By Tiffany Williams –
NEW YORK — The NFL is once again putting the spotlight on the next generation of leaders, and this time the stage stretches far beyond Friday night lights.
Football talent matters.
Academic excellence matters.
Community leadership matters.
And for 61 remarkable high school seniors from across the country, those qualities have earned them a place among the nominees for the 2026 NFL Latino Youth Honors, one of the league’s most significant recognition programs celebrating young athletes making an impact both on and off the field.
Announced jointly by the National Football League and Procter & Gamble, the fourth annual NFL Latino Youth Honors recognizes high school seniors from every background across the league’s 32 club markets who have excelled in football, maintained strong academic performance and demonstrated meaningful engagement with Latino culture and community.
For eight finalists, the reward extends well beyond recognition.
The program will award grants that can be used toward college, including two national awards worth $25,000 each for one male and one female winner.
The remaining six finalists will each receive $5,000 grants.
Those finalists also will earn an invitation to Los Angeles during Super Bowl LXI Week, where they will participate in mentorship opportunities, career development activities focused on the sports industry and attend the biggest game on football’s calendar.
For many student-athletes, that experience could prove just as valuable as the financial support.
“The NFL Latino Youth Honors celebrates the incredible impact of young leaders who are using the leadership lessons of football to uplift and inspire others, creating lasting impact in their schools, neighborhoods and communities,” said Marissa Solis, NFL senior vice president of global brand & consumer marketing.
” Together with Procter & Gamble, we are proud to recognize these young changemakers whose passion, perseverance and pride in their culture are helping shape a brighter future for the Latino community and for the game.”
The program has steadily expanded since its launch, becoming one of the NFL’s signature youth recognition initiatives.
While championships and recruiting rankings often dominate headlines during the high school football season, the Latino Youth Honors shifts the conversation toward character, leadership and service.
Every NFL franchise is invited to nominate one male and one female high school senior football player from its market.
Nominees must be either tackle or flag football players.
They must be high school seniors.
They must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.
And they must provide verified football statistics documenting their accomplishments on the field.
That selection process produced 61 nominees representing nearly every corner of the country.
Each nominee will be recognized by the NFL team that selected them during Latino Heritage Month celebrations.
From there, a panel will choose eight finalists, one representing each NFL division.
The New England Patriots selected Melany Colindres Avelino and Juanito Delacruz as the organization’s nominees.
Both now move into the next phase of consideration alongside some of the nation’s most accomplished student-athletes.
The Arizona Cardinals nominated Jameson Javier “JJ” Diaz and Amaya Grace Moreno.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Erin Barlow and Alex Morales.
The Baltimore Ravens nominated Katherine Alvarado and Jose Sorto.
The Buffalo Bills selected Yeriel Diaz-Peña and Bella Pastrana.
The Carolina Panthers nominated John Dilone and Angela Rueda.
The Chicago Bears selected Alejandro Gonzalez and Alison Segarra.
The Cleveland Browns nominated Yaleiska Diaz and Breylen Garza.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Ximena Herrera and Shia-Mikel Valerio.
The Denver Broncos nominated Giovanni Mujica and Megan Romero.
The Detroit Lions selected Illianna Enriquez and Gavin Riley Raysin.
The Green Bay Packers nominated Quintin Arizola.
The Houston Texans selected Kriz Alvarez and Victoria Cruz.
The Indianapolis Colts nominated Jeremiah Gonzales and Andrea Loza.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Lorena Clutter and Enrique Ordoñez.
The Kansas City Chiefs nominated Ian Calderon and Jordan Garcia.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Israel Corona and Gabriela Mercado.
The Los Angeles Chargers nominated Derek Gonzalez and Jessica Manriquez.
The Los Angeles Rams selected Marcus Lechuga and Lexi Loya.
The Miami Dolphins nominated Andrew LaPorte and Fernanda Moreno.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Joaquin Lechuga and Emily Ramirez Gonzalez.
The New Orleans Saints nominated Aylinne Alexandra Diaz Guevara and Miguel Paniagua.
The New York Giants selected Myriam Areche and Joaquin Velez Phillips.
The New York Jets nominated Oscar Frias and Isabella Quispe.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Sincere Perez and Nalianna Velazquez.
The Pittsburgh Steelers nominated Carlos Lizarraga and Raulimar Ramirez-Perez.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Denisse Heredia and Luis Velasco.
The Seattle Seahawks nominated Giovanni Silva and Gabriela Peralta.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Mia Garcia and Aaron Olviero.
The Tennessee Titans nominated Emily Castillo and Brayden Santibanez.
The Washington Commanders selected Ashley Alas-Calito and Lucas Trejo.
The list represents far more than football statistics.
These nominees have already distinguished themselves in classrooms, communities and athletic competition before ever stepping onto a college campus.
For the NFL, the initiative reflects a broader investment in developing future leaders while celebrating the growing influence and contributions of Latino communities throughout football.
The grants are intended to help reduce financial barriers to higher education while exposing finalists to professional opportunities that exist throughout the sports industry beyond playing careers.
As Super Bowl LXI approaches, only eight of the 61 nominees will advance as finalists.
From that elite group, one male and one female national winner will each receive the program’s top $25,000 college grant.
For every nominee, however, selection itself represents recognition from the highest level of professional football that success is measured by more than touchdowns, tackles or championship trophies.
It is also measured by leadership, academic achievement and a commitment to making a lasting difference in the communities they represent.