The man under the helmet: Diego Paz, from Spain to Foxborough in less than 5 years
Diego Paz González, one of the best DEs in Europe right now, talks about his journey from Spanish football to a tryout with the New England Patriots since his introduction to the sport in 2022
“Spain” and “NFL” are two words that usually, historically, don’t go together. That is so that in the NFL Heritage Program there is only one single player in the whole league repping the Spanish flag on his helmet, and that is Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson, whose great-grandfather, Antonio Álvarez, was from Asturias (north of Spain).
That could change very soon. Diego Paz González (A Coruña, 2003), a Galician-born and Madrid-raised DE has had a MAJOR milestone for European football at the moment as he was invited for a tryout for the New England Patriots last Monday 12th of October. He is still only 23 years old (!).
The first ever born and raised Spanish to taste the NFL
Through history, only 5 Spaniards have ever played in the NFL: Ángel Jesús “Jess” Rodríguez and Aquilino “Kelly” Rodríguez, brothers originally from Avilés, Asturias, in the 1920s; Alejandro Villanueva, Pro Bowler OT for the Steelers, from Rota, Cádiz, in the 2010s; and José Joaquín “JJ” Arcega-Whiteside, originally from Zaragoza, Aragón, drafted in the second round in 2019.
But the case of Diego Paz is very different. He would be the first ever born and raised Spanish player to come out of the Spanish American Football system and taste the NFL. In other words, it would be the first ever Spaniard to carve his journey straight from its roots in his motherland and make it to the best league in the world, without ever playing in the United States.
*Writing this piece I found something very interesting, an hypothetical 6th Spanish to play in the NFL and the first ever to be selected in the NFL draft (before JJ). That being Raymond Henry Rowe, a TE from San Diego State who was selected in the 6th round of 1992 and played until 1994. He was born in Rota, Cádiz, the catch is that he is the son of Americans who were destined in the military base at the time, unlike Villanueva who was born in the same place but to a Spanish family and heritage. You can count Rowe or not, but that’s a whole different topic.
The kid who made it to New England in less than 5 years
One of the most important details of this story is that Diego started playing less than 5 years ago. Coming from a background in track and field, his journey in football began back in 2022, when he discovered Las Rozas Black Demons, on the outskirts of Madrid, his first team and the one he’s always been coming back between European seasons. It’s been pure love between the gridiron and him ever since.
This is just unimaginable for anyone in the USA; starting to play at 18-19 and in barely 4 years making it all the way to the facilities of an NFL team is just mind-blowing. Keep in mind, statistically just 0.01% of high school football players in the States make it to the NFL, imagine what are the chances for a European guy who is still on his first steps in the sport.
This has been Paz Gonzalez’s journey up until today:
2022 (19 y/o): Las Rozas Black Demons, Spain - LNFA
2022 (19 y/o): Barcelona Dragons, Spain - ELF
2023 (20 y/o): Seinäjoki Crocodiles, Finland - Maple League
2024 (21 y/o): Madrid Bravos, Spain - ELF
2025 (22 y/o): Raiders Tirol, Austria - ELF
2026 (23 y/o): Rhein Fire, Germany - AFLE
A DAWG on the field
Diego is a freak of nature. The 1'93, 131 Kg Defensive End is characterized by his hustle and never-ending motor in the trenches. Numbers and film don’t lie, and you will always see him chasing the football like a pitbull.
Last season he had his breakout performance at the European level with 40 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 int (pick six), 5 TFLs and 4 PBUs for the Rhein Fire.
Those numbers were enough for him to be crowned as the Most Improved Defensive Player in the AFLE in 2026. That makes a total of 87 tackles, 16 sacks, 20 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 int, 1 TD and 5 PBUs over his last 3 seasons playing for the Madrid Bravos, Raiders Tirol and Rhein Fire.
Diego talks about his life through football
Question (Q)- It’s been less than five years since you first put on a helmet. With a background in track and field, what made you switch to American football?
After leaving track and field in 2020, having practiced it for 10 years, a friend of mine who played for the team where I first started (Black Demons) suggested I give American football a try in 2022. I gave it a go, and I ended up falling in love with it.
Q- How does it feel knowing you are the first Spaniard—born and raised, and coming up through the European football system—to step onto an NFL field and have a real shot at making it to the best league in the world?
Honestly, it’s a dream to be able to achieve something of this caliber; I’ve worked very hard for it, and I will continue to work even harder. It’s also an honor to represent my country on this stage and to show that, no matter where you come from, hard work always pays off.
Q- What do you think sets you apart from other players? Why do you think you deserve this opportunity? And what does this mean for other Spanish players?
I don’t consider myself special or anything of the sort; I’m simply someone who hasn’t given up, despite the thousand obstacles I’ve faced. That is what I aim to show, and what I hope to achieve, through the series I’m launching on my Instagram account.
My primary goal is to inspire those who share the same dream as me, or who perhaps believe that something is simply impossible. I want to share my journey and demonstrate that, with effort and persistence, regardless of where you come from, you can achieve your goals.
Q- What is your best memory as a player, or your most important moment? And the toughest one?
One of my best memories is, without a doubt, the pick-six I recorded this season with the Rhein Fire. My mother had traveled 25 hours by bus from Spain to see me, and being able to dedicate that play to her was, hands down, my best memory to date.
The most difficult moment so far was this year—not being able to finish the season the way we deserved, and getting knocked out in the semifinals.
Q- After starting with Las Rozas Black Demons, at what point did you say to yourself, "I'm good at this, and I want to do it"?
It was in 2023, following a strong season in my first year in the senior category, that I began to realize I was evolving in this sport, starting to stand out and gain opportunities to play at a professional level.
Q- You arrived in Finland in 2023 to play for the Crocodiles. What was it like for a kid barely 20 years old to have that experience? What was your mindset, and did you already know what you were aiming for?
That trip was definitely a turning point; it wasn’t easy for a 20-year-old, but it helped me understand the game much better, learn to step out of my comfort zone, and reach a level of concentration that, in my opinion, you can only attain when you are able to step outside said comfort zone.
Q- You’re one of the best DEs in Europe, having spent the year as one of the faces of one of the biggest franchises in European history. How do you view the current level on the continent, and what needs to happen to improve?
First of all, thank you very much for considering me one of the best defensive ends in Europe. I firmly believe that there is a great deal of talent and high-caliber players on this continent; I believe—and hope—that American football will continue to grow here, and that, as a result, many more players will get the opportunity they so richly deserve.
Q- What are NFL tryouts like from the inside? What did these two days entail?
It is definitely not very different from what we typically see in Europe; it consisted of tests conducted by the staff to assess my physical capabilities, as well as my mental and physical state.
Q- How did the Patriots contact you, the process, and what was your reaction?
After my season, I signed up for THEFREEAGENTPORTAL. Throughout this process, Damond Talbot (the platform's owner) has helped me move forward and secure this type of opportunity.
Q- What are your goals moving forward, and what would you say to all the Spanish and European players who follow you right now?
My goals haven’t changed; I always strive to be 1% better everyday and to learn from my mistakes so that I don’t repeat them when more opportunities arise; that will always be my attitude.
I would tell them to invest in themselves, in their physical and mental preparation, and never let anyone tell you that you cannot achieve something. Fall in love with the process, and trust that every step brings you closer to the place God intends to take you.
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