Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (17th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Christian Gonzalez was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (17th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Named the September 2023 NFL defensive rookie of the month.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2023 (4/4)

• Played and started in four games and finished with 17 tackles (14 solo, 3 assists), 1 sack for a loss of 8.0 yards, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed, 1 quarterback hit and 1 tackle for loss. His season was cut short by injury, and he was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 7 .
• In his first career game, played every defensive snap at cornerback vs. Philadelphia (9/10). Tallied 7 tackles (5 solo, 2 assist), 1 sack for 8 yards, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 tackle of loss and 1 pass defense. His sack and pass defense both came in a fourth quarter series and were key in holding the Eagles to a field goal. 
• Recorded his first interception of his career in the fourth quarter on a deep pass intended for WR Tyreek Hill from QB Tua Tagovailoa vs. Miami (9/17).
• Started for the Patriots at Dallas (10/1). Left the game late in the first quarter with an injury and did not return.
• Placed on injured reserve Oct. 7.

COLLEGE

• Transferred to Oregon in 2022 after spending his first two seasons at Colorado.
• Led the Ducks with four interceptions, third-most in the Pac-12, and finished with 50 total tackles (35 solo) and one tackle for loss. Tied for sixth in the Pac-12 with 11 passes defended and tied for ninth with seven passes broken up.
• Totaled 118 return yards on four interceptions in 2022, the most by a Duck in a season since 2001 (Steve Smith).
• Named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after hauling in two interceptions against his former school at Colorado. Totaled 77 return yards on the two interceptions, running the first one back 36 yards for a near-pick six and the second one 41 yards. The interceptions came on back-to-back drives in the third quarter.
• Earned Coaches Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention in 2021 at Colorado, starting all 12 games at cornerback. Finished fifth on the team and first among defensive backs with 53 tackles (42 solo). Led the team with five pass breakups while ending the year third with 5.5 tackles for loss. One of five players in the Pac-12 and one of only three defensive backs with at least five PBUs and five TFLs. Made at least three tackles in 10 of the 12 games.
• Started all six games at cornerback as a true freshman in 2020, the only freshman on defense to play and start all six games.

PERSONAL

• Parents are Hector and Temple Gonzalez.
• Father played college basketball at UTEP and went on to play semiprofessional basketball in Columbia.
• Also ran track & field in high school and had a personal best of 21.6 seconds in the 200-meters in the Texas State Championships.
• Has two older sisters, Melissa and Samantha, and one younger sister, Lily.
• Both older sisters, Melissa (Texas) and Samantha (Miami, Fla.), ran track and field in college and were both all-Americans in the 400 hurdles and the 4x400 relay.
• Played defensive back and wide receiver for The Colony and coach Rudy Rangel for two seasons, compiling a 17-5 record, including a 12-2 mark in the Division 5A-1 Standings.