Former Mr Irrelevant Brock Purdy shines as 49ers dominate 2024 NFL Pro Bowl roster with league-leading nine players

Brock Purdy, drafted as Mr. Irrelevant in last year's NFL Draft, made headlines as the headline selection for this season's Pro Bowl rosters after they were announced on Wednesday. Purdy, picked by the San Francisco 49ers with the last pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, earned his first Pro Bowl appearance by receiving the most fan votes and was chosen as the starting quarterback for the National Football Conference (NFC).

In just his second year in the NFL, the 24-year-old has made significant strides, leading the 49ers to the No. 1 seed in the NFC with impressive stats of 4,280 passing yards, 33 total touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions over 16 games. He was considered a top candidate for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award this season, but a recent two-game losing streak has dimmed his chances. Purdy is among the nine San Francisco players selected for the Pro Bowl, the most of any team in the NFL, alongside fellow MVP contender Christian McCaffrey.

The running back has had a standout 2023 season, rushing for 1,459 yards and 14 touchdowns, and gaining 564 yards with seven touchdowns through the air. The 27-year-old came in second place in fan votes.

Purdy and McCaffrey celebrate a play against the New York Giants during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2023.

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Purdy and McCaffrey are joined by fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, offensive tackle Trent Williams, defensive end Nick Bosa, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, linebacker Fred Warner, and cornerback Charvarius Ward.

The Baltimore Ravens, the No. 1 seed in the American Football Conference (AFC), lead the conference with seven selections, with quarterback Lamar Jackson being the standout choice.

Jackson has seen himself return to his dominant best and is now the favorite to win MVP for the second time.

Jackson warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at M&T Bank Stadium on December 10, 2023.

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Jackson was not selected as the starter for the AFC; instead, the honor went to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa has led the NFL's highest-scoring offense and is poised to play in every game this season, a feat he has not accomplished in his three previous years in the NFL due to injuries and concussions.

This year's Pro Bowl features two first-time starting quarterbacks, Purdy and Tagovailoa, marking the first time since the 2000 Pro Bowl that both starting quarterbacks were first-time selections. Back in 1999, Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were the last to achieve this feat.

Out of the twenty-eight teams, twenty-one had multiple players chosen for the Pro Bowl roster.

Several players have received recognition for their outstanding performances this season, but there are also notable omissions from the rosters. One such snub is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who overcame a sluggish start to the season and is now poised to lead his team into the playoffs once more.

Allen scrambles and looks to pass.

The Pro Bowl weekend will conclude with the NFC vs. AFC flag football game on Sunday, February 4. Prior to the game, athletes will compete in skill challenges to showcase their abilities in various skill tests.

The Pro Bowl is set to take place in Orlando for the first time in three years, with the two teams being led by former NFL stars and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning.

The players for the teams were selected through a combination of votes from fans, players, and coaches, with each group's vote carrying equal weight in determining the final roster.

Pro Bowl rosters in full

NFC

Offense

Quarterback - Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers), Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

Running back - Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers), DAndre Swift (Philadelphia Eagles), Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams)

Fullback - Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers)

Wide receiver - CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys, AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles, Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams.

Tight end - George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions.

Trent Williams from the San Francisco 49ers, Lane Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles, and Penei Sewell from the Detroit Lions are key players at the tackle position. Meanwhile, Zack Martin from the Dallas Cowboys, Chris Lindstrom from the Atlanta Falcons, and Landon Dickerson from the Philadelphia Eagles excel in the guard position.

Center - Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles), Frank Ragnow (Detroit Lions)

Defense

Nick Bosa, the San Francisco 49ers' defensive end, joins Montez Sweat of the Chicago Bears and Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions in the lineup. On the interior linemen, Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams is joined by Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants and Javon Hargrave of the San Francisco 49ers in the defensive lineup.

Outside linebackers for the Dallas Cowboys include Micah Parsons, while the Minnesota Vikings feature Danielle Hunter and the Philadelphia Eagles have Haason Reddick.

For inside or middle linebacker, the San Francisco 49ers have Fred Warner and the Seattle Seahawks have Bobby Wagner.

Cornerback - DaRon Bland (Dallas Cowboys), Charvarius Ward (San Francisco 49ers), Jaylon Johnson (Chicago Bears), Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks)

Free safety - Jessie Bates (Atlanta Falcons)

Strong safety - Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals), Julian Love (Seattle Seahawks)

Special teams

Long snapper - Andrew DePaola (Minnesota Vikings)

Punter - Bryan Anger (Dallas Cowboys)

Placekicker - Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys)

Kick returner - Rashid Shaheed (New Orleans Saints)

Special teamer - Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Detroit Lions)

AFC

Offense

Quarterback - Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)

Running back - Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins), James Cook (Buffalo Bills), Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans)

Fullback - Alec Ingold (Miami Dolphins)

Miami Dolphins' wide receiver includes Tyreek Hill, Cleveland Browns feature Amari Cooper, Los Angeles Chargers have Keenan Allen, and Cincinnati Bengals have JaMarr Chase.

As for tight ends, Kansas City Chiefs feature Travis Kelce and Cleveland Browns have David Njoku.

Houston Texans' Laremy Tunsil, Buffalo Bills' Dion Dawkins, and Miami Dolphins' Terron Armstead are standout tackles in the NFL. Meanwhile, Indianapolis Colts' Quenton Nelson, Cleveland Browns' Joel Bitonio, and Kansas City Chiefs' Joe Thuney excel in the guard position.

Center - Creed Humphrey (Kansas City Chiefs), Tyler Linderbaum (Baltimore Ravens)

Defense

Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns, Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, and Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals are standout defensive ends. Meanwhile, Chris Jones from the Kansas City Chiefs, Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets, and Justin Madubuike from the Baltimore Ravens shine as interior linemen.

Top Outside linebackers in the NFL include TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Josh Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars. As for inside/middle linebackers, notable players are Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, both from the Baltimore Ravens.

Top NFL cornerbacks include Pat Surtain II of the Denver Broncos, Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets, Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins, and Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, top free safeties are Justin Simmons of the Denver Broncos and Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Strong safety - Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore Ravens)

Special teams

Long snapper - Ross Matiscik (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Punter - AJ Cole (Las Vegas Raiders)

Placekicker - Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens)

Kick returner - Marvin Mims Jr. (Denver Broncos)

Special teamer - Miles Killebrew (Pittsburgh Steelers)