2025 Michigan Panthers season

The 2025 Michigan Panthers season was the fourth season for the Michigan Panthers as a professional American football franchise and the second season in the United Football League (UFL).^[1] The Panthers played their home games at Ford Field and were led by third year head coach Mike Nolan.

2025 Michigan Panthers season
General manager	Steve Kazor
Head coach	Mike Nolan
Home stadium	Ford Field
Results
Record	6–4
Conference place	2nd in USFL Conference
Playoffs	Won Conference Finals (at Birmingham Stallions) 44–29 Lost UFL Championship (at DC Defenders) 34–58
Uniform
← 2024 Michigan Panthers 2026 →

The Panthers began the season 6–2 with quarterback Bryce Perkins winning UFL Offensive Player of the Week three times from weeks three through six. Perkins had an ankle injury that kept him out the final three weeks of the season. In week eight, quarterback Danny Etling had a three touchdown performance in a 30–18 playoff clinching victory over Houston.^[2] Michigan dropped its final two games to finish 6–4. However, even if they won those games, they would not host the USFL Conference Championship Game due to a scheduling conflict.^[3]

Michigan then went to Birmingham to play the Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game for the second consecutive year. Despite being 0–7 against the Stallions since 2022, the Panthers won 44–29, and clinched their first championship berth in team history. In the UFL Championship Game the Panthers played the DC Defenders and lost, 34–58. Wide receiver Malik Turner, who led the Panthers with four touchdown receptions in the regular season was dominant in the postseason. Against Birmingham, Turner had six receptions for 99 yards including a 76-yard touchdown. In the championship, Turner had a game high ten receptions for 168 yards and three touchdowns.^[4]

On the season, quarterback Bryce Perkins won UFL Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and was named All-UFL Team.^[5][6] Running back Toa Taua led the league with six rushing touchdowns despite playing in just seven games. Wide receiver Siaosi Mariner led the league with 528 receiving yards. Offensively, the Panthers also had tight end Gunnar Oakes and lineman Ryan Nelson and Cohl Cabral named All-UFL.

Return specialist Xavier Malone led the league with 516 kick return yards while safety Kedrick Whitehead Jr. was named Special Teams Player of the Year and All-UFL.^[7] The Panthers won Special Teams Player of the Week three times, which led the league. Devin Ross, Samson Nacua and Xavier Malone were all recipients. Defensively, cornerback Arnold Tarpley III was named All-UFL while cornerback DJ Miller earned Defensive Player of the Week.

Through the 2025 season, the Panthers are 13–7 in two seasons of UFL play. Overall, the Panthers are 19–21 in their four year history. Head coach Mike Nolan has a 17–13 record over his three year stint since taking over a 2–8 Panthers in 2022.

Final Roster

2025 Michigan Panthers roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  8 Danny Etling 12 Rocky Lombardi 17 Bryce Perkins Running backs (RB) 26 Matt Colburn 28 Nate McCrary 35 Toa Taua Wide receivers (WR) 13 Xavier Malone  4 Siaosi Mariner  7 Jaylon Moore 86 Samson Nacua  6 Devin Ross 17 Malik Turner Tight ends (TE) 80 Cole Hikutini 84 Gunnar Oakes 85 Jalen Wydermyer

Offensive linemen (OL) 73 Jake Burton G 69 Cohl Cabral G 78 Cam Carter T 60 Victor Curne T 77 Brian Dooley T 61 Noah Johnson C 75 Ryan Nelson G 72 Chim Okorafor T 76 Keith Russell T Defensive linemen (DL) 97 Ron'Dell Carter DE 96 T. J. Carter DE 44 Garrett Marino DT 90 Benning Potoa'e DT 57 Breeland Speaks DE 94 Taylor Stallworth DT 91 Ron Stone Jr. DE 95 Mika Tafua DE 48 Kenny Willekes DE

Linebackers (LB) 10 Noah Dawkins ILB 45 Donavan Mutin ILB 40 Andrew Parker ILB 11 Javin White ILB Defensive backs (DB) 19 Adonis Alexander CB 30 Dee Delaney S 15 Akeem Dent FS 16 KiAnte Hardin CB 18 Keni-H Lovely CB 14 D.J. Miller Jr CB 21 Kai Nacua SS  2 Arnold Tarpley III SS 20 Michael Tutsie SS 32 Kedrick Whitehead Jr. FS Special teams (ST) 46 Peter Bowden LS 33 B. T. Potter K 36 Seth Vernon K

