The New England Patriots drafted cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft after he inexplicably slipped for some reason. After being injured and only playing four games in 2023, Gonzalez has proven to be a lockdown No. 1 cornerback who should get a contract extension after this season.
Now, in the 2025 playoffs, he's equalling Stephon Gilmore's 2018 record of allowing a 0.0 passer rating in the fourth quarters during one postseason.
Gonzalez burst onto the NFL scene in 2024, earning a second-team All-Pro nod even though his team sported a dismal 4-13 record. His talent was evident. He started 16 games in 2024 and 14 in 2025. Now in the playoffs, he's one of the key players in a Patriots' defense that has peaked at the most opportune time - in the playoffs.
The young corner, teamed with Carlton Davis III, has been a top-shelf NFL tandem. Added to other stalwarts like defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, slot corner Marcus Jones, and linebacker Jack Spillane, they have helped take the Patriots to their first Super Bowl since the 2018 season.
Christian Gonzalez is coming up big in key situations for the Patriots in the postseason
In the Patriots' Super Bowl 2025 season, Gonzalez has excelled. He earned his first Pro Bowl invitation and racked up solid numbers. He had 69 total stops with one tackle for loss and 10 passes defended. Yet, he's also making his mark in the 2025 playoffs.
In three playoff games, the Patriots' Pro Bowl Cornerback Christian Gonzalez has been living up to a very lofty past Patriots' standard.
Lowest passer rating allowed in the 4th quarter during a single postseason in the @NextGenStats era:
— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 26, 2026
🔹Stephon Gilmore (2018) - 0.0
🔹Christian Gonzalez (2025) - 0.0
🔒🚷@Patriots | #NEPats | #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/RoFQ5Kc5OS
Equalling Stephon Gilmore's 2018 fourth-quarter record is a significant achievement for the still only 23-year-old cornerback. Gilmore was one of the league's best cornerbacks for years, and Gonzalez is heading down that same path.
Christian Gonzalez saved his best play thus far for the AFC Championship game
In the three 2025 playoff games, Christian Gonzalez has 15 total stops, one sack, and two passes defended while generally handling the opposition's best receiver. Yet his biggest playoff play came in Denver against the Broncos, in Denver to decide who'd represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
With only 2:11 left on the clock and the Patriots holding onto a slim three-point lead, Gonzalez made one of the biggest plays of the AFC title game. He picked off a Garrett Stidham pass with only 2:11 left on the clock. It was the most critical play at the biggest time in the biggest game thus far in the young cornerback's career.
Not long after, quarterback Drake Maye scrambled for a vital first down that iced the AFC Championship game and sent the Patriots to their first Super Bowl since the 2018 season. On February 8, the Patriots will lock horns with the Seattle Seahawks for the honor of carting home the Lombardi trophy. No game is bigger.
In that game, Gonzalez will be tasked with guarding the Seahawks' brilliant young and arguably the NFL's best receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In 2025, he caught 119 passes for 1793 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He was named a Pro-Bowler, an AP first-team All-Pro, and the Pro Football Writers' Association's Offensive Player of the Year.
The challenges don't get any bigger than facing a receiver like Smith-Njigba. He's as good as it gets, and Gonzalez will have to step up to the occasion if the Patriots are to beat the Seahawks. Bet that the Patriots' young cornerback will be up to the task, and don't be shocked if he makes a play or two that help the Patriots cart home their seventh Lombardi Trophy.
Patriot Nation is counting on it.