Andy Borregales, Christian González or Elijah Arroyo: The Latinos who will make Super Bowl history alongside Bad Bunny

Super Bowl LX, to be played on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will be a unique showcase for the Latino presence at the biggest sporting event in the United States. While Bad Bunny grabs headlines for starring in the halftime show — in a political context marked by an unprecedented anti-immigrant offensive — on the field, five players of Latino origin will have the opportunity to write their own chapter in NFL history.

Among them, one name stands out above the rest: Andrés “Andy” Borregales. The New England Patriots kicker will become the first Venezuelan-born player to play in a Super Bowl, a milestone that transcends sports and connects with a region historically absent from professional American football. Furthermore, it resonates politically, considering it will happen just a month after the Trump administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a military operation in Caracas.

Borregales, 23, was born in the Venezuelan capital on January 2, 2003, and emigrated to the United States with his family when he was just two years old. He grew up in Florida, played youth and college football, and starred for the Miami Hurricanes, where he became the team’s all-time leading scorer with 405 points. In the 2025 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round, with the 182nd pick, becoming the first kicker selected that year.

His impact was immediate. In his rookie season, he converted 27 of 32 field goals (84.4%) and made 53 of 55 extra points, totaling 134 points and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He was also named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week during a crucial week. But his most symbolic moment came in the AFC Championship Game, when he kicked the game-winning 23-yard field goal in a 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in a game played in heavy snow.

“This team has a lot of character and I feel very proud. But we haven’t achieved our main goal yet. We’re going for that crown,” said Borregales after securing the Patriots’ spot in the Super Bowl.

Although he is the first active player born in Venezuela to reach the NFL, Borregales continues a curious tradition: all Venezuelans who have played in the NFL have been kickers. Before him came Alan Pringle (Detroit Lions, 1975) and Pat Ragusa (New York Jets, 1987). His own older brother, José Borregales, was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV championship roster, though he never made his official debut.

Alongside him, the Patriots have two other players of Latin origin. Christian González, a cornerback of Colombian descent, was one of the team’s key defensive pieces. Selected in the first round of the 2023 Draft, he has established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. In the AFC Championship Game, his interception sealed the victory against Denver. González will be only the second player with Colombian roots to play in a Super Bowl, after Fernando Velasco in 2016 with the Carolina Panthers.

The third Latino in New England is Jaylinn Hawkins, a safety of Panamanian descent. With previous experience with the Falcons and Chargers, Hawkins had the best regular season of his career in 2025: four interceptions, over 70 tackles, and a key role in the secondary. He joins a short list of players with Panamanian roots on the big stage, such as Fred Warner.

The Seattle Seahawks will also have Latino representation. Julian Love, a safety of Mexican and Cuban descent, brings veteran experience and leadership after accumulating over 500 career tackles. And on offense, there’s Elijah Arroyo, a tight end of Mexican heritage, selected in the second round of the 2025 Draft. Although his role will be limited, his presence symbolizes an investment in the future.

Between the musical performances and the stories that will unfold on the field, Super Bowl LX promises to be the most Latino-flavored final in American football history. And, while the country fears and protests the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant crusade, for millions of Latino fans, the game will also be an affirmation of visibility, belonging, and representation on one of the most iconic stages of American culture.

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