Isiah Pacheco, a running back of Puerto Rican descent for the Kansas City Chiefs, and iconic reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee were the protagonists of a symbolic encounter this week in the game won by the champions against the New Orleans Saints to strengthen the strong ties between the NFL and the Latino community.
“ I thanked Pacheco for inviting me to the Chiefs game. He is a great kid who is leaving an impressive mark for Latinos and a great legacy on this team because it doesn’t matter if it’s in sports or entertainment, we must continue to put Latin culture first,” said Daddy Yankee, born in San Juan, before receiving the Chiefs jersey that the team gave him.
The NFL brought these two stars together as part of the “Por La Cultura” campaign, which the league launched this season and which is part of the celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15 in the United States.
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The singer of ‘Barrio Fino’, considered in 2004 by Billboard Latino as the best album of the decade, socialized before the game held at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, and took several photos with Isaiah Pacheco.
One of the most emotional moments was when Daddy Yankee tried on the pair of Super Bowl rings that Pacheco has won with the Chiefs , something that was recorded in a handful of photographs.
Pacheco, the Chiefs’ star running back, did not play in the game as he recovers from fibula surgery , an injury that has put his return for the remainder of the season in jeopardy.
Already on the field, the reggaeton singer had the opportunity to watch the Chiefs warm up and interacted with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, two of the team’s top figures.
In one of the interviews he gave throughout the game, Daddy Yankee shared his desire to bring flag football to his country.
“It has been an incredible experience to be here. Puerto Rico is home, let us not forget that. I would love to bring flag football to Puerto Rico,” the singer said.
The NFL has millions of fans in Latin America
The NFL is working successfully to strengthen its ties with the Latino community and the audience numbers reflect this.
As many as five Latin American players were at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February and the NFL registered an audience of almost 25 million people in Mexico alone. There is growing interest in Latin America. In fact, the Hispanic fan base has increased by more than 10 million in three years and television audiences have doubled in this period, the NFL recently reported to the EFE agency.
The Latino community feels represented and more and more Hispanic players are reaching the elite of American football.
“Having five Latino players in the Super Bowl last year was incredible and huge for the community, and having someone like Isiah Pacheco, who has won the Super Bowl two years in a row, is very special. We also have players like Fred Warner, who is one of the best in the league at his position, who serves as an inspiration for young people who aspire to play our sport,” said the executive.
