Before Buffalo's 31-21 win over the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, the Bills recognized two local high school football players Alex Burgos Jr. and Nola Marrero as part of the NFL's Latino Youth Honors. Buffalo's Week 3 home matchup was the team's Hispanic Heritage game.
Alex is a senior at Canisius High School in Buffalo where he plays Defensive Back for the Crusaders Varsity Tackle Football Team. Nola is a senior at Mount Mercy Academy where she is Captain of her Girls Flag Football Team.
"To be recognized by the Buffalo Bills with this honor is amazing," Marrero said. "My immediate reaction when I found out was just pure shock, I genuinely almost cried. To be honored by a team that has been such a big part of my life and my family's life for as long as I can remember is something I couldn't even fathom. It felt like all of the hard work I've done had paid off in some way."
Added Burgos Jr., "I've always wanted to represent Buffalo and my community. This is an opportunity to do that."
As the Bills continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the team wanted to recognize two local students who are making an impact in their community and in the game of football.
"My Latino heritage means being a part of something bigger than myself. My whole life, I've grown up with a big Latino family, so nothing you do is just a representation of you, it's also a representation of them," Marrero said. "It means making them proud, but also being proud of my culture and where I come from. My heritage isn't just something that pushes me to work hard in sports, it's something that makes me who I am."
For Burgos Jr., he feels his Latino heritage has shaped who he is as a person and how he connects with both classmates and teammates.
"My heritage means a lot to me. It's not just something I talk about or the way I act, but something that is in me and shapes who I am every day. Most of my personality and the way I talk comes from being Latino. It's helped me connect with teammates and kids at school," Burgos Jr. said.
After high school, Burgos Jr. plans to attend the University at Buffalo for four years and Marrero plans to pursue a degree in special education and political science with a dream goal of going to law school to become a disability rights and education lawyer.
Buffalo Bills legend Stevie Johnson joined Bills staff and friends to walk in Buffalo's annual Puerto Rican & Hispanic Day Parade.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
Buffalo Bills At The Puerto Rican and Hispanic Day Parade, August 16, 2025 on Niagara Street.
