
Denver Broncos All-Pro Linebacker and pass rusher receives historic honor
Las Vegas, Nevada – February 4, 2025 – The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame today announced that Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has been named the inaugural recipient of the 2025 Hispanic Professional Football Player of the Year Award.
Bonitto, who proudly represents his Cuban heritage, delivered a dominant performance during the 2025 season, cementing his status as one of the NFL's most devastating pass rushers. In his fourth NFL season, the explosive outside linebacker recorded 14 sacks, 46 total tackles (31 solo), 14 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles across all 17 regular-season games. His performance played a crucial role in helping the Broncos reach the AFC Championship game. His exceptional season also earned him another Pro Bowl selection.
The award recipient was selected by the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee including: Sandy Nunez (Chairperson, Founding Board Member & Award-Winning Executive Producer), Judy Battista (NFL Senior National Columnist), Rolando Cantu (NFL Analyst, TNF En Español), Paul Gutierrez (Raiders.com Columnist), Brandon Huffman (National Recruiting Editor, 247Sports), Moises Linares (Emmy Award-Winning Bilingual Sports Journalist), Alex Marvez (Sirius XM NFL Radio Host), Armando Salguero (OutKick Senior NFL Writer), and John Sutcliffe (ESPN Deportes Reporter).
"Congratulations to Nik Bonitto for a fantastic season," said Ron Rivera, Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Founding Board Member. "He's exactly the type of player and person we created this special recognition to celebrate."
"Nik continues to excel as one of the league's best pass rushers," added Anthony Muñoz, Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Founding Board Member. "We celebrate his cultural pride."
The recipient, along with the HFHOF College Football ALL-AMERICAS, will be honored at the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame Celebración de Fútbol, scheduled for May 5, 2026 (Cinco de Mayo).
Bonitto will be honored at the 2025 Hispanic Football Hall of Fame College Football Inaugural Celebración de Fútbol on May 5, 2026 (Cinco de Mayo) in Las Vegas.
About the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame
The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2025 to celebrate and honor the achievements of Hispanic players, coaches, and contributors in the sport of football. Its mission is to preserve history, showcase excellence, and inspire future generations by highlighting the cultural and athletic contributions of Hispanics to the game.
For more information, please visit www.HispanicFootball.org. Follow us on Instagram (@HispanicFBHOF), X (@HispanicFB), and Facebook.