The 2026 UFL season officially came to a close this weekend, with the Louisville Kings taking down the DC Defenders 27–20 in the third annual United Bowl—capping their inaugural campaign with a championship. The contest reportedly averaged nearly one million viewers on ABC, and put football’s marquee professional spring league on full display as it continues to build momentum on a year-over-year basis.
“I think it’s kind of becoming that, ‘O.K., where’s the next market?’” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of the UFL this week when speaking about the group of players they signed. “They’re getting developed somewhere. Where are they if they’re not in our league? I think to their league’s credit, it’s helping us.”
