Tag: 2025 Pro Bowl Games

Injured New Orleans Saints starter is a first alternate for the 2025 Pro Bowl games

One New Orleans Saints starter is a first alternate for the 2025 Pro Bowl games. But it remains to be seen if Erik McCoy will be healthy enough to participate:

The New Orleans Saints have finally ended this disappointing season. The team finished 5-12, and it was painful to watch at times. This resulted in the team being one of only four teams in the NFL without a single player selected for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. They were the only team in the NFC to not be represented on the initial roster, too.

However, there is some hope that the Saints will leave that unwanted group. Saints offensive lineman Erik McCoy is the first alternate for the Pro Bowl games, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Unfortunately for McCoy, it is unlikely he will play if selected. The former Texas A&M Aggie suffered an elbow injury against the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago and hasn’t played since being designated to injured reserve. 

It is still pretty impressive that McCoy accomplished such a feat when you consider he only played seven games. In those seven starts, McCoy allowed zero sacks and was one of the league’s best run-blockers. The Saints offense certainly looked better when the 27-year-old was on the field. They’ll need him healthy and ready to go for a bounce-back season in 2025.

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Former Saints backup earns Pro Bowl nod in first year on new team

Zack Baun earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first year with the Eagles. It’s the latest example of a bad decision by Mickey Loomis and the people he’s put in charge:

This is a terrible look for Mickey Loomis and the people the New Orleans Saints general manager has put in charge. Former Saints backup Zack Baun won a nod to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in his first year with the Philadelphia Eagles, having put up some impressive numbers through 16 games.

His 151 combined tackles are second-most around the league; 93 of them were solo, and he had 11 tackles for loss. He also bagged 3.5 sacks, twice as many as he had in his 62-game Saints career, to go with five forced fumbles (plus a recovery), an interception, and four pass deflections. Now he’s on the way to the Pro Bowl, where he won’t share a spot with a single Saints player on the NFC roster. All 15 other teams in the NFC have at least one Pro Bowler, but not the team Loomis built.

His role hasn’t changed from what he did in New Orleans, either — he’s still primarily an off-the-ball linebacker manning the middle of the field, not a pass rusher working off the edge like he did in college. But unlike the Saints, the Eagles have been willing to give him opportunities to play. And he’s making the most of them.

Baun signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Eagles valued at $3.5 million, but he earned a $500,000 incentive with a spot on the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games. He admitted Thursday that he initially laughed when he saw that incentive written into the contract back in March, but he’s as happy as any Eagles fan to have beaten expectations.

And the Saints should be ashamed of themselves for failing to get more out of him when he was in town. Loomis greenlit the decision to trade up for Baun back in 2020, but Dennis Allen and linebackers coach Michael Hodges never came up with a plan for getting Baun on the field. They only let him play special teams while the team drafted other linebackers in three of the next four cycles — in 2021 (Pete Werner), 2022 (D’Marco Jackson), and 2024 (Jaylan Ford).

That’s just the latest example of a bad decision by Loomis and the team he’s built. They had a Pro Bowler sitting on the bench watching Demario Davis get older and Pete Werner experience so many inconsistencies that they had to sign Willie Gay to push him for his job last summer. And now they’ve got a need at linebacker with the defense giving up the second-most yards per carry (4.9) in the NFL. The answer was in front of them the all time but Loomis and Allen were too stubborn to see it. Allen has already been ousted from his job. Loomis should probably be next. He certainly shouldn’t be trusted to find Allen’s replacement.

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Seahawks DL Leonard Williams comments on Pro Bowl snub

Seahawks DL Leonard Williams comments on Pro Bowl snub

Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams leads all interior defenders in the NFL in sacks with nine quarterback takedowns. In Sunday’s Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Los Angeles Rams, he’ll attempt to become the first Seahawk to reach double digits in sacks since 2018. Despite that, Williams was not voted as a primary participant in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, with the full rosters being released earlier this week.

