DJ Swearinger is back in Washington, DC. The XFL’s DC Defenders signed the former NFL safety Wednesday, the team announced.
Swearinger played two seasons with the Washington Commanders franchise from 2017-2018, with Jay Gruden as head coach. He became a fan favorite. With eight interceptions in 31 games, he appeared set as a fixture in Washington’s defensive backfield like his idol, the late Sean Taylor.
However, Swearinger grew tiresome of Washington’s defensive playcalling. He called out defensive coordinator Greg Manusky after a late-season loss to the Tennessee Titans during the 2018 season. Washington released Swearinger shortly afterward. Gruden called the release the “right decision” after Swearinger repeatedly voiced his frustration.
Swearinger later fired back with criticism of Gruden. He played for three teams the following season in 2019 — the Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, and the New Orleans Saints.
DJ Swearinger last played in the NFL in 2020 for the Saints. He also played for the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Cardinals in a previous stint before coming to Washington. He will wear the jersey number 36 that he wore in the NFL, per Mike Mitchell.
The Defenders are coming off a 37-36 upset to Orlando for their first loss of the XFL season. DC still has the best record in the league at 6-1. However, they were in need of roster moves this week. DC also signed cornerback Isaiah Johnson and re-signed running back Pooka Williams. The team placed center Mike Maietti and defensive back KJ Sails on the reserved ist.
