North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick has been really lucky when it came to his quarterback scouting mission. The former All-State performer for the James Clemens Jets and the South Alabama quarterback, Gio Lopez, chose to dock his wagon in Chapel Hill this transfer season. His hype meter kept rising. As analyst Cooper Petagna shared, “I like his ability on the ground. He is a bigger version and kind of reminds me… of Dillon Gabriel.” The Jaguars’ star carries a resume of 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024 and 475 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2023. After playing three games in 2025, Gio stands with 342 yards and 3 touchdowns. As he gradually picks up the buzz, fans now want to learn about his roots and his parents.

Who is Gio Lopez’s father?

Gio’s father’s name is Barney Lopez. And how far the quarterback has reached, he is indebted to his dad for being the pillar of support. Having an eye for talent, Barney was convinced that his son had that talent embedded within him. Without further delay, he started training Gio. It started with car racing. But he soon watched his son fall in love with football, fresh off a “backyard-style” season, racking up 29 touchdowns in 11 games. That’s when his dad’s duties leveled up.

He passed down lessons on process to Gio, the right pieces, the right team, the right moment. “We went there with a plan,” his father, Barney, said to 247Sports. “We knew we wanted the starting position, but we knew what we were coming into. We were coming in as a redshirt-freshman; they were going to give him his touches and get him prepared to take over the team the next year. So it was staying focused, staying humble.” 

His dad’s hard work paid off. In 2024, Gio built on his rise, started all 11 contests, and earned the team’s trust with clutch play and pinpoint throws. He wrapped up his USA career with 3,034 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. And the dad could not be any prouder, “The confidence in him every day to go out and lead a team, a Sun Belt team. I got to see my son’s dreams come true in his eyes. And just to say I was proud and happy is an understatement. I get to say that I’m the father of a D-1 athlete who’s doing it at a big level, and now say he made it to the P4 level. You can’t put it into words, man, it’s just overwhelming.” Without having an NFL background, with his niche being automobiles, Barney kept on convincing Gio to push harder.   

Who is Gio Lopez’s mother? 

Gio’s mother, Dee Lopez, is a private person. We only see glimpses of her in his husband, Barney’s, IG profile. For instance, a post from September 12, 2024, showed the proud parents seated in the stadium stands to root for Gio. In another post, featuring Gio’s parents along with other relatives, the caption read, “Getting ready to watch my boy Gio Lopez and South Alabama play against App State up here in Boon NC.” 

In one of Gio’s interviews, her mother’s profession was revealed. Dee has worked as a preschool teacher. At home, too, she kept Gio under systematic learning and a disciplined approach. “My mom was a preschool teacher, so I’ll make flashcards, write plays on a whiteboard, flip them around — that kind of thing. I’m not a big electronics guy. I’ll watch film, of course, but I like pen and paper. I think when you write something down yourself, you memorize it better,” said the quarterback.

What are Gio Lopez’s parents’ ethnicity and nationality?

Gio Lopez is identified as an American college football quarterback, which also points to his parents being American. However, no details about his ethnicity have been publicly disclosed. For the love and effort his parents invested, Gio knows he’ll be forever in their debt.