From Guadalajara to Game Day: the players with Mexican roots who reached the NFL.

Big pads. Big dreams. And yes—big flavor. Fans in Mexico and the U.S. have cheered as players with Mexican roots fought for a spot in the NFL. So, who are they? Let’s make it clear and simple.

Quick answer (so you get it fast)

Mexican NFL players include men born in Mexico who played in the league (like Tom Fears, Raúl Allegre, Efrén Herrera, Frank Corral, Rafael Septién, Sergio Albert, Rolando Cantú, José Portilla, and Víctor Leyva) and U.S.-born stars of Mexican descent (like Anthony Muñoz, Jim Plunkett, Tom Flores, Tony Romo, Mark Sanchez, and Will Hernandez). Today, Will Hernandez starts at guard for Arizona, Isaac Alarcón is on the 49ers practice squad, and in 2025 the Seahawks drafted Damien Martinez (of Mexican heritage). Rosters change, but the pride stays strong.

Born in Mexico: the trailblazers

• Tom Fears (Guadalajara) — Hall of Famer and Rams great at receiver. A true pioneer.
• Efrén Herrera (Guadalajara) — Kicker; Super Bowl XII champ with the Cowboys.
• Raúl Allegre (Torreón) — Kicker; two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants.
• Frank Corral (Delicias, Chihuahua) — Rams kicker/punter; Pro Bowler.
• Rafael Septién (Mexico City) — Kicker for the Cowboys; longtime team scorer.
• Sergio Albert (Mexico City) — Kicker; played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
• Tony, Luis & Max Zendejas — Kickers from Mexico who made multiple NFL rosters.
• Rolando Cantú (Monterrey) — Guard; suited up in a regular-season game for the Cardinals, a rare non-kicker path for a Mexico-born player.
• José Portilla (Zaragoza) — Tackle; played two seasons with the Falcons.
• Víctor Leyva (Guanajuato) — Guard; drafted by the Bengals, appeared in NFL games.

Mexican-American stars: born in the U.S., roots in Mexico

• Anthony Muñoz — Bengals legend and Hall of Famer; widely ranked among the best tackles ever.
• Jim Plunkett — Raiders quarterback; Super Bowl MVP and two-time champion; parents were Mexican American.
• Tom Flores — The Raiders head coach who won two Super Bowls; a historic Latino coaching figure.
• Tony Romo — Cowboys quarterback; family roots trace to Coahuila, Mexico.
• Mark Sanchez — Jets quarterback; embraced as a Mexican-American sports figure in L.A.
• Will Hernandez — Starting guard, Arizona Cardinals; family from Mexico.

Right now (2025): who to watch

• Will Hernandez — Back with the Cardinals on a one-year deal and starting at guard.
• Isaac Alarcón (Monterrey) — Offensive lineman on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad (signed in October 2025). He’s a product of the NFL’s International Player Pathway.
• Damien Martinez — Running back of Mexican heritage drafted by the Seahawks in 2025; he spent time with the club before a September roster move.

Why so many kickers?

Soccer is huge in Mexico. Many early Mexican players switched from fútbol to football and used those strong legs to kick. As more programs grow in Mexico, we’re seeing linemen and backs get chances too.

The bottom line

From Hall of Famers to today’s grinders, Mexican and Mexican-American players keep opening doors. The story isn’t done. Keep watching—more names are coming.

(Pro Football Hall of Fame) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (DBpedia Association) (Wikipedia) (American Football Database) (NFL.com) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia) (ESPN.com) (San Francisco 49ers) (seahawks.com)

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