New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has signed a monstrous four-year $135 million deal, $102 million of which is guaranteed, on the eve of the 2026 NFL season
Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots runs on the field prior to Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
Christian Gonzalez has signed a new deal with the New England Patriots(Image: Getty Images)
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Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots have agreed to terms on a record-setting new deal ahead of the team's Super Bowl rematch with the Seattle Seahawks.
While the Patriots' offseason has been dominated by questions surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel, on Monday night, it was announced that Gonzalez had inked a $135 million, four-year deal, $102 million of which is guaranteed. The new deal also sees Gonzalez become the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, with his contract eclipsing Devon Witherspoon's four-year, $132 million deal he signed with the Seahawks last month.
It means that Wednesday night's 2026 season opener in Seattle will feature the two highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history in Gonzalez and Witherspoon when the Patriots and Seahawks face off at Lumen Field, in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl.
Both Gonzalez and Witherspoon also share the same agent, Reggie Johnson. Gonzalez broke his silence over his new deal on Instagram, posting on his story, "Thank you Lord. Pats Nation, let’s go!"
While he missed the majority of his rookie season back in 2023 due to a torn labrum, Gonzalez has gone on to become one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks. The 24-year-old earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, and helped New England reach the Super Bowl.
Earlier this offseason, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team was desperate to retain Gonzalez, whom they selected with the No.17 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
"We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player, as a person," Kraft told reporters back in July.
Christian Gonzalez's reaction to signing his new deal with New England
Christian Gonzalez's reaction to signing his new deal with New England(Image: Instagram/christian.gonzalez3)
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"That's why we've made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL. Coincidentally, it's the highest contract in Patriots franchise history."
Witherspoon signed his new deal in August following Kraft's comments, suggesting that the hold-up in Gonzalez signing his new deal came down to that.
During training camp, Gonzalez let his frustrations over his contract situation be known to reporters. "I mean, the office knows how I feel," he said at the end of August.
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez stands on the field
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is one of the league's best defensive backs(Image: Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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"My team has made it known what I feel, what I'm worth, what we feel, what I'm worth. So the right people know what I'm worth."
"I'm focused on here now and doing what I got to do. And I'm out here to compete and get better. ... Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've said that and it is what it is.
"I mean, I can't really get into it. I mean, I've said I wanted to keep it between my team and the Patriots and it's been out there. So it is what it is, but can't really go back in time. So we just got to focus on right now."