This past weekend, the seas off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, buzzed with excitement as the third edition of the Sports Fishing Championship’s “The Catch” brought together a thrilling mix of current and former NFL stars. More than 17 football athletes were invited to the high-stakes offshore fishing pro-am, with each one placed on a team among 14 angling clubs. The event, hosted by New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, featured a competitive format where teams battled it out using a points-based system.
When the lines were reeled in and the final scores tallied, it was former NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph who emerged victorious. Teaming up with West Florida Black Flags AC, Rudolph’s crew secured the win with an impressive 350 points. Not far behind were South Florida Sails AC, which featured Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams and retired tight end Vernon Davis. They tied for second with 300 points alongside Third Coast Renegades AC, who had Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V on board.
Last year’s champion, Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert, returned to the competition with East Coast Remix AC, finishing fourth with 275 points. His former partner and fellow 2024 champ Alvin Kamara also rejoined the contest, placing just behind Mostert with Louisiana Canyons AC. Rounding out the top five was Gulf Coast Cowboys AC, which included Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, scoring 225 points — the final team to surpass the 200-point mark.
The day wasn’t short on standout catches either. Williams and Davis’ team reeled in the largest tuna of the competition, weighing a solid 23.16 pounds. Not far behind, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers helped New England Lights Out AC land a 20.28-pound tuna. Mostert, despite missing the podium, earned bragging rights for catching the largest mahi mahi of the day at 5.82 pounds.
Other notable NFL participants included brothers James and Dalvin Cook, Buffalo Bills guard O’Cyrus Torrence, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman, New York Jets defensive tackle Quincy Williams, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, and retired players Domenik Hixon and Ed McCaffrey. The event once again blended sportsmanship, skill, and a bit of saltwater rivalry in a unique celebration of football and fishing.
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