NASHVILLE – Tennessee State University alumni Shannon Harris and Chris Rowland made history together Saturday night, leading the DC Defenders to a dominant 58-34 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship Game.

Harris, a former TSU quarterback, capped off a remarkable debut season as head coach by becoming the first graduate of an HBCU to lead a professional football team to a league championship. The win came just months after Harris was thrust into the head coaching role, taking over only six days before the season opener following Reggie Barlow's departure to accept the head coaching job at Tennessee State.

Harris' journey to this moment traces back to his days as a standout quarterback at TSU. In 2001, he rewrote the record books by posting 3,137 yards of total offense in a single season, a mark that still ranks among the best in program history.

Rowland — a member of the All-UFL First Team — sealed the Defenders' crown with a 19-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. His touchdown was one of eight for the Defenders in the championship win. 

Rowland finished the 2025 season second in the UFL in receiving yards (500+), recorded four receiving touchdowns, and led the entire league in all-purpose yards, showcasing his elite versatility as a receiver, return specialist, and runner.

In 2019, Rowland earned the Deacon Jones Trophy as the nation's top HBCU player and was named both the OVC Offensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-OVC selection. In his four-year career, he totaled 2,578 all-purpose yards, 14 touchdowns, and two special teams scores, leaving TSU as one of the most decorated receivers in program history.

Together, Harris and Rowland not only brought a championship to the nation's capital but also spotlighted the impact of TSU and HBCU programs on the national football stage.