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Former Patriots OL Wins Spring Football Championship

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 1:20 PM ET

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.

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.

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.

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.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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