Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez ready for Super Bowl

Bad Bunny won’t be the only Latino starring Sunday in the Super Bowl. When New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez takes the field for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, he will be carrying the torch of a Colombian athletic legacy. 

His path was paved by his father, Hector, who moved to the United States from Colombia at the age of 18 to play basketball for the University of Texas at El Paso. His sisters Melissa and Samantha have both represented Colombia in track and field. 

Gonzalez is likely the biggest star of the five Latinos expected to play Sunday in the Super Bowl between the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium. 

He will represent his family’s heritage on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. Gonzalez, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection this season, says his family’s support means everything to him. 

Christian Gonzalez credits family

“The fact that I can lean on [my father] and my two sisters that have both run for Colombia and done it at the highest levels …it just means a lot for us to represent Colombia,” Christian Gonzalez says.

The 6-foot-1 and 205-pound Colombian American has made it tough for opposing receivers since being selected in the first round by the Patriots in the 2023 NFL draft. 

Gonzalez is joined in the Patriots’ secondary by Jaylinn Hawkins, a Panamanian American safety who emerged as a playmaker. Hawkins and Gonzalez are a major reason New England’s defense is ranked in the top 10 in both total yards and points allowed in 2025.

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Hawkins led the Patriots with four  interceptions this season. He also recorded 71 tackles. Gonzalez and Hawkins aren’t the only ones carrying Latino legacies on the Patriots.

Rookie kicker Andy Borregales is set to make history as the first Venezuelan to appear in a Super Bowl. 

“It means everything because at the end of the day, there aren’t many Latinos that play this sport, especially from Venezuela.” Borregales, who was born in Caracas and raised in Florida, told reporters. 

Borregales has been impressive throughout his debut season. He has connected on 84% of his field goal attempts. Some of his most notable moments this year have come in the clutch. Borregales nailed a 52-yard field goal to defeat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in October.

With that kick he handed New England its first victory at Buffalo in four years. A 23-yard field goal also proved to be the difference in a 10-7 AFC championship victory over the Broncos, which punched the Patriots’ ticket to Super Bowl LX. 

Julian Love plays pivotal role

Two Latinos are expected to make their Super Bowl debuts with the Seattle Seahawks. Another one is on Seattle’s practice squad. Julian Love will lead Seattle’s defense, which ranks first in the NFL in points and yards allowed. 

“I’m excited,” Love told reporters. “My grandfather is from Chihuahua, and I called him this week. And I know it means a lot to be on the stage. I take pride in where I am from, where my grandparents are from.”

The seven-year veteran is of Mexican and Cuban heritage. Rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo, a second-rounder out of Miami, is Mexican American. He appeared in 13 games. He had 15 catches for 179 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

Center Federico Maranges, a native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, was an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic University. He has spent the season on Seattle’s practice squad.

In just four seasons, Latino representation in the NFL has nearly quadrupled from just 12 players in 2021 to 47 at the start of the 2025 season. With Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny performing at halftime, there will be much to celebrate as Latinos take center stage.