On his last few days home in Texas before reporting to training camp, Christian Gonzalez made sure children in his hometown were ready for the new school year.
The standout New England Patriots cornerback last week hosted a back-to-school bash at DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton.
"It's awesome to see the kids' faces light up, because I remember being one of those kids who looked up to athletes and always wanting to be in the NFL," Gonzalez told CBS News Texas.
"It means the world to give back to the kids – especially in the community I grew up in."
Students in attendance received food and new backpacks loaded with school supplies and other gear, as well as new Nike sneakers to help their parents with back-to-school shopping.
Activities included bounce houses, face painting, and a haircut station to ensure kids were looking their best before school starts.
The event was a major success, all made possible by Gonzalez' mother, Temple, who teaches at DeWitt Perry Middle School and helped plan the event.
"It was exciting to see my students, who I love, students who've grown up and moved on and bring their own kids back," said Temple, who was named DeWitt Perry's Teacher of the Year in 2019.
"It's fun to see the smiles, see them getting the school supplies, getting some snacks, getting their face painted. I think everybody walked out with something in their hands and that's what we wanted."
The back-to-school event is the latest reason why Gonzalez has earned positive recognition this offseason.
He recently received kudos from fellow NFL players as well, earning the No. 84 spot on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list for 2025. Gonzalez also earned praise from league executives, coaches, and scouts recently as a top-10 cornerback, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
"I think Gonzo is the next great one," a veteran NFL assistant told ESPN.
With his play and community outreach, that distinction is proving true on and off the field.
