The start of the NFL season is quickly approaching, and the excitement surrounding the return of professional football has fans of the sport anticipating Thursday’s Kickoff Game in Philadelphia between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. As of September 2, 47 Latinos were on NFL teams, with 32 on 53-man rosters and 15 on practice squads or reserve lists.

While every NFL season is filled with captivating storylines, an interesting one to watch in 2025 will be the role of Latino players in the league.
Among the Latinos in the NFL are 2024 Pro Bowlers Fred Warner and Nik Bonitto, established veterans Julian Love, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Cesar Ruiz, as well as young stars Chris Olave, Isiah Pacheco, Christian Gonzalez, and Jake Ferguson. There are also two players who entered the league through the NFL International Player Pathway: Isaac Alarcon and Bayron Matos.

Below are some Latinos to watch in the NFL in 2025.

Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers NFL football team. 

Fred Warner | LB | San Francisco 49ers | Mexican & Panamanian Heritage

While his Mexican and Panamanian heritage might be a surprise to some, Fred Warner’s talent is second to none. Born Federico Anthony Warner, the former third-round pick out of BYU has made a name for himself since bursting onto the scene as a standout rookie in 2018. Warner has solidified his place as one of the best linebackers in all of football, recording more than 115 tackles in each of his seven NFL seasons.

As impactful a linebacker as you can find in the NFL, the four-time first-team All-Pro selection posted a team-leading 131 tackles (76 solo) in 2024, adding a sack, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions to earn his fourth Pro Bowl nod in the last five seasons.

Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto 

Nik Bonitto | Linebacker | Denver Broncos | Cuban Heritage
Nik Bonitto’s emergence as an elite pass rusher was vital in making the Broncos one of the surprises of the 2024 season. A former second-round pick in 2022 out of college football powerhouse Oklahoma, Bonitto made his presence felt in his third season in the NFL.

An explosive edge rusher, Bonitto finished the 2024 season with a career-best 13.5 sacks that ranked third in the league and helped Denver lead the NFL with sacks as a team. His quick first step and relentless motor make him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks, and he played a pivotal role in Denver’s defensive efforts while earning his first career Pro Bowl selection.

Chris Olave | WR | New Orleans Saints | Cuban Heritage

Wide receiver Chris Olave starred at the 2022 NFL Combine, cementing his status as a future first-round pick. The Ohio State standout with Cuban heritage dazzled NFL scouts with an impressive 4.39 second 40-yard dash time ahead of being selected 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Olave has been very productive when healthy, making him one of the most promising young receivers in the league. The electrifying wideout posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years, including career-highs in 2023 with 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns. Injuries limited the speedy Olave to just eight games a year ago, but he is healthy and looking to return to form in 2025.

Isiah Pacheco | RB | Kansas City Chiefs | Puerto Rican Heritage

Isiah Pacheco went from seventh-round pick to two-time Super Bowl champion. Known for his powerful and aggressive running style, Pacheco has a flair for the biggest moments. As a rookie in 2022, the explosive back ran for 76 yards and a touchdown to help Kansas City beat the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. A year later, Pacheco posted 92 all-purpose yards to help his team beat the 49ers in overtime, 25-22, clinching back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his first two NFL seasons.

One of the stars of this season’s Por La Cultura campaign, Pacheco returns to action after an injury-riddled 2024 limited him to just 83 carries and one touchdown in the regular season. Pacheco spent some time this offseason reconnecting with his Puerto Rican roots, linking up with fellow Puerto Rican Bad Bunny for the global music sensation’s opening show of his residency at San Juan’s iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Jake Ferguson | TE | Dallas Cowboys | Spanish Heritage

Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, who is of Spanish descent, is the grandson of legendary Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez, and was a standout for the Badgers before being selected by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Ferguson has been a valuable part of the Cowboys’ offense, serving as their starting tight end in each of the last two seasons. His 59 catches ranked 12^th among tight ends a year ago despite playing just 14 games due to injury. The talented Ferguson will be a key receiving weapon for quarterback Dak Prescott in 2025, joining star receiver CeeDee Lamb and newcomer George Pickens in a formidable Dallas aerial attack.

Christian Gonzalez | DB | New England Patriots | Colombian Heritage

A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, cornerback Christian Gonzalez proudly showcased his Colombian roots after being selected 17th overall by the New England Patriots. The Texas native took the stage and opened his jacket, displaying the Colombian flag inside his draft night suit.  A standout corner from the University of Oregon, Gonzalez played in four games before injury cut his debut season short.

