John DeFilippo & Memphis Showboats will part ways…

The Memphis Showboats continue to see big changes ahead of 2025. Head Coach John DeFilippo will not be returning to the franchise next season, multiple sources tell Pro Football Newsroom. Mark Perry of UFL News Hub was the first to break the news.

This news comes just weeks after General Manager Dennis Polian announced that he was stepping away from his position with the Showboats. Now, neither GM or HC will be back with Memphis in 2025.

DeFilippo’s UFL Tenure

John DeFilippo had an interesting journey to Memphis. He originally was with the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers in 2023, helping lead the team to a 7-3 record, securing a postseason berth. They would ultimately lose in the semi-finals against Birmingham.

Once the USFL-XFL merger process was becoming official, it was clear that New Orleans wasn’t going to be a part of it. With Todd Haley having already been removed from his position earlier in the year, the Showboats were in need of a Head Coach.

DeFilippo was offered the job, and he took it without hesitation. John ended up bringing some of his staff over from New Orleans, while also retaining Showboats DC Carnell Lake.

This season, things didn’t go too smoothly for the Memphis Showboats in the UFL. Their defense was by far the worst in the league, and their offense wasn’t much better as Memphis stumbled to a 2-8 record. It was a season full of frustration, given the talent that was on the roster.

For the 2025 season, now fans will have to look forward to embracing a brand new staff, for the second time in two seasons. As of right now, the UFL has not made anything official regarding John DeFilippo and the future in Memphis.

Moving Forward

There were several head coaches who lost their jobs in the USFL-XFL merger process, such as Mike Riley, Bart Andrus, Jim Haslett, and others. One name to keep a close eye on is Anthony Blevins. He was hired to take over for Rod Woodson with the Vegas Vipers, but never got a chance to be a Head Coach in the UFL. Blevins was placed on Skip Holtz’ defensive staff towards the end of the UFL season, though, so it’s unclear as to if he still is owed a spot.