Former Howard running back Ian Wheeler’s return to Washington, D.C. was a special one.
For the second straight week, Wheeler scored the go-ahead touchdown as the Louisville Kings defeated the 2025 United Football League champion D.C. Defenders 27-20 in the United Bowl Saturday afternoon.
The win gives the Kings their first UFL championship.
Wheeler, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, scored on a 44-yard burst down the left sideline early in the fourth quarter to give the Kings, who started the season 0-3, the lead for good at 20-16.
IAN WHEELER FOR THE LEAD TO START THE 4TH QUARTER!!!
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/pchK3iWRIe
— Louisville Kings (@UFLKings) June 13, 2026
Wheeler scored on a 51-yard run the previous week to push the Kings past the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL semifinals. He finished the United Bowl with 81 yards on 10 carries.
Wheeler’s performance came on a very special day for his family as well; Saturday was his mother’s birthday.
Your United Bowl MVP: Ian Wheeler.
A joyous return to D.C. for the Howard grad. It’s his mom’s birthday, too. pic.twitter.com/FZJbcL69ce
— Brooks Holton (@brooksHolton) June 13, 2026
