Former Patriots OL Yasir Durant Wins UFL Championship
Former Patriots OL Yasir Durant Wins UFL Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
On Saturday night, the D.C. Defenders of the United Football League (UFL) won one of the most lopsided spring football championship games in recent memory, defeating the Michigan Panthers 58-34 in The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
Advertisement
Among the players who got an opportunity to hoist the championship trophy and celebrate in the locker room was Yasir Durant, a former New England Patriots offensive lineman who has been a consistent starter for the Defenders since joining the team in 2024.
In his debut season with the Defenders, Durant started 10 games and played every position on the offensive line but center. The team as a whole did not garner much success, though, as it went 4-6 and missed the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
New England Patriots offensive tackle Yasir Durant (70) walks to the practice field for the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium.Eric Canha-Imagn Images
But the Defenders had a resurgence in 2025, going 6-4 during the regular season under interim head coach Shannon Harris (who was named the UFL's Coach of the Year) and clinching a spot in the championship game with a 36-18 win over the St. Louis Battlehawks. Durant also had a strong individual year, landing a spot on the All-UFL Team as an offensive tackle.
Advertisement
Four years prior to joining the Defenders, Durant signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after going unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos over a four-year NFL career.
Durant is credited with making 19 total appearances in the NFL – 11 with the Chiefs in 2020, seven with the Patriots in 2021, and one with the Saints in 2022. He started two of those contests.
Related: Patriots Reportedly Hire New Scout in Form of University of Miami Star
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels upsets Eagles' fans again
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history last fall. You could argue that Daniels' rookie season rivals any in professional sports history. In addition to individual success, Daniels led the Commanders to 12 wins and an appearance in the NFC championship game. It was Washington's best season in 33 years. Washington's division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, also had an impressive rookie class last season. First-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and second-round corner Cooper DeJean led the Eagles' rookie class. Mitchell finished second in the voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Advertisement On Saturday at Fanatics Fest in New York City, Daniels was asked about the toughest cornerback to face. He was asked about Mitchell, but said he was most looking forward to facing Denver's Patrick Surtain II in 2025. Surtain won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in only his fourth season. Of course, Eagles fans found some way to be disrespected by Daniels' saying he was most looking forward to facing Surtain. The Commanders will play the Eagles twice, and the Broncos are on Washington's slate this season. Why were Philadelphia fans mad? Just read the comments, if you choose. Since the Commanders came back late in the fourth quarter to upset the Eagles in Week 16 last season — a game in which Daniels threw five touchdown passes — Philly fans have had an unhealthy obsession with Daniels. Despite all the Eagles' success, some Philadelphia fans turn their attention to Daniels, even when he's not involved. Advertisement Why? Because they know Daniels is special. The Commanders having Daniels also means that Washington is no longer a pushover. The old NFC East rivalry is back. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Jayden Daniels apparently upsets Eagles' fans — again
USA Today
42 minutes ago
- USA Today
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels upsets Eagles' fans again
Jayden Daniels was asked about the toughest CB to face in the NFL right now. 🤔He said that Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell was a good choice but that wasn't his answer: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history last fall. You could argue that Daniels' rookie season rivals any in professional sports history. In addition to individual success, Daniels led the Commanders to 12 wins and an appearance in the NFC championship game. It was Washington's best season in 33 years. Washington's division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, also had an impressive rookie class last season. First-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and second-round corner Cooper DeJean led the Eagles' rookie class. Mitchell finished second in the voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. On Saturday at Fanatics Fest in New York City, Daniels was asked about the toughest cornerback to face. He was asked about Mitchell, but said he was most looking forward to facing Denver's Patrick Surtain II in 2025. Surtain won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in only his fourth season. Of course, Eagles fans found some way to be disrespected by Daniels' saying he was most looking forward to facing Surtain. The Commanders will play the Eagles twice, and the Broncos are on Washington's slate this season. Why were Philadelphia fans mad? Just read the comments, if you choose. Since the Commanders came back late in the fourth quarter to upset the Eagles in Week 16 last season — a game in which Daniels threw five touchdown passes — Philly fans have had an unhealthy obsession with Daniels. Despite all the Eagles' success, some Philadelphia fans turn their attention to Daniels, even when he's not involved. Why? Because they know Daniels is special. The Commanders having Daniels also means that Washington is no longer a pushover. The old NFC East rivalry is back.
