Four former Wisconsin Badgers earned spots in the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games on Thursday.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Zack Baun and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor are the former Wisconsin stars selected.
Both Baun and Van Ginkel will make their Pro Bowl debuts for the NFC squad on Feb. 2 in Orlando, Florida. Taylor, who last participated in 2021, will make his return for his second Pro Bowl bid of his career. Watt, one of the most dominant defensive players of the generation, will appear in his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl.
While Taylor and Watt’s respective inclusions on the Pro Bowl roster crew are impressive, the main storylines for Badger fans surround Van Ginkel and Baun.
Both linebackers entered the 2024 season looking to prove themselves on new teams. Each have put together two of the more elite seasons across the league.
Baun has amassed 151 total tackles, 93 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and 3 1/2 sacks for the Eagles’ league-best defense. Van Ginkel, who recently became the first player since Hall of Famer Jason Taylor to log at least 10 sacks and two pick-sixes in a single season, has totaled 72 total tackles, 11 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss for the 14-2 Vikings.
2025 #ProBowlGames Outside Linebackers! pic.twitter.com/DX6c0etQ1M
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2025
Alongside his 11 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, Watt leads the league with six forced fumbles for the 10-6 Steelers. Taylor, meanwhile, punched his Pro Bowl ticket with a 1,254-yard, 10-touchdown campaign with the Colts.
Barring deep playoff runs from all four teams, this quartet of former Badgers will don Pro Bowl uniforms in February.