FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� If it seems like Christian Gonzalez is lingering on the field during pregame warmups on Sunday, that鈥檚 because he probably will be.
After a series of setbacks over his first three NFL seasons, the 23-year-old is well aware of how fast things can change in this league. So, getting to play on its for the first time isn鈥檛 something he is taking lightly.
鈥淭reat it like another game, but you know it鈥檚 not another game,鈥� the Patriots cornerback said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the last one, so you just go out there and you just give it all you鈥檝e got. Even while you鈥檙e playing, you still get to enjoy it. You get to run out there and see the field that says, 鈥楽uper Bowl.鈥� Little things like that.鈥�
Enjoyment has come in starts and stops for Gonzalez following a rookie season in 2023 in which he played in just four games before going on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder and then having season-ending surgery.
He returned in full force in 2024, appearing in 16 games while establishing himself as the team鈥檚 top cover cornerback, allowing receivers only 6 yards per target, and yielding completions 55.7% of the time the ball was thrown in his direction.
It seemed as if there was nowhere to go but up.
But all his progress looked to be in jeopardy after a hamstring injury in the first week of training camp eventually sidelined him for the first three games.
It鈥檚 proven just to be a hiccup for Gonzalez, who returned to play in the final 14 regular-season games. He was again trusted to cover opponents鈥� best receivers this season, finishing tied for second on the team with 10 pass breakups while being selected for his first Pro Bowl.
He鈥檚 done his best work in the fourth quarter during the playoffs, allowing just two receptions, 12 receiving yards and no touchdowns with an interception the eight times he鈥檚 been targeted. It sets up what could be a pivotal matchup in the Super Bowl with Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith Njigba.
Gonzalez’s came late in the AFC title game to help secure the Patriots’ victory.
鈥淚t felt like it was a good time to get the first pick. … getting the ball back to ( ) and letting him ice the game,鈥� Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez鈥檚 performance in those big moments has been part of a year-long evolution Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he鈥檚 observed Gonzalez undergo over the last month and a half.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just a presence, I feel like. Not that there was anything wrong,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淚 just felt when he blitzed, when he covered, when he 鈥� maybe it was just me 鈥� but I鈥檝e got a pretty good seat for some of these games. And so, I just felt him start to continue to impact at a greater level. … So, there鈥檚 no secret that we鈥檒l need him to play well, as well as the rest of our other good players.鈥�
Gonzalez said he can鈥檛 pinpoint any specific change in his approach but does remember the conversation he had with his coach.
鈥淎fter the Baltimore game, he told me he felt like he saw something different,鈥� Gonzalez recalled. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e kind of just been preparing and doing what I鈥檝e been doing. Just want to continue to make the plays that I need to make when my number鈥檚 called and do what I鈥檝e got to do for this team to win.鈥�
Gonzalez鈥檚 motivation also stems from having to trudge through the team鈥檚 back-to-back 4-13 seasons. But playing under his third coach in three seasons and everything is finally coming together.
鈥淔irst two years we had to go through some things. But we鈥檙e excited where we鈥檙e at now,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his team is super close and we put a lot of work in. We just want to go out there and finish it.鈥�
That said, he promises not to lose the childhood joy he had watching the Super Bowl as a kid.
It鈥檚 why his eyes will remain wide open for the entire experience once the team plane lands in California.
鈥淚鈥檝e been dreaming about it since I was a little kid and it鈥檚 here. The moment鈥檚 here,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淪o go out there and enjoy it even during the game.鈥�
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