A year ago, Gonzalez showed why he is a key member of the Pats defense and a rising star in the NFL, recording two interceptions, 11 passes defended and 59 tackles over 16 games. Gonzalez, who stars in the NFL’s “Por La Cultura” campaign this season, will look to elevate his game to new heights in his third year in the league and first playing for new head coach and Patriots’ defensive legend Mike Vrabel.

Julian Love | DB | Seattle Seahawks | Cuban & Mexican Heritage

Seattle defensive back Julian Love earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023, his first year with the Seahawks, totaling 123 tackles with four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Love had another impressive showing in 2024, recording 109 tackles, three INTs, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a career-best 12 passes defended.

Coming out of Notre Dame, the standout safety was originally selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and starred for the G-Men for four seasons before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest. Love, who has Mexican and Cuban heritage, is the veteran in a talented young Seahawks secondary that hopes to lead the defense in their pursuit of a playoff berth.

Bryce Young | QB | Carolina Panthers | Mexican Heritage

This gifted signal-caller’s inclusion on this list may be a surprise to some, but former first overall pick Bryce Young has Mexican heritage. A standout at Alabama, Young was the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and went through some growing pains in his debut season, tossing 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

But Young blossomed a year ago under the tutelage of head coach Dave Canales – who himself is of Latino descent – throwing for 2,403 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions over 14 games. Young finished the 2024 season strong, completing 65% of his passes for 612 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions over the final three games of the year. The Panthers hope to see Young take another step forward in his third season under center in Carolina.

Alijah Vera-Tucker | OL | New York Jets | Mexican Heritage

Alijah Vera-Tucker is a veteran presence on a young Jets offensive line. The former 2021 first-round pick is entering his fifth season in New York and first under new head coach Aaron Glenn. Vera-Tucker is a standout when healthy, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after starting all 16 games at left guard in his debut campaign.

Injuries limited the gifted lineman with Mexican heritage to just 12 games over the next two years, but Vera-Tucker played in 15 games in 2024 – reaching the milestone for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2021. As a leader on offense, Vera-Tucker will look to protect new quarterback Justin Fields and open holes for explosive running back Breece Hall.

Steve Avila | OL | Los Angeles Rams | Mexican Heritage

A former All-American at TCU, Steve Avila was a second-round pick of the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft. Avila, whose given name is Esteban, started 17 games at left guard in his NFL debut campaign and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

The offensive lineman with Mexican roots was limited to just 10 games during the regular season a year ago but proved to be a key member of the offensive line that helped the Rams reach the NFC Championship Game in 2024. Avila is locked in at left guard for Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay, and the third-year pro looks to anchor an offensive line that hopes to have the Rams as one of the top offenses in the NFL.

Cairo Santos | K | Chicago Bears | Brazilian Heritage

Cairo Santos is the first Brazilian-born player in NFL history. A native of São Paulo, Santos’ path to football began in high school when his soccer skills translated well to kicking field goals. He earned an opportunity to play at Tulane and won the Lou Groza Award in 2012 given to the nation’s best collegiate kicker. Despite his collegiate success, Santos went undrafted in 2014 but that did not stop him from becoming one of the top kickers in the league.

He began his career with the Chiefs and has played for five different teams over 11 seasons in the NFL. The 2025 season will mark his 12^th year in the league and sixth straight with the Bears (seventh overall). Santos, who has made at least 21 field goals in each of the last five seasons, is a veteran presence on new head coach Ben Johnson’s roster.

Elijah Arroyo | Tight End | Seattle Seahawks | University of Miami | Mexican Heritage
A big, athletic tight end, Elijah Arroyo will be a weapon in the passing game for the Seahawks from Day 1. The 6-foot-5, 250 lb. Arroyo was selected in the second round by Seattle, and he will bring a rare combination of size, strength, and speed to an offense looking to remake its identity.

Arroyo dealt with some injuries early in his career at the University of Miami but emerged as a star for the Canes in 2024, catching 35 passes for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns to earn second team All-ACC honors in first full season as starter. The talented playmaker hopes to join the rich tradition of tight ends from The U that includes former NFL standouts Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow II, Greg Olsen, and Jimmy Graham.

Andres Borregales | Kicker | New England Patriots | University of Miami | Venezuelan Heritage
One of the premier kickers in college, Andres Borregales was arguably the top kicker in the 2025 NFL Draft. Kicking is in his blood, as the Venezuelan is the younger brother of former Groza Award winner Jose Borregales. But the younger Borregales might be even better than his former Tampa Bay Buccaneer big brother.

