The D.C. Defenders re-signed tight end Briley Moore-McKinney and released tight end Kole Taylor on Monday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Briley Moore-McKinney is six foot four and weighs 250 pounds. The 28-year-old from Blue Spring, Missouri, was re-acquired from the Columbus Aviators on February 10, 2026, for defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins. The Defenders released him on February 22, 2026.
Moore-McKinney signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He played one preseason game in 2022 with two catches for 14 yards. The D.C. Defenders drafted Moore-McKinney in the fifth round (33rd) in the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, he made 11 catches for 80 yards and one touchdown in eight games, helping the Defenders reach the XFL Championship game.
The Defenders re-signed Moore-McKinney on October 18, 2023. In 2024, he made nine catches for 51 yards and one touchdown in four games.
The Defenders re-signed Moore-McKinney on October 24, 2024. In 2025, he made 15 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. In the UFL playoffs, he made two catches for 13 yards and one touchdown in two games, helping the Defenders win the UFL Championship over the Michigan Panthers. The Columbus Aviators drafted him in the 2026 UFL Draft.
Collegiately, Moore-McKinney played four seasons at Northern Iowa (2016-19) with 85 catches for 1,116 yards, five touchdowns, and five kick returns for 54 yards in 36 games for the Panthers. He was named First Team All-MVFC and best Tight End in the MVC by HERO Sports in 2018.
Then, Moore-McKinney transferred to Kansas in 2020 with 22 catches for 338 yards, three touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in nine games for the Wildcats.
Kole Taylor is six foot seven and weighs 250 pounds. A native of Grand Junction, Colorado, was drafted by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft. The Orlando Storm released him on January 31, 2026. The D.C. Defenders signed Taylor on February 6, 2026.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed Taylor as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. The Bengals released him on July 31, 2025.
Collegiately, Taylor spent three seasons at LSU (2020-22) with 17 catches for 159 yards and one touchdown in 32 games for the Tigers. Then, he transferred to West Virginia (2023-24) with 78 catches for 892 yards, seven touchdowns, and one tackle (1 assist) in 26 games for the Mountaineers. In 2024, he had a career-high 43 catches for 448 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.
