Zane Gonzalez’s ethnicity is a mix of Mexican and American since his mother was originally from Arkansas and his father, Joseph Gonzalez, is a Mexican native. Additionally, when he was in the fifth grade, his parents divorced, and he and his siblings moved in with their father, Joseph.
Zane Gonzalez plays football professionally for the National Football League (NFL) Washington Commanders as a placekicker.
The Cleveland Browns chose Zane Gonzalez in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft after he became the NCAA Division I leader in field goals made while playing collegiate football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
In 2016, they named Gonzalez a unanimous All-American, and he also received the Lou Groza Award.
Safe to say that Commanders announces Bram Weinstein and London Fletcher were excited at Zane Gonzalez's game-winning field goal. pic.twitter.com/ad6YqIpAXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2025
Lino Gonzalez, Zane’s Grandfather, left Mexico to immigrate to the United States
Zane Gonzalez was born on May 7, 1995, in Deer Park, Texas, and his father, Joseph Gonzalez, raised him.
Moreover, Zane grew up surrounded by his siblings, including his older brother Zach and younger sister Skylar.
By fifth grade, Zane lived with his father, Joseph, after his parents had separated.
Furthermore, Joseph, Gonzalez’s father, shared the origin of Zane’s name.
“We were watching the movie ‘Maverick’ with Mel Gibson and his dad’s name was Zane Cooper,” Joseph said, “and I just liked the name Zane.“
Like his son, Joseph excelled at sports, but he spent three years in high school and claims to have received offers to play in college. However, his father, Lino Gonzalez, was not willing to do this.
At the age of 15, Zane’s grandfather Lino immigrated to the US from Mexico, and his father Joseph was born while his parents were residing in East Chicago, Indiana.
Nevertheless, when Lino found work at a plant, they relocated to Deer Park, Texas, where Joseph would raise his family. In college, the focus was on education rather than athletics.
Despite leading a quiet life, little is known about his mother, although it is known that she was born in Arkansas.
Additionally, his father is Mexican, and his mother is American, so Zane Gonzalez has mixed ethnicity.
When discussing his father’s Mexican heritage, he claims his appearance and surname created a contrast.
My dad’s side is all Mexican. A lot of people don’t realize, because I’m blond, blue-eyed — they don’t expect the Gonzalez last name
Whether I’m getting a haircut, or something, they’ll get caught off-guard when they hear the name. It’s unique; I like it.
Zane Gonzalez Has Had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Since Childhood
On Sunday night, Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez made the game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, the young NFL star’s strange on-field behavior went viral more than the winning kick.
As Gonzalez ran onto the field, he was tinkering with his hair for a few seconds.
Before one of the biggest kicks of his career, Gonzalez was reportedly very anxious, according to the majority of NFL fans.
However, that was untrue, and Gonzalez has been dealing with a legitimate mental illness since he was a small child.
Zane Gonzalez was stressing me out pic.twitter.com/RqkJUrTAox
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) January 13, 2025
Since his early childhood, Gonzalez has struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD.
The mental illness is typified by “repetitive behaviors (compulsions) and intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life.“
The NFL veteran kicker was outspoken about his disorder when he first joined the league, and in 2021, he told the Charlotte Observer,
It affected me a lot more as a young kid. … It’s just little thoughts, little funny habits that I do.
However, Gonzalez thinks that because it sharpens his attention to detail, it actually helps him with football.
Additional Information
- Zane Gonzalez agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,125,000 with the Washington Commanders, which included an average salary of $1,125,000 per year.
- Lizzy Gonzalez and Zane Gonzalez are married, and the two of them have a child together.
- Gonzalez tied a record set in 1985 with three field goals in the 2017 Senior Bowl.