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 Kansas City between the Baltimore Ravens and two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

While every NFL season is filled with captivating storylines, an interesting one to watch in 2024 will be the role of Latino players in the league. As of September 2, 45 Latinos were on NFL teams, with 31 on 53-man rosters and 14 on practice squads.

Among the Latinos in the NFL are Pro Bowler Fred Warner, established veterans Jon Feliciano, Braxton Berrios and Julian Love, as well as young stars Chris Olave, Isiah Pacheco and Christian Gonzalez. There are also three players who entered the league through the NFL International Player Pathway: Isaac Alarcon, Bayron Matos and Sammis Reyes.

Below are some Latinos to watch in the NFL in 2024.

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 ever since he burst on 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 six NFL seasons. As impactful a linebacker as you can find in the NFL, the three-time first-team All-Pro selection forced four fumbles and intercepted four passes a year ago while leading the defending NFC champion 49ers to a Super Bowl berth.

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. All Olave has done since entering the NFL is produce, making him one of the most promising young receivers in the league. The electrifying wideout posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including career-highs a year ago with 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns.

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. Entering Year 3 in the NFL, the standout with Puerto Rican roots leads the Chiefs’ ground attack and is a valuable weapon for the potent Kansas City offense.

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

Alijah Vera-Tucker was a premier offensive line prospect coming out of USC in 2021, hearing his name called 14^th overall by the Jets in that year’s NFL Draft. The former first-round pick made an immediate impact, 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 previous two seasons. Now fully healthy, Vera-Tucker will play a key role for the Jets, protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and helping pave the way for standout running back Breece Hall.

Jon Feliciano | OL | San Francisco 49ers | Puerto Rican Heritage

Experience, versatility and leadership are three things offensive lineman Jon Feliciano brings to the dangerous Niners offense. The former fourth-round pick out of Miami in 2015 enters his 10^th season in the league and second in San Francisco. Feliciano, who has Puerto Rican heritage, played a key role for the Niners a year ago, appearing in 15 games and making seven starts in the regular season before helping pave the way to the Super Bowl for the NFC champs. An injury in Super Bowl LVIII has Feliciano starting the 2024 season on injured reserve with a designation to return. Once healthy, he is sure to be an important part of San Francisco’s offensive line.

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. Gonzalez enters 2024 fully healthy as a key member of the Pats defense and a rising star in the NFL.

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

Seattle defensive back Julian Love earned his first Pro Bowl selection a year ago in his first year with the Seahawks, totaling 123 tackles with four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Coming out of Notre Dame, the standout safety was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and starred for the Giants for four seasons before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest last year. 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.

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 three years. Now in his fifth season, the talented lineman with Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage will look to help take the Saints back to the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season.

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 last season and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The Rams offensive lineman with Mexican roots moves to center in 2024 and looks to anchor an offensive line that hopes to have the Rams as one of the top offenses in the NFL.

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. Hernandez heads into his seventh year in the NFL looking to get the Cardinals to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

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 seven different teams over 11 seasons in the NFL. The 2024 season will mark his 12^th year in the league and sixth with the Bears.

Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Detroit Lions | Mexican Heritage

The Detroit Lions are coming off their best season in more than three decades and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez has been a key contributor for the 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 a year ago, but Rodriguez looks to take on a bigger role in Year 3 as the Lions hope to build off their first playoff season since 2016.

Braxton Berrios | WR | Miami Dolphins | Puerto Rican Heritage

Braxton Berrios is part of a high-octane Dolphins offense while also playing a key role in the return game for Miami. Berrios, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, has played for three of the four teams in the AFC East. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots in 2018 before four strong seasons with the Jets and an impressive debut season with the Dolphins last year. Berrios, who starred at the University of Miami, will look to continue his success in the Magic City as the Dolphins hope to contend for a spot in Super Bowl LIX.

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 USC, 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 is under the tutelage of new head coach Dave Canales, who himself is of Latino descent, and the new scheme in Carolina along with an infusion of talent on offense should help Young take a step forward in Year 2.

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 fifth in the NFL last year in that stat.

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 six seasons.