2024 DC Defenders season

Last updated

2024 DC Defenders season
DC Defenders wordmark new.png
OwnerAlpha Acquico, LLC
General manager Von Hutchins
Head coach Reggie Barlow
Home field Audi Field
Results
Record4–6
Division place3rd in XFL Conference
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 2024 DC Defenders season is the third season for the DC Defenders as a professional American football franchise and their first as a member of the United Football League (UFL). The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field and are led by head coach Reggie Barlow.

Contents

Following an upset loss to the Arlington Renegades in the 2023 XFL Championship, the franchise looked to return the playoffs. However, the team would be troubled with injuries to key players and poor defensive play. This resulted in the team going on a poor 3-3 start by Week 6 in which they would never recover. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention following a Week 8 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Roster

2024 DC Defenders final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 27 Darius Hagans
  •  3 Cam'Ron Harris

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen
  • 59 William Barnes T
  • 70 Yasir Durant G
  • 75 Liam Fornadel G
  • 76 Greg Long T
  • 51 Mike Maietti C
  • 56 David Satkowski T
  • 62 Jarrid Williams T
  • 66 John Yarbrough G

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 43 Francis Bernard ILB (Suspended)
  • 82 Shaun Beyer TE (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 73 Tommy Champion T (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  •  8 Deondre Francois QB (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 53 Lamont Gaillard C (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 13 Kelvin Harmon WR (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 37 Sam Kidd SS (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 26 DeJuan Neal CB (Suspended)
  •  4 Abram Smith RB (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 99 Joseph Wallace DT (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg


Rookies in italics
50 active, 10 inactive

Signees to the NFL

PlayerPositionDateNFL teamRef.
Daniel Whelan PMay 17 Green Bay Packers [1]
Ferrod Gardner LBMay 22 Washington Commanders [2]
Lucky Jackson WRMay 23 Minnesota Vikings [3]
Brandon Smith WRJune 12 Arizona Cardinals [4]
Chris Blair WRJune 16 Atlanta Falcons [5]
Liam Fornadel OGJune 18 New England Patriots [6]

Schedule

All times Eastern

WeekDayDateKickoffTVOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
ScoreRecord
1SundayMarch 3112:00 p.m.ESPNat San Antonio Brahmas 12–270–1 Alamodome 13,164
2SundayApril 74:00 p.m.Fox Houston Roughnecks 23–181–1 Audi Field 15,052
3SaturdayApril 131:00 p.m.ESPNat Arlington Renegades 29–282–1 Choctaw Stadium 8,411
4SaturdayApril 207:00 p.m.Foxat Birmingham Stallions 18–202–2 Protective Stadium 7,262
5SundayApril 2812:00 p.m.ESPN St. Louis Battlehawks 12–452–3Audi Field16,058
6SundayMay 54:00 p.m.FoxSan Antonio Brahmas18–123–3Audi Field14,303
7SundayMay 1212:00 p.m.ESPN Michigan Panthers 9–223–4Audi Field12,222
8SundayMay 1912:00 p.m.ABCat St. Louis Battlehawks21–263–5 The Dome at America's Center 32,403
9SundayMay 262:30 p.m.Foxat Memphis Showboats 36–214–5 Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium 6,387
10SundayJune 212:00 p.m.ABCArlington Renegades31–324–6Audi Field13,080

[7]

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Antonio Brahmas

Week 1: DC Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas – Game summary
Period1234Total
Defenders363012
Brahmas7130727

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Standings

2024 UFL standings
USFL Conference
TeamWLPCTGBTD+/-TD+TD-DIVPFPADIFFSTK
(y) Birmingham Stallions 91.900-1131206–026518085W1
(x) Michigan Panthers 73.7002527224–222818939L1
(e) Memphis Showboats 28.2007-1920392–4188290-102W1
(e) Houston Roughnecks 19.1008-1217290–6158233-75L6
XFL Conference
TeamWLPCTGBTD+/-TD+TD-DIVPFPADIFFSTK
(y) St. Louis Battlehawks 73.700-731245–126020258W1
(x) San Antonio Brahmas 73.700-1224123–319215339L1
(e) DC Defenders 46.4003-224262–4209251-42L1
(e) Arlington Renegades 37.3004-226282–4247249-2W2
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Staff

The 2024 coaching staff was announced on February 21, 2024. [8]

DC Defenders staff
Front office
Head coach

Head coach – Reggie Barlow

Offensive coaches
  • Offensive Coordinator – Fred Kaiss
  • Wide Receivers – Sean Anderson
  • Offensive Line – Sean Kugler
  • Quarterbacks – Shannon Harris
 
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Backs – Vern Dean
  • Linebackers – Deion Harris
  • Defensive Line – Jeremy Watkins
  • Defensive Coordinator – Gregg Williams

Offensive Line coach Russ Ehrenfeld was replaced by Sean Kugler Week 6.

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References

  1. ↑ Burke, Aidan. "Daniel Whelan becomes the first D.C. Defender to sign with NFL team". XFL Board. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ Manning, Bryan. "Commanders sign XFL linebacker". Commanders Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Vikings sign XFL star wide receiver Lucky Jackson". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ Root, Jess. "Cardinals sign former XFL WR Brandon Smith". Cards Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ Paolantonio, Christian. "DC Defenders WR Chris Blair Signs With Atlanta Falcons". XFL Newsroom. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Patriots Sign Guard Liam Fornadel". www.patriots.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  7. ↑ "2024 DC Defenders Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ "UFL announces 2024 coaching staffs for all eight teams". Fox Sports. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
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