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Mike Dragich is a U.S. veteran who founded Project Savior Outdoors. What he is doing with veterans, first responders, alligators, and Jesus is changing the lives of countless men.
Dragich has faced down enemies on the battlefield, wrestled alligators in front of roaring crowds, and walked with men battling some of the darkest moments of their lives.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and founder of Project Savior Outdoors, Dragich is showing the world that the same strength that tames wild animals can also save human souls.
Dragich first gained national attention as “The Gator Wrestler,” stepping into arenas to engage Florida’s fiercest reptiles. But for him, the real mission wasn’t about the thrill of danger, it was about creating a platform to reach men who felt trapped, wounded, and forgotten.
“I want people to know that there’s hope, and that hope is found in Jesus Christ,” Dragich said. His nonprofit, Project Savior Outdoors, exists to connect veterans and first responders with the outdoors, with each other, and ultimately with Christ.
Project Savior Outdoors brings men who have worn the uniform, including police officers, EMTs, firefighters, and combat veterans, into fishing and hunting excursions designed to break isolation and restore purpose. Dragich says the outdoors provides an opening for conversations that matter most.
“When you’re out there on the water, a lot of walls come down,” he explained. “That’s when we can talk about what they’re really carrying.”
For Dragich, carrying burdens is personal. After leaving military service, he admits he faced his own struggles with identity, purpose, and the invisible wounds of war. His turnaround came through faith.
“I realized I wasn’t meant to carry it all myself. Christ already carried it to the cross,” he shared.
That conviction fuels his work today. Whether he’s wrestling an alligator in front of a crowd or praying with a veteran who feels life is no longer worth living, Dragich sees both as opportunities to be what he calls a “sheepdog and shepherd.”
The sheepdog protects the flock, standing guard against threats. The shepherd leads them to safety and life.
“We can be both,” Dragich said. “We can fight for others and also point them to the One who saves.”
Project Savior Outdoors has already touched the lives of countless men. Veterans who once contemplated suicide now testify that Christ gave them new hope.
First responders who had grown bitter or burned out have found restoration. Families that feared they had lost their fathers or sons to despair have been reunited with men transformed by grace.
“The outdoors is just the tool,” Dragich explained. “The real work is the Gospel.”
His message is resonating. Churches, police departments, and veteran organizations are beginning to invite Dragich to share his story. The combination of physical courage and spiritual conviction is drawing attention at a time when many men feel starved for authentic examples of faith in action.
Dragich insists the mission is only beginning. “Jesus changes lives. I’ve seen Him do it in mine, and I’ve seen Him do it in hundreds of others. That’s why we do what we do.”
In a culture where men are often told to hide their struggles, Dragich offers a different path. He acknowledges pain but refuses to let it have the last word.
By blending his unusual stage as a gator wrestler with the calling of a shepherd, Mike Dragich is reminding America’s warriors and protectors that they were created for more, including courage in the fight and new life in Christ.
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Learn more about Project Savior Outdoors here.
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