Published on February 26, 2025 by Catherine Smith  

Attending the Super Bowl is a dream for many, but for Titus Gardner ’22, it became part of his job. Now a marketing specialist at FedEx, Gardner uses his creative skills in social media to engage audiences and highlight the company’s presence at major events. His role took him to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, where he had the unique opportunity to travel alongside the Lombardi Trophy as part of FedEx’s long-standing partnership with the NFL.

For 25 years, FedEx has been responsible for delivering the iconic Lombardi Trophy to the Super Bowl, selecting top-performing drivers for this prestigious duty. Gardner helped capture the moment for fans on social media, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how FedEx continues to be an integral part of the world’s grandest football game. 

As a member of the FedEx global social media team, Gardner serves as the company’s in-house content creator and on-camera talent. He produces engaging content that showcases FedEx’s involvement in major events, including the PGA Tour and the UEFA Champions League. By providing an inside look at these partnerships, he humanizes the FedEx brand and highlight its impact beyond package delivery.

“The most exciting part of my role is collaborating with an incredible team and traveling to various events where FedEx has a presence. I’ve been fortunate to visit places like Alaska, New Orleans for the Super Bowl and Indianapolis to help deliver the game ball for the Colts—all as part of my work.”

Gardner’s trip to Super Bowl LIX also gave him the chance to reconnect with two former teammates. As a student-athlete on Samford’s football team from 2018 to 2022, he played alongside Montrell Washington '21 and Chris Oladokun—both of whom now play for the Kansas City Chiefs. “Reconnecting with them after several years was a great experience,” Gardner said. “It felt just like old times, picking up right where we left off.”

He credits his time at Samford University’s Brock School of Business for preparing him for his career. His involvement in campus organizations helped refine his communication and leadership skills, while courses like social media marketing, taught by Laura Bright, sparked his passion for digital engagement. “That course deepened my understanding of how Fortune 500 brands leverage social media, which fueled my interest in the field. Beyond that, all my professors challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, helping shape me into the professional I am today,” said Gardner.

Gardner’s journey from Samford to the Super Bowl is a testament to the power of hands-on learning and real-world experience. His success reflects the impact of Samford’s experiential learning opportunities, which recently earned the university a No. 8 ranking in the nation for career preparation by The Wall Street Journal.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.