Many football and Detroit Lions fans have been following what’s been happening at OTAs and mandatory minicamp over the last few weeks as the NFL offseason churns along.
However, while the NFL is still in offseason mode, other professional football leagues such as the UFL, CFL, and ELF have either started their regular seasons or are about to wrap up.
The UFL is scheduled to have its annual championship game on Saturday, featuring the DC Defenders and Michigan Panthers. The UFL, which is in its second year, has been a fantastic proving ground for former NFL players trying to get back into the league or for other players looking to secure an NFL opportunity.
Lions fans are familiar with the UFL, as Detroit signed kicker Jake Bates last summer following his great 2024 season with the Panthers. Bates turned out to be a great signing for the Lions, which shows the importance of spring football.
Along those same lines, several former Lions players and coaches will be playing or coaching in this weekend’s title game, whom fans may or might not remember.
Starting with the Defenders, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, offensive tackle Jarrid Williams, and kicker Matt McCrane all had a cup of coffee with the Lions.
Ta’amu, who has been one of the UFL’s best QBs this season, outside of Bryce Perkins, spent a few weeks in the 2020 season on the Lions’ practice squad. Detroit re-signed Ta’amu the next summer during training camp, thanks to an injury to Tim Boyle.
However, he was released shortly after by the Lions. This season with the Defenders, the ex-Lions quarterback has completed 54.4 percent of his passes for 2,153 yards, 17 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also had 178 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
Based on his performance this season with DC, Ta'amu could end up becoming the league's MVP.
This is quite a way to open up the scoring in the UFL’s XFL Conference Championship Game.
Jordan Ta’amu to Seth Williams for a 42-yard strike. Great work by Williams to spot and secure the ball.
Defenders lead the Battlehawks 6-0 early.pic.twitter.com/m8S7UC9Qzm
— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) June 8, 2025
As for Williams, he was signed to the Lions’ practice squad late in the 2022 season, but was not re-signed to a futures deal after the regular season completed.
The 27-year-old tackle hasn’t seen much time with the Defenders this season after spending part of the 2023 season with the San Antonio Brahmas. Finally, McCrane was signed to Detroit’s practice squad in September of last season, but was cut two months later.
McCrane has kicked the ball well in his third season with the Defenders. He has made 14-of-20 field goals, including 2-of-3 from 50-plus yards out.
As for the Panthers, the two notable former Lions are Michigan general manager Steve Kazor and defensive backs coach Brock Marion.
Kazor was with the Lions between 1994-96, where he served in various coaching roles. He has been the GM in Michigan since 2023. Lastly, Marion spent the 2004 season with the Lions in his 12-year NFL career.
During that season, the former NFL defensive back racked up 88 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, and three interceptions. Marion has coached Michigan’s DBs for the last two years, which is one of the better units in the UFL.
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