The DC Defenders are UFL champions! Their incredible win against the Michigan Panthers capped off an amazing season that saw a breakout performance from QB Jordan Ta’amu.
But despite having its best season yet, UFL viewership took a noticeable dip in 2025. Conference championship ratings were down by about 40% on the XFL side, and the title game didn’t quite reach the highs of last year either.
That’s not to say the demand isn’t there, but the hype is nowhere near where the league needs it to be. And that’s why the UFL should take a page out of Major League Baseball’s playbook. No, not the nine-inning grind or the rain delays, but the trade chaos. The deadline drama.
Every summer, MLB owns the sports conversation because teams are wheeling and dealing. It creates buzz, headlines, and interest in teams and players.
If the UFL wants to keep fans locked in week after week, to give people a reason to care beyond just the standings. A trade deadline or something close to MLB trade rumors can keep people talking even when there’s no football on TV.
Trade Deadlines Make Every Team Relevant
The St. Louis Battlehawks are the undisputed attendance leaders, and the hype surrounding the team rivals that of some NFL franchises. Unfortunately, no other team comes close, including recent title winners, the DC Defenders.
This is unlike the MLB, where even bad baseball teams get fun when the trade deadline rolls around. The Pirates could be way out of the playoff picture, but are front and center with many MLB fans wondering if they will trade Mitch Keller for a haul of prospects. While this may not be fun for Pirates fans who would rather not lose Keller, it creates buzz and interest around the team.
And it’s not just about who gets traded. The weeks of rumors, hot takes, and pure fan chaos keep people talking. Meanwhile, the UFL doesn’t really have that. Once rosters are locked in, things go quiet. And for a league that’s still trying to generate interest and reverse the recent decline in viewership, that silence is costly.
The UFL Needs Controlled Chaos
The UFL should also consider adding a mid-season trade window. This should be something with a clear start and end date to make it more interesting.
In addition, a mid-season trade window allows contenders to load up for a playoff run by trading for veterans. This makes the playoff game more fun to the casual viewer.
But most importantly, it creates fan hype even for teams that aren’t winning. Often, they are dragged into the rumor mill, leaving their fans anxious and talking about which players they might lose.
You could even build live content around it. Think of “Deadline Day” shows, insider reports, mock trades, and other stuff like this that fans of any sport eat up.
Make It Part of the Identity
One thing the MLB does well is accept that roster movement is part of the game. Fans may not always love watching their favorite players get traded, but they get it and enjoy it, mainly when it works out in their favor.
When done right, it can get even the most casual of fans excited for the new season. One advantage the UFL has over the NFL is that the league doesn’t have decades of tradition or team loyalty locking things in.
A trade deadline isn’t just about shuffling names. It’s about telling stories. It gives fans a reason to care about what’s next. And right now, that’s exactly what the UFL needs.
If the league wants to keep fans coming back week after week, it needs more than just game highlights.
That’s exactly what MLB’s trade deadline delivers for baseball. And right now, it’s something the XFL could use to reverse its fortunes.
