TAMPA, Fla---
“Alright, alright go Bucs!” a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan yells as the team pirate ship drives through the tailgate parking lots. Among this sea of pewter and red a New Orleans Saints fan holds her grandson.
“Look at this you got your jersey, we gotta zip you up,” Del Johnson says to her grandson Cayden. He’s wearing his dad’s number 22 Saints jersey.
“As the mom I didn’t really see it coming,” Johnson says. “I prayed about it, but to see it actually happen looking around like…it happened.”
Del Johnson and her husband Brian are enjoying their grandson’s company while their son plays a game in his home state.
“It’s like a home game for him,” Brian Johnson says. “Back home in front of the typical home crowd. This is where he got his first pick 6 at!”
Their son is CJ Gardner-Johnson. The former Florida Gators defensive back was the MVP of the 2006 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Now he’s suiting up as a rookie for the black and gold.
“It’s super exciting especially today because we get to see CJ and Jamel Dean kind of matchup against each other,” Del Johnson says.
Gardner-Johnson will be going against his Cocoa High School teammate and fellow rookie, Jamel Dean for the second time this year. Dean is a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“That my boy,” Gardner-Johnson says. “It’s big seeing two guys from our home town because you never used to see it now you’re seeing it.”
“We went from being teammates and now opponents,” Dean says. “It really matters back home show kids that it’s possible to make it out of that city.”
Gardner-Johnson has worked himself into a starting role as a nickel cornerback. Dean has seen his playing time increase as well. He got a clutch interception in just his second start versus the Arizona Cardinals. But one of their favorite memories this season was on the field together
“I got that boys jersey at the house hanging up above the fire pit,” Gardner-Johnson says.
“Oh I’ve got his jersey framed too,” Dean echoes.
The two exchanged jerseys after the first Bucs Saints game in New Orleans. They’re living their dreams and believe the next generation from Cocoa can too.
“Yeah I feel like more kids can believe in their dreams are happening,” Dean says. “Because now you are seeing kids from really all over Brevard. Not only just me, [Gardner-Johnson] and [Jawaan Taylor] there are others in college that are doing good. There are kids in high school right now that are getting D1 Scholarships now they see that it’s possible.”
“Hey the skies the limit,” Gardner-Johnson says. “Don’t let nobody limit you.”