Explained: What is the Florida man meme?

If you are on social media, you must have come across a video where a man is capturing an alligator just by wearing a pair of crocs. The bravery of the man fighting the giant creature in broad daylight without the slightest hint of fear has amazed netizens.

In a scene straight out of an action movie, Mike Dragich—Marine veteran, MMA fighter , and licensed alligator trapper—was captured on video wrestling a massive alligator barefoot on a busy Jacksonville highway. Known online as the " Blue Collar Brawler ," Dragich sprang into action when the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reported a gator wandering between lanes on I-95 and I-295. Armed with just a pole and his bare hands, he skillfully maneuvered the thrashing reptile onto the shoulder, muzzled it, and, with assistance, loaded it into a pickup truck—all while traffic sped by.

Dragich's daring feat, shared widely on social media, isn't his first viral encounter; he's previously been filmed capturing alligators in various Florida locales, including near an elementary school. Beyond his reptilian wrangling, Dragich runs Project Savior Outdoors , a nonprofit dedicated to combating veteran suicide through outdoor activities. A Marine veteran and mixed martial arts fighter, Dragich has gained a large following on social media by sharing videos of himself catching alligators across Florida, often barefoot, USA Today reported.

The video is being hugely shared on social media. "That's awesome where do you train?," writes one user. "Am I the only one who noticed the alligator must’ve been so afraid it pissed itself?," another said. "The fact that there are so many alligators just on the roadways is slightly alarming," wrote a third user.


While Dragich makes it look effortless, wildlife experts caution against attempting such feats, emphasizing the importance of professional intervention when dealing with wild animals.


Watch the video here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Yo7_wuZut/ https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Yo7_wuZut/

Florida man meme
The term “Florida Man” has become internet legend, thanks to a never-ending stream of bizarre, wild, and often hilarious news headlines featuring men from the Sunshine State doing the unthinkable. From wrestling alligators in traffic to robbing stores with a live iguana, Florida Man stories are equal parts shocking and entertaining. He’s unpredictable, fearless (sometimes foolishly so), and always trending. While these headlines might seem unreal, they reflect Florida’s unique mix of swamps, heat, and eccentric personalities. Whether he’s a hero or a headline-maker, Florida Man has secured his place as the internet’s favorite chaotic character.