Devon Witherspoon was the lone Seahawk voted to the main Pro Bowl roster. Elsewhere, Julian Love and Coby Bryant finished in the top 10 of voting among their position group. As for Williams, he finished behind Jalen Carter, Dexter Lawrence, and Vita Vea, who are scheduled to represent the NFC at defensive tackle.

Williams commented on the snub.

“I mean honestly, I don’t care at this point,” Williams told local reporters. “It’s possible [I’ll go as an alternate] because the Eagles are going to the playoffs and Dexter [Lawrence] is hurt. But to be honest, it’s frustrating to be an alternate,” Williams concluded.

Williams was dominant for Macdonald’s defense throughout this campaign. Perhaps Seattle’s failure to qualify for the postseason hindered his chances of gaining national recognition. Williams will likely be at the Pro Bowl, and he’ll deserve to be there once he’s officially named.

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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn reveals his dad, former NFL WR Joe Horn, cried when learning of his Pro Bowl selection

None of Joe Horn’s four Pro Bowl selections probably felt as good as his son’s first.

Former wide receiver and New Orleans Saints legend Joe Horn earned four Pro Bowl selections over his decorated 12-year NFL tenure. But none of the four probably felt as good as his son’s first.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn was officially named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Thursday. The former eighth overall pick has played a career-high 15 games here in 2024—while also having recorded bests in combined tackles (68), tackles for a loss (five), sacks (2.0) and passes defensed (13).

Horn spoke to reporters about the honor following this afternoon’s practice and revealed the touching moment he had with his father Joe—who was the first person he called up with the news . . .

Horn—Joe, that is—played in the NFL from 1996 to 2007. He amassed 603 receptions for 8,744 yards and 58 touchdowns.

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2 Dolphins deserve to feel like Pro Bowl snub was ‘slap in the face’

It’s been an underwhelming and disappointing year for the Dolphins, but zero Pro Bowlers?

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith told reporters it felt like a “slap in the face” that the team had zero players on the 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters that were released Thursday morning.

He’s got a point.

After the Dolphins had six Pro Bowlers last season, it’s no surprise that an underwhelming season didn’t yield the same amount of individual accolades. After all, Miami went from No. 1 in the NFL in total offense last season to No. 18 in 2024. And even though the Dolphins have a chance at finishing with a winning record, it’d take a small miracle for the team to reach the postseason.

But zero?

That puts the Dolphins in the same boat as the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans, three teams with 12 wins combined. Even the three-win Patriots, Browns, and Giants have at least one representative each.

Smith may have the most deserved gripe.

The veteran tight end has 79 receptions for 828 yards and seven touchdowns. But Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce got the last spot at tight end in the AFC. Despite getting 34 fewer targets, Smith has more receiving yardage than Kelce (828 to 823) and more than double the touchdowns (seven to three).

Smith has earned a career-best 79.2 grade from Pro Football Focus this season. Kelce has a career-worst 70.9.

Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler also has a justified case to be disgruntled with the result. After notching double-digit sacks last season, Sieler is at 8.5 this season with a career-best 12 tackles for loss.

But the Steelers’ Cameron Heyward, Chiefs’ Chris Jones, and Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike were given the nod instead. Not one of those players has more sacks or tackles for loss than Sieler.

There’s still time for some rights to be wronged. If the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the last six seasons, neither Kelce or Jones would participate in the Pro Bowl Games, which could open the door for Smith and/or Sieler to get the nod.

For now, though, there’s a pair of Dolphins who have a reason to feel like their performances this season aren’t being properly recognized.

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Four former Wisconsin Badgers earn bids to 2025 Pro Bowl Games

Four former Wisconsin Badgers earn bids to 2025 Pro Bowl Games

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.

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.

Zero Dolphins on initial 2025 Pro Bowl Games roster

The Dolphins join the Jets, Saints, and Titans as the only teams without a player on the 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters.

The Miami Dolphins are one of four teams without a player currently set to participate in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

That could eventually change as Super Bowl participants won’t play in the Pro Bowl Games, giving way to alternates to take their spot. Injured players and opt-outs could also yield space to Dolphins hopefuls to earn the honor.

