The San Francisco 49ers lead the NFL with nine players on the 2024 Pro Bowl roster announced Wednesday. Quarterback Brock Purdy and cornerback Charvaris Ward were first-time Pro Bowlers, while wide receiver Brandon Iuk was named an alternate. Including IUC, 12 alternatives originate from San Francisco.
NFC Pro Bowl quarterback selections include Dallas Cowboys starter Dak Prescott and Los Angeles Rams veteran Matthew Stafford, while the AFC has Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick City. Notable Pro Bowl snubs include Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff and Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts.
Aaron Donald, the Rams' star defensive tackle, made history with his selection, becoming the only defensive lineman since 1970 to make the Pro Bowl in his first 10 seasons. For the Ravens, it marks the second year in a row that Baltimore has had seven Pro Bowl players.
The player selection was decided by a unanimous vote of fans, players and coaches. In 2002, Birdie was the second-most-voted candidate since Jeff Garcia – who had 451,864 votes, 429,993 votes and George Kittle – 373,750 votes. Tagovailoa received 414,502 fan votes and Chiefs TE Travis Kelce earned 327,263 to round out the top five fan vote getters.
The NFL switched to a new format for its Pro Bowl for the 2023 season, switching from a tackle football game to skills competitions and other events, culminating in a flag football game between the AFC and NFC. That format will continue for a second year in 2024, with Pro Bowl games on Feb. 4 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
The Manning brothers, Peyton and Eli, are set to return as coaches of the AFC and NFC teams for the 2024 event.
More Pro Bowl picks:
Running backs and fullbacks
NFC
AFC
Wide receivers
NFC
AFC
Tight ends
NFC
- San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle
- Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce
- Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku
Offensive lineman
NFC
AFC
Defensive linemen and ends
NFC
AFC
Inside and outside linebackers
NFC
AFC
Cornerbacks and safeties
NFC
AFC
Special groups
NFC
AFC
Any QBs cut?
Purdy and Prescott make sense for the NFC. But Stafford over Goff? The Lions starter — traded to Stafford two years ago — has slightly better numbers and a better record this season. The AFC picks — Tagowailoa, Mahomes and Jackson — are no-brainers. Could Josh Allen have beaten Mahomes if not for the Bills' struggles for most of the year? Or … C.J. Could Stroud have been the cause of the Chiefs' struggles over Mahomes? — Mike Jones, veteran NFL writer
With so much WR talent, players were forced to leave
Wide receiver is a crowded spot in the NFC. Lamb and Brown make sense as starters, and some could argue for adding Evans and Nagua as reserves. But Amon-Ra St. Brown, T.J. Arguments can certainly be made that Moore and Iuk deserve to make the team. However, who are you changing for? Only Evans has fewer than 1,300 in Week 18, but also has more touchdown catches (13) than any of them. In the AFC, Courtland Sutton (10 touchdown catches) could make an argument to make the team. But Hill, Chase, Allen and Cooper are a tough foursome. — Jones
No complaints in RB category
At least no one here. All six picks reached 1,000-yards this season and boast versatility with the ability to contribute in the passing game. — Jones
In the AFC, the Jets' Quincy Williams should have made the cut after recording 131 tackles, 15 for a loss, and an interception. But New York's lack of success could cost him.
Curiously, the NFC is skipping Tampa Bay's Antoine Winfield Jr. He certainly had a more productive campaign than Baker in Arizona. — Jones
From humble beginnings to 49ers linchpins
The 49ers had a league-high nine Pro Bowlers, the most since the 2013 team that fell to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. This year includes a pair of first-timers with Purdy and Ward, who stand out for their modest NFL starts.
Purdy, of course, was the last pick in 2022, who led all starting quarterbacks in passer rating in his second season and set the 49ers franchise record for passing yards in a season with 4,280 on Sunday.
Ward, meanwhile, decommitted from Middle Tennessee State in 2018. He had a sensational second half in 2023, including stopping Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf in Week 12 and returning an interception 66 yards for a touchdown three weeks later. Cardinals. Perhaps more impressive is that Ward has given up just two touchdowns in 16 games. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 56.8 when targeting him.
One player overlooked: Iuk, who already leads the league with 1,317 receiving yards per catch average. — Matt Barrows, 49ers beat writer
Required reading
(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
