Are There Enough Latino Players in the NFL?

To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, and celebrate the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (on September 15th), and México (on September 16th), the NFL (National Football League) launched a campaign called “For Culture” (Por La Cultura). It was their way to pay homage to Latino players throughout its history. 

“The league is proud to celebrate Latino Heritage Month by highlighting NFL players, coaches, & staff while partnering with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. We look forward to continuing collaborations with Latino creators, artists, & writers. We are here to amplify the voices of the Latino community on and off the football field”, reads a tweet from the NFL’s official account. 

And although it was criticized by some people, a tilde was added to the letter “n” of the NFL, turning it into the Spanish “Ñ.” These critics pointed out that the “ñ” isn’t used when you translate “National Football League” to “Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano.” However, on Twitter, the NFL explained that “This shield integrates an unmistakable Latin flavor and is fundamental to our always-on, 365 day initiative. The electric brush stroke of the “eñe” is filled with an infectious personality that is carried out through the rest of the look & feel.” 

Who are the most renowned Latino players with Mexican Roots in the 2022-2023 season?

Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints)

Christian Josiah Olave (born on June 27th, 2000) is one of the most promising Mexican NFL players. He is a wide receiver and was the only Latino picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Olave, who has Mexican roots,  played college football at Ohio State, where he holds the school record for most career touchdown receptions- 35, to be exact. “Olave is one of the better all-around receivers in a very strong class of pass catchers. He is an inside/outside hybrid with speed to stretch the field, but he’s also a smooth route runner with the ability to be a high-target player from either spot”, described detroitlions.com.

Roy Lopez (Houston Texans)

Roy Jacob Lopez (born August 7, 1997) is a defensive tackle of Mexican-American descent. He played college football at New Mexico State before transferring to Arizona and was drafted by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. “Roy Lopez adapted to every challenge, blocking scheme and obstacle as an NFL rookie, earning a starting job and a measure of popularity as the Texans’ first-string defensive tackle”, stated click2houston.com.

Joe Cardona (New England Patriots)

Joseph Cardona is a long snapper. He was born on April 16th, 1992, in El Cajón, California, less than 25 miles from the Mexican border. Because of this, and because his grandmother on his mother’s side is Mexican, he grew up surrounded by Mexican culture. As a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Cardona is also an officer in the US Naval Reserve, holding the rank of Lieutenant. New England selected Cardona in Round 5 of the 2015 NFL Draft (166th overall), making him one of the few long snappers ever drafted in league history. The Navy and the Patriots agreed that Cardona could play, provided he serves in the Navy Reserves.

Michael Davis (Los Angeles Chargers)

Born January 6th, 1995, he is of mixed heritage and was raised by his single Mexican mother. He plays as cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He was waived on September 2nd, 2017, and then signed to the Chargers’ practice squad the next day. A week later, he was promoted to their active roster. In April 2020, Davis was re-signed to a one-year, $3.259 million contract. 

Are there enough Hispanic NFL  players?

Some people have stated that there aren’t many Hispanic players in the NFL this year, pointing to a 2017 study that shows that only 2% of all NFL players have been Latino. Additionally, the Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports revealed that in 2019 only 0,5% were Hispanic or Latino, meaning that the situation has worsened. When you consider that 17.3% of the entire US population is of Latino descent, there seems to be an underrepresentation in the NFL.

It’s hard to determine what the reasons for this are. But the fact that over 30 million Hispanic Americans consider themselves NFL fans, according to a SSRS/Luker on Trends Sports Poll, should be a good enough reason why this needs to change. The Latino community deserves Latino representation to make them feel proud of who they are and of their abilities.