Mercedes Sapp may have grown up around NFL legends, but when it comes to college pride, the University of South Florida owns her heart. Even though her father now coaches at Colorado, Mercedes bleeds green and gold. So much so that in the highlight section of her Instagram profile, she has a dedicated highlight collection for USF with a “💚” emoji. And this week, her worlds collided in the best way possible.

On October 30, Mercedes reshared the USF Athletics IG post on her IG story. It read, “A Tampa Bay icon is officially a Bull! 🤘 Welcome @officialdbrooks55!” Mercedes wrote a personal message, “Yessssir, welcome Unc! 🤘🏼💚.” Pro Football HOFer Derrick Brooks was named the Chief Operating Officer and joined USF Athletics on Thursday. It feels like a personal achievement for Mercedes. Her dad, Warren, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1995 to 2003, and Brooks was part of the NFL program from 1995 to 2001.

Mercedes’ dad and his mate got drafted in the same first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and they remain the only Hall of Fame defenders drafted by the same team in the same round. When Warren was left off after a failed drug test, Brooks was heartbroken. Back in 2019, in an interview he shared, “I was shocked, to be honest with you, that my teammate Warren Sapp wasn’t on this list. You talk about somebody that I watched dominate a game.” Life now comes to a full circle for Brooks. Even though his old mate now coaches in Colorado, he will be sharing the role in a program with Warren’s daughter, Mercedes. 

Brooks’ new role spans every corner of the athletic landscape- from boosting community ties and leading football and basketball efforts to powering revenue, tourism, and partnerships across Team Tampa Bay. Other than this, he has worn many hats in Tampa. 

From serving on numerous local boards to leading as Executive VP of Corporate and Community Development for Vinik Sports Group. He’s also the president and founder of Derrick Brooks Charities and co-founder of Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School. So, this makes Brooks very dear to Mercedes, to whom USF is one of her true loves. 

Mercedes Sapp’s bond with USF 

Warren’s daughter was welcomed to the role of Student-Athlete Enhancement Coordinator in the fall of 2022. Mercedes heads the Personal Enhancement pillar, a space dedicated to helping student-athletes grow beyond the game through identity development, values, wellness, and major life transitions. It also brings NIL education, DEI awareness, personal branding, and financial confidence to the forefront.

So, Mercedes is now likely to cross paths with Uncle Brooks. This makes her job all the more enjoyable. Anyhow, her interest is not just limited to one sport. Her latest post, which Mercedes made on September 7, showed her attending the South Florida Bulls face-off against the Florida Gators. She captured the memorable moments from the face-off, like the UF leading at halftime. Can Mercedes be tagged as the lucky charm for the Bulls?

Maybe. After all, they secured a 16-18 victory over the Gators. She posted a video clip from the live game on her IG story with the caption, “INSANITYYYY!!!!!!!” Mercedes’ clip froze the moment of pure suspense inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, dead silence hanging in the air, until Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard kick sailed through, and the place broke into a loud cheer.

Along with USF, Mercedes also holds a special place for the University of North Florida. She earned her Master’s degree in Science of Communication Management with an emphasis in Leadership at the Osprey’s nest. Warren Sapp’s daughter had picked up an early interest in soccer and was part of the North Florida Women’s Soccer team. 

As the team celebrated its 30th anniversary in September, Mercedes Sapp was invited. And stepping into the event, she was instantly teleported to the good old times. Posting a reel, she wrote, “I am so humbled and grateful to be recognized on the All Decade Team (2016-2024) and to be named on the 30th Anniversary Stand-Out Team.” Holding tight to these memories, Mercedes continues to make USF shine, and now, she’s got even more fuel to chase greatness.