Reserve 23 De'Gabriel Floyd ILB (IR) 25 Tyree Gillespie FS (IR)  5 Frank Ginda ILB (IR) 54 Jordan Ober LS (IR) 99 Walter Palmore DT (IR)  1 Levonta Taylor CB (IR) 22 Bryce Torneden CB (IR) Rookies in italics 50 active, 7 reserve

Staff

Michigan Panthers staff

Front office General manager – Steve Kazor Head coaches Head coach – Mike Nolan Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Marcel Bellefeuille Offensive line – Tim Holt Running backs – Jordan Pavlisin Special teams coordinator/Wide receivers – Jaron Fairman Tight ends – Gary Watkins

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/Defensive line – Collin Bauer Linebackers – Christian Runza Defensive backs – Brock Marion

Schedule

All times Eastern

Week	Day	Date	Kickoff	TV	Opponent	Results		Location	Attendance
						Score	Record
1	Sunday	March 30	12:00 p.m.	ESPN	at Memphis Showboats	26–12	1–0	Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium	4,373
2	Friday	April 4	8:00 p.m.	Fox	Birmingham Stallions	12–21	1–1	Ford Field	10,049
3	Sunday	April 13	12:00 p.m.	ABC	San Antonio Brahmas	26–23	2–1	Ford Field	11,013
4	Friday	April 18	8:00 p.m.	Fox	Memphis Showboats	27–9	3–1	Ford Field	9,674
5	Saturday	April 26	7:00 p.m.	ESPN	at St. Louis Battlehawks	27–32	3–2	The Dome at America's Center	30,406
6	Sunday	May 4	12:00 p.m.	ESPN	DC Defenders	38–14	4–2	Ford Field	11,653
7	Saturday	May 10	1:00 p.m.	Fox	at Arlington Renegades	25–24	5–2	Choctaw Stadium	9,963
8	Saturday	May 17	1:00 p.m.	Fox	at Houston Roughnecks	30–18	6–2	Space City Financial Stadium	4,007
9	Saturday	May 24	3:00 p.m.	ABC	at Birmingham Stallions	22–26	6–3	Protective Stadium	10,344
10	Saturday	May 31	3:00 p.m.	ESPN	Houston Roughnecks	12–19	6–4	Ford Field	16,014

^[8]

Standings

2025 UFL standings v t e
USFL Conference
Team	W	L	PCT	GB	TD+/-	TD+	TD-	DIV	PF	PA	DIFF	STK
(y) Birmingham Stallions	7	3	.700	–	8	28	20	5–1	244	167	77	W2
(x) Michigan Panthers	6	4	.600	1	8	30	22	3–3	245	198	47	L2
(e) Houston Roughnecks	5	5	.500	2	0	22	22	3–3	183	201	-18	W2
(e) Memphis Showboats	2	8	.200	5	-13	15	28	1–5	148	246	-98	L2
XFL Conference
Team	W	L	PCT	GB	TD+/-	TD+	TD-	DIV	PF	PA	DIFF	STK
(y) St. Louis Battlehawks	8	2	.800	–	7	26	19	4–2	231	163	68	W6
(x) DC Defenders	6	4	.600	2	3	28	25	4–2	225	224	1	L2
(e) Arlington Renegades	5	5	.500	3	4	23	19	3–3	229	168	61	W2
(e) San Antonio Brahmas	1	9	.100	7	-17	14	31	1–5	136	274	-138	L6
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched conference; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Postseason

Schedule

Week	Day	Date	Kickoff	TV	Opponent	Results		Location	Attendance
						Score	Record
USFL Conference Championship	Sunday	June 8	3:00 p.m.	ABC	at Birmingham Stallions	44–29	1–0	Protective Stadium	10,928
UFL Championship	Saturday	June 14	8:00 p.m.	ABC	vs. DC Defenders	34–58	1–1	The Dome at America's Center	14,558