On a rough night in Santa Clara, he gave his team some “Pop.”
St. Augustine’ native DeMario “Pop” Douglas played a central role for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, hauling in five catches for 45 yards in the team’s 29‑13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Douglas, who starred at Pedro Menendez High School before moving on to Mandarin, drew some early game social media buzz for what the official Patriot website described as a “filthy juke” on New England’s first drive.
Facing a swarming Seahawks defense that put quarterback Drake Maye under constant siege, Douglas, 25, was among the more productive pass catchers for New England as they struggled to sustain drives all night.
Douglas’ mother, a current St. Augustine resident, saw her boy play in person in Santa Clara.
“WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON,” she wrote on Instagram before kickoff. “WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.”
Long considered undersized, Douglas’ unlikely journey to the Super Bowl stage began in the Old City and continued on in college at Liberty University.
Selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Douglas has since carved out a consistent role in New England’s offense with his quickness, route running and versatility in both the passing game and special teams.
This season, he caught 31 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns, helping fuel New England’s march to a 14‑3 record and a Super Bowl berth.
Way to go, Pop.
