Jordan Ta’amu’s 300-yard performance highlights UFL Week 5 storylines

At the midpoint of the 2025 UFL season, DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta’amu has emerged as the league's best player.

Ta’amu continued his impressive play over the weekend, leading his team back from a 15-point second-half deficit to pull off a 37-33 comeback win over the Arlington Renegades on Sunday.

[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ]

Ta’amu threw for a league-high 308 passing yards and ran for 37 more and a score. With his effort, Ta’amu helped lead the Defenders to the biggest come-from-behind victory in UFL history. The Ole Miss product leads the league in passing yards (1,213) and passing touchdowns (nine). 

"That’s amazing," Ta’amu said after the game. "I love making history."

The Defenders rebounded from a shocking Week 4 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas (1-4) and improved to a league-best 4-1 on the year with the win. Meanwhile, Arlington dropped to 3-2, even with star defensive back Ajene Harris posting six combined tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

In other action, the Memphis Showboats (1-4) earned their first victory of the season, 24-20, in overtime against the defending champion Birmingham Stallions (3-2) on Friday. Elsewhere, the St. Louis Battlehawks (3-2) narrowly held off the Michigan Panthers (3-2) on Saturday, 32-27.

Closing things out, the Houston Roughnecks (2-3) took care of business against the Brahmas (1-4) on Sunday, 27-3.

Here’s a look at other storylines from Week 5:

In his first game back since Week 1 after dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, Butler showed why he's the reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year. The big-bodied receiver accounted for two long touchdowns for St. Louis — one for 67 yards and the other on a