Back in 2018, when a short-statured Jaylen Waddle entered the Alabama campus, little did he know that he would get to bunk with legendary former cornerback-turned-head coach Pat Surtain’s son for the next three years. Their friendship certainly helped them grow into two of the best players to come out of Tuscaloosa. But more than their support for each other, their competitive nature pushed them to where they are today. It almost became a tradition for them.

So, when the former Defensive Player of the Year appeared on Saturday night’s Brand Risk 013 celebrity boxing event in Miami and got a chance to call out one NFL player he would fight, off the top of his head, he only had one name to challenge.

“Pat Surtain, I beat the f— out of him,” Waddle said during an interview on Saturday. “I’ll beat the dog s— out of him. There are a lot more people, but that’s just off the top of my mind. I’ll beat the dog s— out of bro.”

The callout wouldn’t be any surprise for either of the two. Under Nick Saban at Alabama, the two would line up for practices and make sure to go against each other in full force. Their roster in 2021, when they won the national championship, was lights-out stellar with multiple first-round picks that year.

However, Surtain and Waddle have continued to be the same friendly yet competitive selves with each other. In fact, it is very possible that Waddle took Surtain’s name for a reason.

Back in 2023, the Denver Broncos traveled to Miami in Week 3 for a matchup against the Dolphins. Waddle was out due to a concussion he suffered late in the previous game. His friend, however, still wished for him to play. And if he did, Surtain also knew what the game would

“It’s going to be some trash talking” if Waddle plays, Surtain said before that game in 2023. “That’s just the type of friendship we have. Even off the field, we talk trash all the time.”

With Waddle throwing the gauntlet on Surtain’s shoulder, the latter did not take long to respond to his former teammate: “Got a little too much dip on your chip 😤👀,” Surtain wrote on X. See for yourself how much fun the two were having:

The current topic of conversation started when social media star turned WWE wrestler Logan Paul threw boxing challenges for the NFL players. Everyone knows the physicality of the game in the NFL. So, why not try out for WWE?

However, alongside these jibes, the duo is also seen supporting each other.

When Waddle signed his three-year, $84.7 million contract extension with the Dolphins in May 2024, Patrick Surtain’s “Tell ’em send the Brink’s truck!” comment showed that, despite the professional rivalry, they only want the best for each other.

Now, while the NFL fans may or may not get a glimpse of the two old friends face each other in the ring during the offseason, there’s a rivalry brewing with Logan Paul and another NFL legend.

Rob Gronkowski issues a direct challenge to Logan Paul

It all started when Paul put a challenge out that “Not a single football player could beat me in a boxing match.” He didn’t have to wait long for a response.

Ahead of the upcoming Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21, former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has issued an open challenge to Logan Paul. However, the WWE superstar soon backpedaled on this decision when former NFL players Le’Veon Bell and Breiden Fehoko accepted his challenge.

While Paul cited concerns from the WWE as his reason to back out, this decision didn’t sit well with Rob Gronkowski. Hence, during a recent appearance on the Up and Adams Show, the star tight end called out the social media star to a bout at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles.

“If Logan Paul wants a piece of me, I’m down to throw it down on the field and even throw my fists,” Gronkowski said on the Up & Adams show. “Just go at it. All-out brawl on the football field. I don’t care it’s flag football, and it’s a family event. I will fight him on the field if he wants to fight me right there and then in the flag football game.”

Both Gronk and Paul are set to compete in a flag football event organized by Fanatics Studios and Tom Brady. The flag football tournament will also include star athletes like Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, and Odell Beckham Jr., among others. Hence, far before a possible Jaylen Waddle-Pat Surtain II bout, NFL fans may witness Gronkowski and Paul go at each other on March 21.