Borregales is Miami’s all-time scoring leader with 405 points, surpassing Detroit Lions’ kicker Michael Badgley with a 21-yard field goal in his final game as a Hurricane. As a senior, he converted all 62 extra points and made 18 of his 19 field goal attempts, including both from 50+ yards. A two-time First Team All-ACC selection, Borregales finished his collegiate career with 74 field goals made and showed off his kicking strength by making seven of his 10 attempts from 50+ yards across his four seasons kicking for the Canes. He hopes to continue his kicking success in his first NFL season with the Patriots.

Cesar Ruiz | OL | New Orleans Saints | Dominican & Puerto Rican Heritage

Cesar Ruiz has been a big-time player since he came out of Michigan in 2020, selected 24^th overall in the first round by the Saints. Ruiz has been a stalwart member of New Orleans’ interior offensive line, starting every game he played over the past four years.

Now in his sixth season, the talented lineman with Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage will look to be a veteran leader for a Saints team in its first season under the direction of new head coach Kellen Moore.

Will Hernandez | OL | Arizona Cardinals | Mexican Heritage

Will Hernandez is a perfect example of what can happen when you work hard and believe in yourself. Coming out of high school, Hernandez had just one scholarship offer to UTEP. Five years later, he was named All-Conference USA and was a second-round pick by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft. The interior lineman with Mexican heritage earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2018 and has been among the best guards in the league ever since.

Injuries limited Hernandez to just five games in 2024, but the veteran heads into his eighth year in the NFL looking to get the Cardinals to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Detroit Lions | Mexican Heritage

The Detroit Lions were the top NFC team at the end of the 2024 regular season, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez was a key contributor for the two-time defending NFC North champs. Rodriguez, who is of Mexican and Cherokee descent, was a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker at Oklahoma State before being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Lions. Rodriguez made 15 starts as a rookie in 2022 and earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

He moved into a reserve role in 2023, helping the Lions reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. A year ago, Rodriguez recorded 43 tackles over 10 games before a torn ACL cut his season short. Rodriguez is expected to be back later this season, adding quality depth to a Detroit team that hopes to compete for a Super Bowl.

Corey Bojorquez | P | Cleveland Browns | Mexican Heritage

Simply put, Corey Bojorquez is one of the top punters in the NFL. The former standout at New Mexico entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and has played for five teams in his career. But Cleveland has been home since 2022, and the Browns enjoyed having Bojorquez pinning opponents inside their own 20, ranking third in the NFL last year in that stat.

Bojorquez ranked eighth in the NFL a year ago with a 49.3-yard average, while leading the NFL in punt attempts (89) and total punt yardage (4,387). While the Browns hope to need his services less in 2025, they have a standout punter at their disposal in Bojorquez.

Rigoberto Sanchez | P | Indianapolis Colts | Mexican Heritage

Rigoberto Sanchez has been an impact player for the Colts since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017. A former standout at Hawaii, Sanchez earned a spot on the 2017 PFWA All-Rookie Team after averaging 44.81 yards per punt in his first year in the NFL.

The punter with Mexican heritage has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line at least 30.9% of the time in each of his seven seasons. Sanchez was fifth in the NFL with a 49.7-yard average in 2024 and ranked second in the league with 25 fair catches.

Matt Araiza | P | Kansas City Chiefs | Mexican Heritage

Matt Araiza, known as the “Punt God,” made his NFL debut in 2025 with the Kansas City Chiefs after a record-setting college career at San Diego State. Araiza won the 2021 Ray Guy Award and set an NCAA record with a 51.19-yard punting average in his final season, earning unanimous All-American honors.

The punter with Mexican heritage has quickly reestablished himself as one of the league’s strongest legs, regularly flipping field position with booming kicks. Araiza ranked 10^th in the NFL a year ago with an average of 48.8 yards, while his season-long punt of 72 yards ranked ninth-best. He is expected to be a key special teams weapon for the defending AFC champions in 2025.

Braxton Berrios | WR | Houston Texans | Puerto Rican Heritage

Braxton Berrios heads to Houston eager to make an impact after a knee injury cut short his 2024 season. Proving himself is nothing new to Berrios, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots in 2018 before four strong seasons with the Jets, and a pair of seasons as a member of the Dolphins.

Berrios, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, will look to showcase his skills as a returner while adding experience to a young wide receiver group that includes a pair of rookies joining forces with veterans Nico Collins and Christian Kirk.

Looking forward to an exciting 2025 NFL season. Feel free to use the information above in any coverage or content you may want to put together. Please reach out if you have any questions or requests regarding the NFL this season.