Luis Perez and Jordan Ta’amu are two of the premier quarterbacks in the United Football League (UFL) for the 2025 season, each bringing distinct strengths to their respective teams, the Arlington Renegades and D.C. Defenders. Below is a detailed comparison of the two based on their statistical performance, playing style, experience, leadership, and impact through the first five weeks of the 2025 season, as well as their broader track records in spring football.
Statistical Performance (2025 Season through Week 5)
Luis Perez (Arlington Renegades)
Passing Yards: Surpassed 1,000 yards by Week 5, with 268 yards in Week 5 alone (23/33, 1 TD, 1 INT, 91.5 QB rating). Ranked No. 2 in the UFL with 732 yards through Week 4, trailing Ta’amu.
Completion Percentage: Above 70% through Week 4, the only quarterback with 50+ attempts to achieve this, and 72% (23/33) in Week 5, showcasing elite accuracy.Touchdowns/Interceptions: Specific 2025 TD totals are not fully detailed, but Week 5 included 1 TD and 1 INT. In 2024, he led the UFL with 18 TDs and only 4 INTs, suggesting a low turnover rate.
Other Metrics: Led the UFL in passing yards per game and total points scored in 2024, with a league-high passer rating. His Week 5 performance under pressure (5 sacks) highlights resilience.
Jordan Ta’amu (D.C. Defenders)
Passing Yards: Led the UFL with 905 yards through Week 4, likely approaching or exceeding 1,000 by Week 5 given his pace. Specific Week 5 stats are unavailable, but his consistent high output suggests he remains a top passer.
Completion Percentage: Around 66% in 2023 (XFL), with no specific 2025 data provided, but his efficiency is slightly lower than Perez’s 70%+ mark.Touchdowns/Interceptions: In 2023, he threw 14 TDs and 3 INTs in the XFL, indicating a strong TD-to-INT ratio. His 2024 UFL season was less dominant (1,846 yards, behind Perez’s 2,309), but he remains a low-turnover passer.
Rushing Contribution: Ta’amu’s dual-threat ability adds significant value, with 298 rushing yards and 3 TDs in 2023, and likely similar contributions in 2025, outpacing Perez’s negligible rushing stats.
Comparison
Perez holds a slight edge in passing accuracy and likely matches or exceeds Ta’amu in passing yards by Week 5. However, Ta’amu’s rushing production (e.g., 298 yards in 2023 vs. Perez’s minimal ground game) makes him a more versatile offensive threat. Both maintain low interception rates, but Perez’s 2024 dominance (18 TDs vs. Ta’amu’s fewer TDs) suggests a higher ceiling as a pure passer.
Playing Style
Luis Perez
Pocket Passer: Perez excels as a traditional pocket quarterback, relying on quick reads, pinpoint accuracy, and efficient decision-making. Coaches praise his ability to “get the ball out quick” and read defenses, minimizing mistakes (4 INTs in 2024).
Strengths: Elite completion percentage (70%+ in 2025), strong arm for intermediate and deep throws (e.g., “beautiful” deep ball to Javonta Payton in 2024), and composure under pressure (268 yards despite 5 sacks in Week 5).
Weaknesses: Limited mobility restricts his ability to escape pressure or contribute as a runner, making him reliant on offensive line protection (5 sacks in Week 5 exposed this vulnerability).
Jordan Ta’amu
Dual-Threat Quarterback: Ta’amu combines solid passing with significant rushing ability, making him a dynamic playmaker. His 2023 XFL season (1,878 passing yards, 298 rushing yards) showcased his versatility.
Strengths: Ability to extend plays with his legs, create yards on broken plays, and stress defenses with read-option or scramble plays. His 66% completion rate and 14 TDs in 2023 reflect reliable passing.
Weaknesses: Slightly less accurate than Perez (66% vs. 70%+), and his aggressive playstyle may lead to more sacks or riskier throws, though his 3 INTs in 2023 suggest discipline.
Comparison
Perez is the superior pocket passer, with unmatched accuracy and efficiency in structured offenses. Ta’amu’s dual-threat capability gives him an edge in creating plays outside the pocket, making him harder to defend in open-field situations. Perez’s style suits a pass-heavy system, while Ta’amu thrives in schemes leveraging his mobility.
Experience and Track Record
Luis Perez
Spring Football Veteran: Known as “The Spring King,” Perez has played in the AAF, XFL, USFL, The Spring League, and UFL, throwing the first TD in three leagues’ histories. He led the Renegades to the 2023 XFL Championship (288 yards, 3 TDs, MVP) and the Jousters to the 2021 Spring League Mega Bowl.
2024 UFL Dominance: Led the league with 2,309 yards, 18 TDs, 67% completion, and the highest passer rating, despite a 3-7 team record.
NFL Exposure: Brief stints with the Rams, Eagles, Lions, and Chargers (2024 preseason, praised by Jim Harbaugh) highlight his NFL-caliber talent, though he’s been cut five times.Unconventional Path: Self-taught via YouTube, walked on at Southwestern College, and won the 2017 Harlon Hill Trophy (NCAA D-II Heisman equivalent) at Texas A&M–Commerce.
Jordan Ta’amu
Spring Football Star: Ta’amu was the 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 1,878 yards, 14 TDs, and rushing for 298 yards. His 2024 UFL season was solid (1,846 yards, fewer TDs than Perez), but he didn’t match his 2023 peak.NFL Experience: Signed with the Kansas City Chiefs (2019) and had practice squad stints with multiple teams (Texans, Lions, Panthers, Commanders), but never played in an NFL regular-season game.
