- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
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DC Defenders team was founded
In 2018: The team was founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and joined the newly reformed XFL -
Defenders Team Formation
The DC Defenders are a professional American football team based in Washington, D.C. The team is an owned-and-operated member of the new XFL founded by Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and plays its home games at Audi Field, a soccer-specific stadium owned and originally built by Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, who leases the land from the District of Columbia. At ... -
XFL and Defenders Covid-19 Shutdown
The Defenders inaugural season was cut short due to the 2019 – 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the XFL officially suspended operations for the remainder of the season on March 20, 2020. -
XFL was acquired by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico
In 2021: The XFL was acquired by Dwayne Johnson’s Alpha Acquico and announced plans to relaunch in 2023 -
Reggie Barlow was hired as the new head coach and general manager of the team
In 2022: Reggie Barlow was hired as the new head coach and general manager of the team. The team drafted new players and signed free agents to form its roster for the 2023 season -
Team played its second season in the XFL, winning the North Division title
In 2023: The team played its second season in the XFL, winning the North Division title with a 9-1 record and advancing to the championship game against the Arlington Renegades. The team lost to the Renegades 35-26 in a close game at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
History of the Defenders
The DC Defenders are a professional American football team based in Washington, D.C., and part of the XFL. The franchise was established in 2019 as one of eight teams that began play during the inaugural season of the league’s relaunch. The Defenders have quickly become one of the most popular teams in all sports, with their passionate fan base eagerly cheering them on through thick and thin each week.
The DC Defenders have had a storied history since they started playing back in 2019, reaching new heights every year they've been active. They made it to their first championship game appearance just two years after being founded when they faced off against Tampa Bay Vipers for XFL Championship Game II, though unfortunately, coming up just short due to an impressive performance by Tampa Bay's defense late into the 4th quarter which sealed victory for them over DC defenders 26-23. But this wasn't enough to dampen fans' spirits too much; rather it only served as motivation for further success down the line.
In 2021, the team already made huge strides toward achieving greatness once again under head coach Pep Hamilton who has led his players through some difficult times amidst the pandemic but still managed to get results out from his squad, leading the team into playoffs where yet again he hopes that this time around luck will be on the side and bring home the long-awaited title! All eyes will be fixed on what happens next with this talented group of people hoping something special will happen soon!
Defenders Products
Established
2020
City
Washington D.C.
League History
2020 - Present / XFL
Team History
2020 - Present / DC Defenders
Nickname
Defenders – Football fans in the nation's capital are gearing up for a new era of football as the DC Defenders join the XFL. But what is their story? How did they come to be known as 'Defenders'?
The DC Defenders name has its roots in Washington, D.C.'s rich history and culture. The city was founded on July 16th, 1790, by President George Washington, who believed that it should serve as a “federal district” where all citizens could feel safe and secure from outside forces or threats—a notion that still resonates today with many Americans living within our nation’s borders. In addition to this concept of safety and security being at the core of America’s founding principles, it also serves as an apt metaphor for how we view sports teams: We want them to protect us from losing streaks or bad performances while providing us with entertainment value when they succeed on game day!
As such, when choosing a nickname for their XFL team based out of Washington D.C., ownership decided upon ‘DC Defenders' – paying homage both to our country's founders (and defenders) while also conveying strength & resilience through sport-specific language like "defender" which implies protection against opposing offenses/teams throughout each season's matches!
We can only hope that these same values will carry over into success on the field during upcoming games. Still, regardless of whether wins happen right away, one thing remains certain: The DC Defender name carries deep meaning rooted in American history & tradition - making them more than just another professional sports organization vying for attention amidst other competitors...they're part of something larger!
Championship
XFL Championships 0
Stadium
2020 - Present / Audi Field
Owner
2003 - Present / RedBird Capital Partners
2020 - 2022 / Alpha Entertainment, LLC
Coach
2023 - Present / Reggie Barlow
2020 - 2022 / Pep Hamilton
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
