DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: The NFL logo is pictured on a Wilson brand football before the game between the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers at Ford Field on October 08, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The 2025 NFL season is finally here! And that means new games, new storylines and Latino players to root for.
Latinos are still very much underrepresented in the league, but the numbers of Latinos playing football has been steadily growing in the past few years. A report by the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport found that there were only 12 players in the NFL who identified as Latino in 2021. In 2025, however, there are 47 Latinos on NFL teams, with 32 on 53-man rosters and 15 on practice squads or reserve lists.
Sure, considering almost 20% of the US population identifies as Latino, that’s not a huge number. But steady growth player-wise, and a renewed focus on Latin American fans—the NFL will once again play a regular season game in Brazil—there’s never been a better time to be a fan.
To help you support players from our communities in the NFL, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 Latino NFL players to watch in the upcoming NFL season.
Fred Warner, of Mexican and Panamanian heritage, is a regular on any list of standout Latino players. He’s just that good. In fact, he recorded a team-leading 131 tackles (76) solo in 2024. And he plays for a pretty decent team, the 49ers. They had a rough 2024, but are looking to rebound in 2025.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Warner is without a doubt one of the best linebackers in the game and one to watch this upcoming season.
Nik Bonitto, of Cuban heritage, was one of the big reasons why the Denver Broncos had a really good 2024 season, and he’s projected to be even better in the upcoming one.
The linebacker recorded a career-best 13.5 sacks in 2024, ranking third in the league and helping the Broncos lead the league in sacks as a team. That also earned him his first career Pro Bowl selection.
Yes, believe it or not, Bryce Young does have Mexican heritage. The former first-overall pick blossomed last season under another Latino—coach Dave Canales—with numbers that put him on track to be on the top tier of QBs on the league.
He had 2,403 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions over 14 games, finishing the season with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions over the final three games.
Elijah Arroyo might be new, but the TE of Mexican heritage promises to be a big weapon in the passing game for the Seahawks. Selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, he is a rare combination of size, strength, and speed.
He was a star at the University of Miami in 2024, catching 35 passes for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns, with a game that translates very well to the NFL.
The best kicker coming out of the last draft, Andres Borregales, who is of Venezuelan heritage, comes into the NFL as Miami’s all-time scoring leader with 405 points. In his last year, he converted all 62 extra points and made 18 of his 19 field goal attempts, including both from 50+ yards.
Now, he’s trying his luck in the NFL and already looks poised to be one of the team’s most reliable players.
It’s hard to do a list of Latino NFL players to watch without Isiah Pacheco, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage. His story is, after all, a fairy tale. Went from a seventh-round pick to a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of the key players in the Chiefs’ offense.
He was injured a lot in 2024, but he’s healthy and ready to help his team get back to the Super Bowl!
Of Mexican and Cuban heritage, Julian Love has been a standout for the Seahawks since his first season with them, 2023, when he earned a Pro Bowl selection. Last year, he had another great season, with 109 tackles, three INTs, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a career-best 12 passes defended.
Now he’s the veteran in a young squad that’s looking to make a difference.
Braxton Berrios, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, had an injury cut short his 2024 season, which means 2025 is his time to prove himself. Again. And he’ll have a chance to do it, just as he has done before. The receiver, who often plays on special teams as well, might be more famous for dating influencer Alix Earle, but he can also be a standout on the field.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, of Colombian heritage, showed why he was a key player for the Patriots last season with two interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 59 tackles over 16 games.
This season, it’s about taking that next step under a new coach, Patriots’ defensive legend Mike Vrabel. It’s the perfect setup for a great season.
Cesar Ruiz, of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, has started every game he played over the last four years. That makes him the kind of player others look up to, and with a new coach in New Orleans, this is exactly the time the team needs him to step up and be a leader. Measure his performance not just by how he does, but how his team does.
