Christian Gonzalez sends message to Patriots fans ahead of Super Bowl LX

With the New England Patriots set to play in Super Bowl LX next Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez hopes the team’s fan base, which is “known for winning,” has been made proud by what the squad accomplished this year, adding, “they deserve it.”

It's that kind of attitude that has already made him a fan favorite, and why the addition of Mike Vrabel as the head coach has made this Patriots' team the best they can be, on and off the field.

The Oregon product cemented himself as one of the best players at his position this year, earning second-team All-Pro honors for his play during the 2025 campaign. Across 14 regular-season games, Gonzalez allowed just 35 catches on 76 targets for the third-lowest completion rate in the NFL (46.1%).

Those receptions he did give up went for a total of 357 yards, which was similarly the third-lowest yards per catch average (69) allowed league-wide.

Gonzalez also recorded a career best tackle total (69) and his second-highest mark in pass deflections (10), as the third-year player says he wants “to continue to make the plays I need to make when my number is called and do what I got to do for this team to win.”

Patriots head coach saw “a different Gonzo” down the stretch

New England head coach Mike Vrabel has noted an uptick in performance from Gonzalez as of late, beginning during the final weeks of the regular season and carrying over into the playoffs, an observation he later expanded on, saying “I just felt him start to continue to impact at a greater level.”

"He’s been playing really, really good football. Sometimes you get beat, the best ones do. About six or eight weeks ago, I can’t remember when, I saw a different Gonzo. I saw just — something went off and it changed. Maybe the Ravens game or something, I just noticed a different player, a different person. He’s so talented."

Through the Patriots’ three postseason games so far, Gonzalez has posted 15 tackles (tied for third on the team), four pass deflections (tied for team high), a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception, which helped seal the team’s AFC Championship Game victory.

He’s now just the ninth player in franchise history to log a pick, forced fumble, and sack during their postseason career, according to StatMuse, joining New England defensive greats like Teddy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison.

Vrabel says Patriots will “need [Gonzalez] to play well” in Super Bowl

During Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez will face his most difficult matchup of the year, being tasked with shutting down the NFL’s regular season receiving yards leader in Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Vrabel believes his team’s 23-year-old star corner will need to rise to this challenge in order for New England to be successful, saying it’s “no secret that we'll need him to play well.”

Meanwhile, Gonzalez has acknowledged this will be the Patriots’ toughest test of the 2025 campaign, but is looking forward to the chance to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.

"They’re the best team. They’re the ones standing in the way. It’s another opportunity."