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2025 Michigan Panthers season
| 2025 Michigan Panthers season |
|---|
| Steve Kazor |
| Mike Nolan |
| Ford Field |
| 6–4 |
| 2nd in USFL Conference |
| Won Conference Finals (at Birmingham Stallions) 44–29Lost UFL Championship (at DC Defenders) 34–58 |
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). The Panthers played their home games at Ford Field and were led by third year head coach Mike Nolan. On October 3, 2025, it was announced that this season was the final year the team would play in the state of Michigan, and announced a relocation to a site named later.
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. 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.
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.
On the season, quarterback Bryce Perkins won UFL Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and was named All-UFL Team. 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. 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.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 | Column 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
All times Eastern
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | March 30 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | at Memphis Showboats | W 26–12 | 1–0 | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium | 4,373 |
| Friday | April 4 | 8:00 p.m. | Fox | Birmingham Stallions | L 12–21 | 1–1 | Ford Field | 10,049 |
| Sunday | April 13 | 12:00 p.m. | ABC | San Antonio Brahmas | W 26–23 | 2–1 | Ford Field | 11,013 |
| Friday | April 18 | 8:00 p.m. | Fox | Memphis Showboats | W 27–9 | 3–1 | Ford Field | 9,674 |
| Saturday | April 26 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | at St. Louis Battlehawks | L 27–32 | 3–2 | The Dome at America's Center | 30,406 |
| Sunday | May 4 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | DC Defenders | W 38–14 | 4–2 | Ford Field | 11,653 |
| Saturday | May 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Fox | at Arlington Renegades | W 25–24 | 5–2 | Choctaw Stadium | 9,963 |
| Saturday | May 17 | 1:00 p.m. | Fox | at Houston Roughnecks | W 30–18 | 6–2 | Space City Financial Stadium | 4,007 |
| Saturday | May 24 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC | at Birmingham Stallions | L 22–26 | 6–3 | Protective Stadium | 10,344 |
| Saturday | May 31 | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN | Houston Roughnecks | L 12–19 | 6–4 | Ford Field | 16,014 |
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | June 8 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC | at Birmingham Stallions | 44–29 | 1–0 | Protective Stadium | 10,928 |
| Saturday | June 14 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC | vs. DC Defenders | 34–58 | 1–1 | The Dome at America's Center | 14,558 |
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