The New England Patriots drafted Christian Gonzalez with hopes of creating historical past. Gonzalez does, even when his title hasn't been on since early October.
New England released new uniform numbers for the 2024 season on Tuesday, listing headlined by Gonzalez's new benchmark: the second-year quarterback turns into the primary Patriot to put on No. 0. Gamers can put on the quantity since final season and Brian Burns, Calvin Ridley, Roquan Smith and D'Andre Fast.
Gonzalez, who wore No. 6 throughout his shortened rookie season, beforehand hinted on the quantity change on social media earlier than the Patriots made it official on Tuesday. The previous Oregon Duck beforehand wore the spherical quantity in school, incomes first-team All-Pac-12 honors in his Eugene coda.
Impressed in his restricted time earlier than a simultaneous torn labrum and dislocated shoulder within the October loss at Dallas. Gonzalez racked up 17 tackles, three go breakups and an interception and a sack in that restricted time, partially validating the Patriots' determination to make him the No. 17 choose within the 2023 draft. Mockingly, it's the Patriots' highest choice at linebacker since 2008 , when New England took quarterback and future head coach Jerod Mayo with the tenth choose.
Wearing a brand new jersey, Gonzalez is now one of the crucial promising items of the Patriots' energetic rebuild.
“Gonzo, he's a man who is available in, places his helmet on day by day and works onerous,” then-teammate Jalen Mills stated of Gonzalez after his NFL debut in opposition to Philadelphia final 12 months, per Boston.com's Conor Ryan . “Seeing him on the market and taking part in properly is sweet for him.
