The third edition of Sports Fishing Competition’s The Catch, powered by Verizon, returned to Fort Lauderdale’s scenic marina this past April, bringing current and former professional football players together to compete in an offshore fishing pro-am against 16 professional SFC angling clubs and competitors.

Hosted at Pier Sixty-Six, this year’s competition was one for the books, setting the stage for an even more competitive event in 2026. This year’s event was hosted by Cleveland Browns quarterback and former Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston.

Jameis Winston © Aoife O’Riordan

Many NFL players hit the waters, including Alvin Kamara, running back for the New Orleans Saints; Zay Flowers, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens; James Cook, running back for the Buffalo Bills; Raheem Mostert, running back for the Las Vegas Raiders; Deandre Hopkins, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens; O’Cyrus Torrence, guard for the Buffalo Bills; Leonard Williams, defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks; Starling Thomas, center back for the Arizona Cardinals; Michael Pittman, Jr., wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts; Dalvin Cook, running back for the Dallas Cowboys; Bryant McKinnie, offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings; Quincy Williams, linebacker for the New York Giants; Jeffrey Simmons, defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans; and Trey Hendrickson, defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jeffree Simmons (right) © Aoife O’Riordan

The competition was not only a chance for attendees, anglers and football players to fish but also to relax. Brian Kelley and Chris Lane performed by one of Pier Sixty-Six’s expansive pools.

On the actual day of the competition, NFLers caught some promising fish, including Jeffrey Simmons, who snagged a sailfish. But the 2025 The Catch champions were the West Florida Black Flags.

All events from The Catch support the Coast Guard Foundation, the premier non-profit organization supporting U.S. Coast Guard members.