For now, though, the Dolphins join the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Tennessee Titans as the four teams that aren’t represented in the game.

Last season, the Dolphins had six Pro Bowlers: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, fullback Alec Ingold, running back Raheem Mostert, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, offensive tackle Terron Armstead, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Hill earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first eight NFL seasons, while Ramsey has a streak of seven straight Pro Bowls after missing out on the distinction as a rookie.

The full rosters for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games can be seen here.

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Panthers tried to surprise CB Jaycee Horn with news of his Pro Bowl selection, but it didn’t work

The Panthers thought they were capturing the moment where Jaycee Horn would be learning that he was a Pro Bowler. But Horn had the jump on it.

The Carolina Panthers were hoping to capture the moment in which cornerback Jaycee Horn would learn the news of his very first Pro Bowl selection. But, just as he has the entire 2024 campaign, the fourth-year defender already had the jump on it.

Horn was officially named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Thursday morning. But before the announcement hit the masses, head coach Dave Canales, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley tried to surprise him with the honor . . .

2024 has been a special campaign for Horn, who has appeared in a career-high 15 games. His first three seasons, which were marred by numerous injuries, saw the former eighth overall pick play in just 22 of a possible 51 outings.

The 25-year-old has also recorded career-bests in combined tackles (68), tackles for a loss (five), sacks (2.0) and passes defensed (13).

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3 Panthers named alternates for 2025 Pro Bowl Games

The Panthers have themselves a trio of alternates for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

Jaycee Horn may not be the only Carolina Panthers player headed to Orlando, Fla. next month.

Announced on Thursday morning alongside this season’s selections for the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games, which included the standout fourth-year cornerback, were the event’s alternates. And that group has itself a trio of Panthers—right guard Robert Hunt (second alternate), running back Chuba Hubbard (fourth alternate) and punter Johnny Hekker (fifth alternate).

Hunt is in the first season of the five-year, $100 million deal he signed this past offseason. With just one game to go, the 6-foot-6, 323-pound hog molly has played in each and every one of Carolina’s 967 offensive snaps.

Hubbard, whose campaign was cut a little short this past Saturday, has worked his way into a career year in 2024. He’s recorded bests in carries (250), rushing yards (1,195) and rushing touchdowns (10) and earned his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week nod for his heroic efforts in the team’s Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Hekker, already a four-time Pro Bowler, is currently in his 13th NFL season. The 34-year-old has punted for an average net of 41.6 yards per attempt.

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3 Seahawks finish in Top 10 Pro Bowl voting among their positions

3 Seahawks finish in Top 10 Pro Bowl voting among their positions

The Seattle Seahawks have three players among the top 10 at their position in Pro Bowl voting by the fans. Voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl officially concluded on December 23. Mike Macdonald’s squad will conclude their campaign against the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday’s Week 18 finale.

The following Seahawks fared favorably in Pro Bowl voting:

Leonard Williams | 4th overall, 2nd in NFC

Defensive tackle Leonard Williams has been downright dominant this season. The veteran linemen has posted a team-leading 9.0 sacks and is one quarterback takedown away from breaking a five-year Seahawks drought of having a double-digit sack artist. Williams deserves his Pro Bowl nod.

Julian Love | 9th overall, 6th in NFC

Julian Love continued being a workhorse for the Seahawks defense this season. He’s posted a team-leading 103 tackles through Week 17, securing his third consecutive campaign with 100-plus tackles. Love finished sixth among safety voting in the NFC. The versatile defensive back deserves all of the accolades he receives.

Coby Bryant | 10th overall, 7th in NFC

Injuries catapulted Coby Bryant into a starting lineup role in Week 7. The former Cincinnati standout had been relegated to a deep rotational role before that. When Bryant’s opportunity arrived, he seized it with maximum effort. The corner-turned-safety recorded three interceptions, including a pick-six touchdown, and six total pass breakups.

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