Christian Gonzalez
CB
#0
Experience: 3 years
Height: 6-1
Age: 23
Weight: 205 lbs
College: Oregon
Recent Games
| WK | OPP | RESULT | TKL | AST | COMBINED | SOLO | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | OPP FR |
|---|
Career Stats
Defense Career
| SEASON | TEAM | G | GS | TKL | AST | COMBINED | SOLO | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | OPP FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | New England Patriots | 4 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | New England Patriots | 16 | 16 | 50 | 9 | 59 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 20 | 20 | 64 | 12 | 76 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Biography
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 to the 2024 Associated Press All-Pro Second Team.
- Named the September 2023 NFL defensive rookie of the month.
SEASONAL REVIEWS
2024 (16/16)
- Started in all 16 games that he played in at cornerback and finished with 59 total tackles (50 solo, 9 assists), 2 interceptions, 1 quarterback hit, 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown and 11 passes defensed.
- Was awarded Second Team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press as one of the NFL's premiere players at the position. Played man coverage at the second-highest rate of any cornerback in the NFL and was often shadowing the opponent's No. 1 receiver. Was the only cornerback to face 10 or more deep targets without allowing a touchdown. Ranked seventh in passer rating (70.5) and 10th in completion rate (54.8%).
- Started in the season opener at Cincinnati (9/8) - his first game back since a season-ending injury at Dallas in 2023 (10/1/23) - and covered WR Ja'Marr Chase on 20 of his 28 routes, limiting him to 3 receptions for 14 yards.
- Recorded his first interception of the season in the first quarter vs. Miami (10/6), jumping the route of a pass intended for WR Odell Beckham Jr. to give New England a first down at the Miami 36-yard line and help position the Patriots for their first touchdown of the game, a 33-yard rushing touchdown by RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Recorded 1 pass defensed on a pass intended for WR Tyreek Hill in the end zone in the third quarter and shadowed the receiver for 21 routes, allowing just 3 catches for 55 yards to go with the 1 pass defensed.
- Played a key role in the 19-3 win at Chicago (11/10), limiting the Bears to 142 total yards, the lowest total since holding the Jets to 103 total yards on Nov. 20, 2022.
- Scored his first NFL touchdown at Miami (11/24) and registered the Patriots first score on defense in 2024 when he recovered a RB Jaylen Wright fumble forced by S Marte Mapu and returned the ball 63 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the third-longest fumble return in team history.
- Recorded his second interception of the season vs. Indianapolis (12/1) and second turnover in back-to-back games when he picked off a pass from QB Anthony Richardson intended for WR Alec Pierce on a second-and-7 situation in the fourth quarter.
- Had 3 passes defensed at Arizona (12/15) on passes from QB Kyler Murray intended for WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Shadowed Harrison Jr. on 21 routes, allowing just 1 catch for 23 yards on five targets.
- Left the game vs. the L.A. Chargers (12/28) in the second quarter due to injury and missed the final contest of the season vs. Buffalo (1/5/25) as a result.
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.