College Pedigree: Starred at Ole Miss, throwing for 3,918 yards and 19 TDs in 2018, giving him a stronger college resume than Perez’s D-II background.
Comparison
Perez has a more extensive spring football resume, with championship hardware (2023 XFL, 2021 Spring League) and a record of statistical dominance across multiple leagues. Ta’amu’s 2023 XFL season was exceptional, but his 2024 UFL output lagged behind Perez’s. Perez’s adaptability across nine teams in five leagues edges out Ta’amu’s experience, though Ta’amu’s higher-profile college career and NFL interest add credibility.
Leadership and Intangibles
Luis Perez
Coach on the Field: Bob Stoops calls Perez a “coach on the field” with a “great arm” and locker room respect. His midseason trade to the Renegades in 2023 transformed a 4-6 team into champions, showcasing his galvanizing presence.
Resilience: Overcame an unconventional path (bowling in high school, self-taught mechanics) and NFL rejections to dominate spring football. His focus on consistent preparation, as noted in 2025 interviews, drives his success.
Teammate Praise: Sal Cannella called him the “smartest quarterback” he’s played with, reflecting his ability to elevate receivers.
Jordan Ta’amu
Dynamic Leader: Ta’amu’s 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year award and leadership in high-scoring Defenders offenses (33.3 points per game in 2023) highlight his ability to rally teams. His dual-threat style energizes teammates.
Clutch Performer: Led the Defenders to a 9-1 record in 2023 before falling in the XFL Championship, showing he can carry a team in critical moments.
NFL Interest: Multiple NFL practice squad stints suggest coaches value his leadership and potential, though he hasn’t secured a roster spot.
Comparison
Both are respected leaders, but Perez’s championship MVP performance and ability to turn around a struggling Renegades team in 2023 give him a slight edge in proven high-stakes leadership. Ta’amu’s dynamic playstyle makes him a fan and teammate favorite, but his lack of a title compared to Perez’s hardware tilts this category toward Perez.
Team Context and Impact
Luis Perez (Renegades)
Team Performance: The Renegades started 2-0 in 2025, a stark improvement from 3-7 in 2024, with Perez’s 732 yards through Week 4 and 1,000+ by Week 5 driving the offense. A 30-15 win over St. Louis in Week 4 (149 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) showed his impact.
Support: An improved offensive line, per Stoops, and weapons like Sal Cannella and Deontay Burnett (3 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD in Week 5) complement Perez’s passing. The defense, which led the UFL in takeaways in 2024, supports his aggressive play.
Challenges: Five sacks in Week 5 highlight offensive line inconsistencies, and the 2024 season’s 0-6 start despite Perez’s 1,151 yards shows team struggles can limit his impact.
Jordan Ta’amu (Defenders)
Team Performance: The Defenders’ record isn’t specified for 2025, but their 9-1 mark in 2023 and high-scoring offense (33.3 points per game) suggest Ta’amu thrives in a strong system. His 905 yards through Week 4 of 2025 indicate continued offensive leadership.
Support: Ta’amu benefits from playmakers like Lucky Jackson (1,300+ yards in 2023) and a system under Gregg Williams that leverages his mobility. The Defenders’ consistent playoff appearances (2023 XFL, 2024 UFL) reflect a balanced roster.
Challenges: Ta’amu’s 2024 season (1,846 yards, fewer TDs than Perez) was less dominant, possibly due to defensive adjustments or roster changes.
Comparison
Perez’s 2025 statistical edge (higher completion percentage, likely matching Ta’amu’s yards) and the Renegades’ 2-0 start suggest he’s having a greater individual impact early in 2025. Ta’amu’s dual-threat ability and historically stronger team (9-1 in 2023) give him an edge in overall offensive versatility, but Perez’s ability to carry a less consistent roster (3-7 in 2024) highlights his value.
Counterpoints and Challenges
Perez
Limited Mobility: His lack of rushing production (unlike Ta’amu’s 298 yards in 2023) makes him one-dimensional, relying heavily on protection.
Team Struggles: The Renegades’ 2024 collapse (0-6 start) despite Perez’s stats raises questions about his ability to translate individual dominance into wins, though the 2-0 start in 2025 mitigates this.
Ta’amu
Passing Ceiling: His 2024 UFL season (1,846 yards) lagged behind Perez’s 2,309, and his completion percentage (66% in 2023 vs. Perez’s 70%+ in 2025) suggests a lower passing efficiency.
Championship Shortfall: Despite a 9-1 record in 2023, Ta’amu’s Defenders lost the XFL Championship to Perez’s Renegades, indicating he may fall short in clutch moments compared to Perez’s MVP performance.
Conclusion
Luis Perez holds the edge as the UFL’s top quarterback through Week 5 of 2025 due to his superior passing accuracy (70%+ completion), likely matching or exceeding Ta’amu’s passing yards (1,000+ vs. 905+), and proven championship pedigree (2023 XFL MVP). His efficiency, low turnover rate, and ability to dominate statistically despite a less consistent roster (3-7 in 2024, 2-0 in 2025) underscore his dominance as a pocket passer.
Jordan Ta’amu, however, is a close second, with his dual-threat ability (298 rushing yards in 2023, likely similar in 2025) making him a more versatile and dynamic threat. His 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year award and strong team context (9-1 Defenders) highlight his impact, but his slightly lower passing efficiency and lack of a championship title give Perez the advantage. In a pass-heavy system, Perez is the better choice; in a scheme valuing mobility, Ta’amu shines. For 2025, Perez’s statistical leadership and experience tip the scales in his favor.
