Four Florida Gators will be playing in Super Bowl LIX when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles at 6:30 p.m. inside the Caesars Superdome.
Florida will be represented by both teams as offensive tackles Jawaan Taylor and D.J Humphries will suit up for the Chiefs while safety CJ Gardner-Johnson and offensive tackle Fred Johnson will take the field for the Eagles.
Taylor, a second-round draft selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, signed a four-year, 80-million-dollar contract with the Chiefs on March 16th of 2023. In his first year with Kansas City, Taylor did not allow a sack on QB Patrick Mahomes through the first two games of the 2023 Playoffs including the Wild Card Game against Miami and the Divisional Round Game in Buffalo en route to the team’s Super Bowl LVIII victory over the 49ers. Taylor is looking to become a back-to-back Super Bowl Champion on Sunday night.
Humphries, a first-round draft selection by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, spent nine seasons with the Cardinals before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs on November 25th, 2024. Humphries has played 92 snaps across two games with Kansas City and has not made an appearance in the postseason. Humphries was named a Pro Bowler in 2021 with the Cardinals and is looking for his first Super Bowl.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who Gator Nation once knew as Chauncey Gardner Jr., was a 4th round selection by the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFL Draft. Gardner-Johnson has bounced around the NFL but has seemingly found a home in Philadelphia in his second stint with the Eagles. In 2022, the Saints traded Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles, where he led the league in interceptions before hitting the IR in week 12. Gardner-Johnson helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII after returning from injury. After a brief stint with the Lions, Gardner-Johnson is back in Philly as the Eagles starting safety, signing a three-year, $27 million contract that includes $10 million guaranteed. In Week 17, Gardner-Johnson had two interceptions, including a 69-yard return for a touchdown in a 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Gardner-Johnson has started 16 games for the Eagles this season, combining for 59 tackles, six interceptions, and 12 pass deflections. This will be Gardner-Johnson’s second Super Bowl appearance.
Offensive lineman Fred Johnson started his NFL career with the Steelers after being picked up as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After being waived early in his rookie season, Johnson bounced around until landing with the Eagles in 2022 as a practice squad player. Johnson would eventually sign a two-year deal with the Eagles in 2023. Johnson has found significantly playing time this season, logging 490 snaps across 14 games. Johnson has played ten snaps in the postseason across two games. This will be Johnson’s second Super Bowl appearance but first as a player on the active 53 man roster.
Super Bowl 59 starts at 6:30 p.m. EST.