Harris appreciated his time at Tennessee State, but his focus has now fully shifted to the Defenders. And, unsurprisingly, he is setting lofty, championship goals for the team in 2026.
To get there, the 2025 UFL Coach of the Year knows his team can't rely solely on continuity to carry it.
"We still gotta make sure we maintain our integrity and think [about] what we've done to get ourselves to this point," Harris said. "We gotta continue to do those things to be successful."
The Defenders will open their season against the St. Louis Battlehawks in Week 1. It will mark the team's third consecutive game at The Dome at America's Center, which Harris and the team dubbed "Audi West" – a reference to their home stadium, Audi Field – en route to the team's 2025 UFL title.
Harris fully expects he Defenders to have a target on their backs in that game and throughout the 2026 UFL season.
"I'm sure we are circled on everyone's schedule," Harris said. "But for us, we wouldn't want it any other way."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Shannon Harris, Defenders retain unique continuity for 2026 UFL season
