Here Are the Latinos Heading to the NFL Pro Bowl Games
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 28: A general view of the "Duke" Wilson Official NFL football at mid-field with the Pro Bowl Logo on it during the game at Camping World Stadium on January 28, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The AFC defeated the NFC 24 to 23. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
The NFL Pro Bowl is this weekend, and our communities will have some representation in the NFL’s equivalent to the All-Star Game. But the NFL Pro Bowl Games, as they’re officially called, don’t have much resemblance to what other leagues call an All-Star Game, or to the format that the Pro Bowl once took, of a full-fledged game between the NFC and AFC.
Instead, the yearly celebration of the year’s best players sees participants compete in a multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition featuring skills showdowns and culminating in a flag football game.
The games will kick off on January 30 with a Skills Showdown. This year, the skill competitions consist of: Passing the Test, Satisfying Catches, The Big Spike, Relay Race, Helmet Harmony, and Dodgeball. Then, on Sunday, the league’s 88 biggest stars will face off in head-to-head competitions, and of course, a flag football game. The Pro Bowl Games also feature a variety of family-friendly activities, giveaways, and interactive experiences.
Peyton Manning will coach the AFC team, while his brother Eli Manning will coach the NFC team —and each side is set to feature one player from our communities. Here are the Latino stars who will put their skills on display at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
Nik Bonitto, Cuban and Haitian heritage — Denver Broncos, Linebacker
The Denver Broncos made a surprise appearance in the playoffs this season, and Nik Bonnitto’s emergence as an elite pass rusher was a big part of that. 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.
Fred Warner, Mexican and Panamanian heritage — San Francisco 49ers, Linebacker
Even though the 49ers missed the playoffs this season, Fred Warner is already a star. He’s recorded more than 115 tackles in each of his seven NFL seasons and posted a team-leading 131 tackles (76 solo) in 2024. You can also add a sack, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions to his numbers for the year.