Some of the NFL’s elite are set to team up with the best saltwater anglers in the Sportfishing Championship, as team pairs for the second annual SFC “The Catch” powered by Verizon have been published. The made-for-TV tournament is scheduled to air Saturday, April 20 at 3 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
The tournament will take place at Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with seven boats that will be piloted by notable pairs of NFL players as well as top anglers from the SFC Billfish Championship. The tournament will use the standard SFC billfish catch and release scoring system.
Here are the team pairs for The Catch:
Gypsea / OluKai Team
Team OluKai includes reigning The Catch champions in McGraw and Sanford, who were voted by fans as SFC All-Stars in 2023. They are joined by former Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook of the fame of the Minnesota Vikings and his brother James Cook, a rusher who just completed his first Pro Bowl season with the Bills.
Rising Son’s / Verizon Team
Team Verizon includes the Berthelots, winners of the fish division of the SFC Championship each of the last two years. They may succeed on the water, but they will be joined by two running backs who will do their damage on land. They will be joined by Kamara, who has had at least 1,100 rushing yards each season, and Mostert, who just completed his first 1,000-yard rushing season.
Lights Out / Team Salt Life
The Carmichaels are the 2023 SFC stars and will be joined by two Eagles teammates, veteran cornerback Bradberry and Carter, a rising second-year defensive tackle.
T-Zero Tire / Team Continental
SFC All-Stars Laws and Scholtz are joined by New York’s new duo, with trade acquisition Burns joining fellow outside linebacker Thibodeaux, the team’s burgeoning star.
Harvey / INEOS Grenadier Team
SFC competitors Guidry and Brumble join two NFL stars on opposite sides of the ball, Simmons, the All-Pro defensive tackle from Tennessee, and White, a running back from Tampa Bay.
Lifeline / Team OneWater Yacht Group
Bridges and Benefield teamed up with the Williams brothers of the New York Jets defense, defensive tackle Quinnen and linebacker Quincy.
Quantified / R3 Team
Quantified features two-time defending SFC champion Billfish alongside two opposing AFC North players, Browns tight end Njoku and Bengals defensive end Hendrickson.
“We’re bringing together elite SFC athletes and pairing them with NFL superstars and, unsurprisingly, everyone wants to win,” Mark Neifeld, CEO and commissioner of the Sport Fishing Championship, said in a statement. “NFL players have proven to be quick adopters of our sport, so I can’t wait to see which teams rise to the top!”
All events hosted by The Catch will support the Coast Guard Foundation.