Jets' Mark Sanchez Hopeful About the Future

By Simone Hilliard

Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets may have lost the 2011 AFC championship to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night, but that won't stop the Mexican-American quarterback from trying to win it next year.

“I don’t know how many Latinos or Mexican-Americans have won an AFC championship," Sanchez told Latina.com, "but I know I hope I’m the next one.”

Although Sanchez, 24, has reached the pivotal AFC game twice, Mexican-American quarterback Jim Plunkett was the first latino QB to lead his team, the Oakland Raiders, to victory in Super Bowls XV and XVIII. Don't worry, "The Sanchize" isn't letting the pressure get to him.

“It is an honor to represent the community and to be an inspiration for them really means a lot,” Sanchez told the magazine. “That’s something that doesn’t really add pressure. I think it adds to the fun and excitement of everything going on, so it’s fun for me.”

We'll be rooting for you next year, Mark. Maybe the third time's a charm.

What would a Sanchez win mean to you and your community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Mark Sanchez, New York Jets