Red-hot, undefeated Defenders highlight biggest storylines from UFL Week 3

Three weeks into the 2025 UFL season and there’s a surprising team that remains undefeated: the DC Defenders. 

Led by interim head coach Shannon Harris, the Defenders handled the previously undefeated St. Louis Battlehawks, 27-15, in front of 30,014 onlookers at The Dome at America’s Center to improve to 3-0 on the year.

"By winning three in a row now, we’ve put a huge bull’s eye on our back," Harris said postgame. "That’s the one thing we have to make sure we understand. Now the job demands more. We can’t afford to take time off or take steps back. Now, it’s going to get harder."

St. Louis (2-1) will have an opportunity to get even when they face the Defenders on the road in the final regular-season game of the season in Week 10. Also, the UFL announced during halftime of Sunday's tilt that the league championship will be held in St. Louis for a second straight season, providing some extra motivation for the Battlehawks to find a way to reach the title game for the first time.

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

In other big news, the defending champion Birmingham Stallions (2-1) defeated the Arlington Renegades (2-1), handing head coach Bob Stoops’ team their first loss of the year in a come-from-behind victory at Protective Stadium.

Here’s a look at other storylines from Week 3:

Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Gregg Williams left his post this week as defensive coordinator for the Defenders to serve in the capacity under former DC head coach Reggie Barlow, who took a job at Tennessee State.

However, the Defenders didn’t suffer any drop off. With his son Blake Williams taking over, the Defenders forced the Battlehawks into four turnovers, holding the top