The St. Louis Battlehawks will host their 2026 UFL season opener, Saturday against the DC Defenders. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

St. Louis Battlehawks – Gameday Info
Game No. 1 — DC Defenders (0-0) at St. Louis Battlehawks (0-0)
Date/Time – March 28, 2026 – 11 am
Location – The Dome at America’s Center — St. Louis, MO
Broadcast – ESPN
Radio — KMOX 104.1 FM
Live Stats – UFL Stats Broadcast

ST. LOUIS, MO — The 2026 United Football League will kick off in the Gateway City, Saturday morning, when the St. Louis Battlehawks host their season opener at the Dome at America’s Center against the DC Defenders.

St. Louis is coming off two straight division-winning seasons, although it lost in the first round of the playoffs both years.

This year could be another championship-type season for the Battlehawks, but the team will have a lot of new faces in new places, including new head coach Ricky Proehl. Most St. Louis area football fans remember Proehl as a popular member of the 1999-2002 “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams teams from the NFL.

In recent years though, Proehl has served as an assistant coach on a number of UFL and NFL teams and he’ll get his first chance at running the whole squad with the Battlehawks this season.

“I’m excited about the chance (to coach) and I’m excited about this team,” Proehl said, earlier this week while getting his team ready for Saturday’s opener. “We’ve got a group that’s tough in every area. We feel like we’ve got everything we need to be a quality, winning team… We can’t wait to show it this Saturday and this season.”

Former St. Louis Rams star Ricky Proehl is entering his first season as head coach of the Battlehawks in 2026. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

The Battlehawks will play the team that’s become its rival in the early seasons of UFL existence. DC and St. Louis played three times last season, with the Battlehawks winning both times during the regular season, but the Defenders claiming an upset win in the playoffs that still has STL fans bitter about how last season ended.

That victory sprung DC all the way to the league championship and has Defenders fans thinking about a repeat this season.

“We have a lot of new guys on our team, but the culture is set,” DC head coach Shannon Harris, who took over on an interim basis, but is now the permanent head coach said. “We know we’ve got a winning group and a lot of talent. I’m excited to see where we can take it.”

Battlehawks WR Hakeem Butler is one of the top playmakers in the UFL. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Players to Watch: Two of the more experienced spring quarterbacks will be on display on Saturday.

Starting with Brandon Silvers, he is known as a highly efficient professional quarterback across the XFL, AAF, TSL, and UFL. Silvers is regarded as a proficient, high-completion passer with the ability to manage fast-paced offensive schemes. There aren’t many question marks around his game, he simply shows up and plays like a pro.

On the other side, Jordan Ta’amu is considered one of the best quarterbacks in spring football. Ta’amu threw for 2,153 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and was named MVP of the 2025 UFL Championship Game.

Quarterback play, whether strong or shaky on either side, will be a telling factor in this first matchup between St. Louis and DC.

The Battlehawks also have one of the UFL’s top playmakers in returning wide receiver Hakeem Butler. Linebacker/edge rusher Pita Taumoepenu is the returning UFL Defensive Player of the Year, after leading the league with 11 quarterback sacks last season.

Battlehawks LB/DE Pita Taumoepenu is the reigning UFL Defensive Player of the Year. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

Up Next: The Battlehawks will be on the road for Week 2, when they travel to Texas to take on the expansion Dallas Renegades on Tuesday, April 7. Kickoff for that contest is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on FS1.

2026 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS SCHEDULE

Date	Time	At	Opponent	Location	TV
March 28, 2026 (Saturday)	11 am	Home	DC Defenders	The Dome at America’s Center
April 7, 2026 (Tuesday)	7 pm	Away	Dallas Renegades	Toyota Stadium / Frisco, TX
April 12, 2026 (Sunday)	2 pm	Home	Birmingham Stallions	The Dome at America’s Center
April 18, 2026 (Saturday)	11:30 am	Away	DC Defenders	Audi Field / Washington, DC
April 25, 2026 (Saturday)	6 pm	Away	Orlando Storm	Inter&Co Stadium / Orlando, FL
April 30, 2026 (Thursday)	7 pm	Away	Louisville Kings	Lynn Family Stadium / Louisville, KY
May 8, 2026 (Friday)	7 pm	Home	Columbus Aviators	The Dome at America’s Center
May 16, 2026 (Saturday)	2 pm	Home	Houston Gamblers	The Dome at America’s Center
May 24, 2026 (Sunday)	6 pm	Away	Houston Gamblers	Shell Energy Stadium / Houston, TX
May 29, 2026 (Friday)	7 pm	Home	Dallas Renegades	The Dome at America’s Center