10 notable snubs from the NFL's 2025 Pro Bowl roster


The NFL announced its 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters for the AFC and NFC on Thursday, headlined by familiar names and a few first-timers alike, such as quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels. As has become annual tradition, online conversation quickly pivoted from those who did make the cut, to those who didn’t.

Player selections are ultimately determined by three voting parties — NFL fans, players and coaches — with each voting consensus counting as one-third toward the final decision. Fan voting wrapped up on Dec. 23 following the conclusion of Week 16. Players and coaches around the league voted four days later on Dec. 27.

Here are 10 notable snubs who were deserving of Pro Bowl honors in 2025:

Detroit Lions DB Kerby Joseph

Perhaps the most obvious miss this year is Joseph, who leads the league in interceptions (9) and has pulled in 17 picks across his first three NFL seasons. The 2022 third-round pick was a pivotal part of keeping Dan Campbell’s injury-riddled defense afloat following the losses of Aidan Hutchinson, Carlton Davis and many others. His backfield mate Brian Branch Jr. did receive Pro Bowl honors, but Joseph’s nine interceptions lead the NFC’s free safety selection — Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney — by two. It’s also worth noting four of his interceptions came in the end zone.

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

The argument can be made that the AFC wide receivers are this year’s most surprising position group — lacking some the names fans have become accustomed to seeing. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Thomas burst onto the scene catching 80-of-122 targets for a Jaguars offense that only got 10 starts out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Thomas ranks top six at the position and leads all rookies in receiving yards (1,179) and receiving touchdowns (10) with one game left to play.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is having the best statistical season of his career, even without the services of top target Chris Godwin for most of it. Entering Week 18, Mayfield’s ranks top four among all quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (39), passing yards (4,279), passer rating (107.6) and completion percentage (71.7%), and seventh overall in yards gained per attempt (8.0). He has Tampa on the verge of its fourth straight NFC South title and fifth straight playoff berth — with a win over New Orleans on Sunday. The question is: Is Mayfield’s 2024 resume more impressive than Darnold or Daniels?

Houston Texans DE Danielle Hunter

It’s tough for anyone to break through the noise in an AFC pass rushing group anchored by Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, but Hunter — already a four-time Pro Bowler — held his own in his first season with Houston. Entering Week 18, his 12 sacks rank third behind only Garrett and Hendrickson, and the 30-year-old leads the NFL in quarterback pressures (90) and is tied with Micah Parsons for the lead in quarterback pressure rate (19.3%). Denver’s Nik Bonitto, a first-time selection in his third season, would’ve been the logical candidate to replace.

Miami Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith

With the exception of rookie record-setter Brock Bowers (1,144), Smith (828) is the AFC’s tight end leader in receiving yards entering the regular season’s final week. He leads the Dolphins in receiving touchdowns (7), is tied for the team lead in receptions (79) and is second to only Tyreek Hill in targets and receiving yards. With the Taylor Swift effect in full force, Travis Kelce paced all NFL players with 252,200 fans votes. He remains the No. 1 focus of defensive coordinators and has still come on late to lead all AFC tight ends in receptions (97), but Smith made a legitimate case for himself.

New York Giants WR Malik Nabers

Eagles wideout A.J. Brown would’ve been an acceptable nomination, too. Like Thomas, his former LSU teammate, Nabers fully delivered on his first-round expectations despite the Giants’ dismal quarterback situation. Even after being inactive for two games, Nabers enters the regular season finale with 104 catches on 162 targets, 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. Washington’s Terry McLaurin (74-1,030-12) is probably the only potential replacement option, but it’s a tough sell. Still, Nabers was excellent and looks like a top-flight receiver for years to come.

Denver Broncos DL Zach Allen

Ranked top five in points allowed (19.4), Denver’s defense — particularly Allen — is a major reason for its favorable playoff odds with one week remaining. Like Hunter in Houston, Allen is a menace to opposing backfields. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder enters Week 18 with a league-leading 39 quarterback hits, eight more than Hendrickson in Cincinnati. His 8.5 sacks are also a career high and his 60 total tackles are tied for his career best. Allen deserved to see his name among Cameron Heyward, Chris Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike.

Atlanta Falcons LB Kaden Elliss

Elliss is a Swiss Army Knife within Raheem Morris’ Falcons defense that doesn’t get a ton of national recognition, but the 29-year-old’s production was impressive again in 2024. In addition to the eighth-most combined tackles (140) entering Week 18, Elliss has racked up 34 quarterback pressures, 16 quarterback hits, five sacks, three pass breakups and an interception in 16 starts. Miami’s Jordyn Brooks is also worth a mention here given his coverage prowess, but Elliss’ undeniable impact all over the field is worthy of Pro Bowl status. However, Fred Warner and Zack Baun are tough choices to compete with.

Los Angeles Chargers K Cameron Dicker

What’s a good Pro Bowl snub story without a kicker debate? The AFC’s selection, Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell, has as strong a case as any. But Dicker, in his third season, was right there with the Steelers’ 10th-year veteran. Dicker (94.6%) holds the advantage in overall field goal percentage over Boswell (93%) on six fewer attempts, and was slightly better from 40+ and 50+ yards out. However, Boswell was a perfect 33-for-33 on extra points while Dicker converted on only 31-of-34 attempts through 16 games.

Notable mention: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

For the first time since taking over as the Chiefs’ full-time starter in 2018, Mahomes did not make the final cut for the Pro Bowl. Yes, Kansas City holds a league-best 15-1 record entering the final week of the regular season, but Mahomes’ stats are down, by his lofty standards.

But really, this one is more to do with his competition this season. Not even the fan vote was enough to catapult the two-time league MVP over the likes of three 2024 MVP contenders in Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. With 10 wins by seven points or fewer, it’s possible spectators are holding the defending champion’s knack for close games against Mahomes this year.

The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will take place in Orlando, Fla, across two days of action. The first set of skills competitions will be on Jan. 30 while the second portion, which features the flag football game coached by Peyton Manning (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC), will be on Feb. 2.

Required reading

(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)



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