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
American Heritage's Smith and Marcial are the Broward Overall Sports Coaches of the Year
For American Heritage's football team, it was about finishing a quest for redemption that lasted two years. For their girls' soccer team, it was about reaching another pinnacle for a program, which already ranks among the most decorated in state history. Patriots football coach Mike Smith and soccer coach Cindy Marcial navigated each team on their paths to accomplish those respective goals this season. As such, Smith and Marcial make it an American Heritage sweep as they are the Miami Herald's Broward County Overall Sports Coaches of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Smith, who was promoted to the position of American Heritage's football coach in 2022 after serving as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator and running backs coach, led the Patriots to a state title for the first time. He is the Boys' Sports Overall Coach of the Year after leading Heritage to its first state title since 2020 and sixth overall. But it was that much sweeter for a program, which came up painfully short in the state final in 2022 and the state semifinals in 2023. Even more so as it came two years after senior wide receiver Malachi Toney fumbled late in that 2022 state final loss. This time Toney started at quarterback in Heritage's three final playoff wins with starter Dia Bell hurt, and led the Patriots to the title. 'It's fitting how we ended this thing,' Smith said after the state final win. 'The adversity that kid battled through. He put the ball on the ground on the 28-yard line against Central two years ago and cried like a baby. For him to come back and do this, you can't make this up. Hollywood couldn't have written this ending better.' Marcial is the Overall Girls' Sports Coach of the Year. She led Heritage to its seventh state title since she became head coach in 2014, its 14th overall, and its third 'three-peat' in program history. But even more meaningful was the fact that the Patriots went 19-1 and went wire-to-wire as the nation's top-ranked team, securing a mythical national title. Heritage capped it off with a dominant 3-0 victory over Orlando Bishop Moore in the Class 4A state final. The Patriots finished the season with 11 consecutive shutouts. 'We are all about tradition and we want to keep it going,' Marcial said after the state final victory. BOYS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Todd Fitz-Gerald, Douglas baseball: The Eagles added another milestone to their storied program's history by becoming the first team in the state of Florida to win five consecutive state championships. Fitz-Gerald has now led Douglas to six state titles overall and he has seven rings, having led American Heritage to one as well. ▪ Joey Wardlow, St. Thomas Aquinas baseball: Led by one of the most prolific lineups in recent memory, Wardlow guided the Raiders to their first state title since 2018 and his first as their coach. ▪ Julius Sandi, St. Thomas Aquinas basketball: Sandi coached one of the most talented teams in the state to their first state championship since 2001 and his first as the Raiders' coach. ▪ J.R. McNabb, Blanche Ely basketball: McNabb helped restore the proud tradition of the Tigers' program by leading them to their first state title since 2019 and ninth overall, which leads all Broward County programs. ▪ Edward Schuler, Stranahan, basketball: On the strength of a miraculous last-minute comeback, Schuler's squad won its fourth state title overall and first since winning three in a four-year span from 2019, 2020 and 2022. ▪ Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas football: Even after a regular season, which raised doubts after three losses, Harriott oversaw another state title run, which extended the program's state-record streak to six consecutive seasons. ▪ Dameon Jones, Chaminade-Madonna football: Jones' squad overcame roster turnover and an 0-2 start to secure its fourth consecutive state championship and seventh in the past eight years. GIRLS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball: Zielinski added to her storied resume by leading the Raiders to their eighth state title all-time and second in a row. It was the first time Aquinas repeated as state champions since winning three in a row from 2014-2016. ▪ Nicole Arnold, Cypress Bay volleyball: Arnold led the Lightning to an unbeaten season and best record in school history until their loss in the Class 7A regional finals. It was Cypress Bay's first appearance in the regional finals since 2018. ▪ Davidson Gil, Dillard track and field and cross-country: Gil led the Panthers to their second consecutive state championship, edging Miami Northwestern for the second year in a row. He also guided the Dillard cross-country team to a state runner-up finish in the fall. ▪ Toby Croke, American Heritage tennis: Croke led the Patriots girls to their first state championship since 2021 and their seventh overall.
