In this blog post we’ll take a closer look at two NFL players, Robert Quinn of the Philadelphia Eagles and Isiah Pacheco of The Kansas City Chiefs (2023 Super Bowl Champions) who both played at the Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.
We will explore their upbringing, their journey to the NFL, and how their Puerto Rican / Latino roots have influenced their lives on and off the field.
Robert Quinn was born on May 18, 1990, in Ladson, South Carolina, to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. He grew up in a military family, with his father serving in the United States Army.
Quinn was a standout football player in high school, earning multiple accolades and attracting the attention of top college football programs. He ultimately decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played football for the Tar Heels.
Overcoming Obstacles:
But Quinn’s journey to the NFL and eventually the Super Bowl did not come easy, he was tested in a big way. As a high school senior, Quinn had to undergo emergency brain surgery for a benign tumor.
When doctors told him he had about a week to live, it shook him. “I had my mom there, along with a couple people in front of my bed,” Quinn told Jeff Joniak during a Bears profile. “I looked over and I just hugged my mom and basically started saying my goodbyes cuz I thought that was it for me.”
Not only did he manage to recover, but he continued to play football, as a matter of fact he played so well that he was highly recruited as a defensive end and he became a three-time state champion in wrestling. “At this point, it’s just part of my life. Robert Quinn with a brain tumor. It’s just something I’ve always been known as.”
After a successful college career, Quinn was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has since played for multiple teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears.
Throughout his career, he has been a dominant pass rusher, earning two Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2013. Quinn was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on October 26, 2022.
Quinn’s Puerto Rican heritage has played a significant role in his life, as he often cites his mother as a source of inspiration and strength. In an interview with NFL Network, he said, “My mom is the strongest person I know.
She’s been through a lot in her life, but she never gave up, and that’s something that I try to emulate in my own life.” Quinn also revealed that his Puerto Rican heritage has influenced his music taste, as he enjoys listening to salsa and reggaeton.
Quinns Sister, The Gold medalist:
On another note, Quinn’s sister Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, is an Olympic gold medalist. Representing Puerto Rico, Camacho-Quinn won gold in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics and also owns the Olympic record in the event.
The siblings have been standout athletes since they were kids in South Carolina and have compared athletic accomplishments through the years.
“Yeah, we talk trash to each other when we’re around each other. It’s always been like that,” Camacho-Quinn told USA TODAY Sports.
Camacho-Quinn was a top high school hurdler and won multiple prep state titles in South Carolina before becoming a student-athlete at the University of Kentucky. She was a three-time NCAA Champion in Lexington. I am so happy and proud of my brother, Camacho-Quinn said, especially knowing all he’s been through.
Isiah Pacheco:
Isiah Pacheco was born on March 1, 2000, in Vineland, New Jersey, to a Puerto Rican mother and a Mexican father. He grew up in a tight-knit family, with both of his parents working to provide for him and his siblings.
Pacheco was also a standout football player in high school, earning multiple accolades and attracting the attention of top college football programs. He received scholarships from prestigious colleges after graduating from high school, but he ultimately decided to play football at Rutgers University.
He finished his college career with amazing 563 attempts, 2,442 yards, and 18 touchdowns due to his consistent playing time.
NFL Bound:
The Kansas City Chiefs fulfilled Pacheco’s NFL aspirations by selecting him as a running back as the 251st overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He made his debut against the Arizona Cardinals and ran for three yards, scoring his first rushing touchdown in the NFL.
As a kid growing up in New Jersey Pacheco had seen enough to make him realize he needed to help and stand up for his family, as he would see his parents had to work all day to meet the basic needs of the family.
They had a hard time earning and taking care of Isiah and the other two siblings Travoise and Celeste. His mother worked and his father ran a small business,. They were considered middle class, yet it was barely enough, but this inconsistent income is all they had and they had to make it work.
Tragedy Hits Home:
Then as if their financial challenges were not enough, tragedy struck when Pacheco’s brother Travoise Cannon was murdered in January 2016 and his sister Celeste Cannon was murdered in September 2017.
He has tattoos of his sister and brother in a mural on his right arm alongside other tattoos representing what has made him who he is, including one representing New Jersey, Vineland South High School and Rutgers University.
However, after all the incidents in his life, he stood strong and came out even stronger by becoming a professional athlete.
He had the solid support of his parents and three of them always share time together. Pacheco remembers how both his parents would always show up to his games when he was coming up.
Pacheco’s Latino heritage has also played a significant role in his life, as he often cites his mother as a source of motivation and support. In an interview with NJ.com, he said, “My mom has always been there for me, pushing me to be the best I can be.
She’s the reason why I play football, and I want to make her proud.” Pacheco also revealed that his Latino heritage has influenced his cooking, as he enjoys making traditional Puerto Rican dishes such as arroz con gandules and tostones, when asked about Mexican dishes (his father’s heritage), Pacheco says with a smile, that’s next.
