The Michigan Panthers are gearing up for their quest for the USFL championship, aiming for their first title since the league’s reboot in 2022. Quarterbacks Bryce Perkins and Danny Etling are at the forefront of this effort, leveraging their backgrounds from the NFL where they were part of Super Bowl-winning teams.
Both Perkins and Etling have shared insights and experiences that they believe will be vital in leading the Panthers to victory against the DC Defenders. Perkins, who won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, emphasized the importance of understanding playoff dynamics: “It allows you to understand what it takes to keep playing on after the regular season,” he stated. He draws parallels between their upcoming championship game and his experiences facing tough opponents multiple times in a season.
Perkins recalled how the Rams faced the San Francisco 49ers three times in one season; the Rams lost both regular-season matchups but triumphed in the playoffs. Similarly, the Panthers managed a critical victory over the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference championship after losing to them twice in the regular season. This experience has fortified Perkins’ confidence in approaching high-stakes games.
Etling, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, highlighted the significance of growth and improvement over the course of a season. He reflected on the Patriots’ rocky start during the 2018 season and how they turned things around, ultimately leading to their Super Bowl success. He believes the Panthers exemplify this principle of peaking at the right time. “It doesn’t really matter how you start the season; it’s all about how you finish,” he remarked, noting their progression throughout the 2025 season.
As Michigan prepares for the championship, both quarterbacks are focused on executing well and learning from their past encounters, insisting that every failure along the way serves as a building block for success.
This weekend’s UFL championship promises to be a significant moment for the Panthers and, regardless of the outcome, the journey of Perkins and Etling showcases resilience and the power of growth in sports. Their combined experience offers hope that the Panthers will rise to the occasion as they seek to carve out a legacy in the league.