ARLINGTON, TX – September 3, 2026 – The 2027 UFL season may be months away, but Shannon Harris isn’t waiting around for it to arrive. The DC Defenders head coach spent his offseason on the road, visiting six NFL training camps, studying practices, talking with coaches, and evaluating players as he prepares to build another title-contending team.
After winning the UFL title in 2025, the Defenders fell just short of another championship this past spring, losing to the Louisville Kings in the 2026 United Bowl. As Harris enters his third season at the helm of the Defenders, his motivation to claim another title has only elevated.
“We felt like we let one get away from us to win and be back-to-back champions.”
There is no lack of urgency heading into the 2027 season. Harris and his staff are eager to get back to the United Bowl, and their offseason work has been a direct result of that mindset.
“Our antennas are back up. The hairs on our back are back up. The fire in us is back up, not just from a player standpoint, but the coaches, the support staff, everyone that's involved.”
When you think of a UFL coach, the long offseason might come to mind. For Harris, though, the time away from the field has been anything but quiet. Harris has spent the offseason studying the game at its highest level, attending six NFL training camps and getting an up-close look at players, practices, and coaching staffs.
“Not only did I go there to get a chance to watch the players and evaluate those guys, but at the same time, continue to learn and grow.”
He visited the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, while also attending a joint practice between the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans. Harris wasn't simply there to observe. He was studying how NFL coaches operate, from their mannerisms and behaviors to the drills they use to prepare their players. And he was quick to bring those lessons back to DC.
“After the first three practices that I went to, which was Buffalo, Baltimore and then Washington... I'm on the phone with my coaches and there's three drills that we're going to mandatory incorporate... I took one drill from each team.”
Harris isn’t taking these trips just to make an appearance. He wants to take something meaningful from each stop and bring it back to the Defenders as they prepare for another title run.
The same mindset has carried over to the UFL showcases. Harris attended the 2026 DC Showcase, where he evaluated a new wave of players looking for an opportunity to continue their careers. Last season, several showcase players became important pieces of his roster, and Harris is once again looking for the next group of talent that can make an impact in DC.
“We took about eight dudes from that showcase, and these guys have been great for us... they've been part of our core group of guys.”
Defensive back Gabe Taylor and linebacker Brandon Smith, for example, were both starters on Harris’ defense after being identified through a UFL showcase. The Defenders’ defense, led by defensive coordinator Blake Williams, ranked second in the UFL in scoring defense and played a major role in the team reaching the United Bowl.
Harris made it clear that players attending showcases should understand exactly what they're walking into.
“Don't come out here and waste my time, your time, or waste your money. This is not a money grab. This is the true evaluation of your talent.”
Harris also plans to attend the Houston showcase this fall.
His approach to recruiting those players feels familiar. Harris spent years coaching at his alma mater, Tennessee State. The college recruiting world is one he knows well, and he sees plenty of similarities between that process and building a UFL roster.
“It's that same recruitment process that I would say that gives kids in college.”
For Harris, though, the pitch has evolved. In college, he could sell recruits on the opportunity to leave with a degree in one hand and a championship ring in the other. With the Defenders, the goal is different, but the mindset remains the same.
“We want to make sure that you leave the DC Defenders with an NFL contract on one hand, and with a championship ring on another hand.”
Harris’ culture is clear: develop and win. Nine players from the 2026 Defenders earned spots on NFL rosters for training camp, going directly from the United Bowl into opportunities at the next level.
But Harris’ commitment to his players doesn’t end when the season does. Throughout the offseason, he has remained in contact with his players and coaches, continuing to build the relationships that he believes are critical to sustaining the Defenders’ culture. That includes staying close to his star quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu, whose 2026 season ended with a season-ending injury in Week Seven.
“Jordan [Ta’amu], you know, he's definitely the glue stick, our leader, to our football program organization. He’s been working his butt off.”
Harris has checked in with the 2025 UFL Championship MVP and 2026 MVP finalist throughout his rehab and even attended some of his workouts. As Ta’amu continues his recovery, the two remain in close contact.
And while the next title run is still months away, Harris is already preparing for it. The loss in the 2026 United Bowl has only added fuel to the fire. Harris and the Defenders believe they let an opportunity slip away, and they have spent the offseason making sure they're ready for another chance.
From NFL training camps to UFL showcases, from recruiting the next wave of talent to maintaining relationships with his current roster, Harris has spent the offseason doing anything he can to put the Defenders in position to win.
The UFL may be played in the spring, but for Shannon Harris, the championship chase is a 52-week commitment.