The NFL announced the rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games on Wednesday, and the San Francisco 49ers led all teams with nine players selected to the NFC squad. The 49ers, who have clinched the NFC West title and are the top seed in the conference, have been dominant on both sides of the ball this season, and their Pro Bowl selections reflect that.
The 49ers’ Pro Bowlers are:
- QB Brock Purdy: The second-year signal caller has been sensational in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, leading the league in passing touchdowns (36), yards per attempt (9.2), passer rating (121.7) and QBR (84.3). He has also rushed for 467 yards and six scores, making him a dual-threat nightmare for defenses.
- RB Christian McCaffrey: The former Panther has been a perfect fit for the 49ers, who traded for him in the offseason. McCaffrey leads the league in rushing yards (1,292), scrimmage yards (1,801) and total touchdowns (20). He has also caught 77 passes for 509 yards, showing his versatility as a receiver.
- TE George Kittle: The perennial Pro Bowler has been Purdy’s favorite target, catching 88 passes for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ranks second among tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns, behind only Travis Kelce of the Chiefs. He is also a superb blocker, helping the 49ers’ running game thrive.
- T Trent Williams: The veteran left tackle has been a rock for the 49ers’ offensive line, protecting Purdy’s blindside and opening lanes for McCaffrey. He has allowed only two sacks and 12 pressures all season, according to Pro Football Focus, and has earned a 94.7 overall grade, the highest among all offensive linemen.
- DL Nick Bosa: The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year has bounced back from a torn ACL that sidelined him for most of 2020, and has been a force on the 49ers’ defensive front. He has 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles, ranking among the league leaders in all categories. He is a strong candidate for Comeback Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
- LB Fred Warner: The 49ers’ defensive captain and signal caller has been a tackling machine, leading the team with 132 tackles, including 10 for loss. He also has three interceptions, two sacks, seven passes defensed and a fumble recovery. He is the leader of the 49ers’ defense, which ranks second in points allowed and third in yards allowed.
- S Talanoa Hufanga: The rookie sensation has been a revelation for the 49ers, who drafted him in the fifth round out of USC. He has started 12 games at strong safety, and has recorded 101 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks, six passes defensed and a forced fumble. He has shown great instincts, range and physicality, and has been a playmaker for the 49ers’ secondary.
- FB Kyle Juszczyk: The 49ers’ fullback has been a valuable weapon for Shanahan’s offense, serving as a lead blocker, a receiver and a runner. He has 28 carries for 156 yards and four touchdowns, and 34 catches for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He is the only fullback in the league with more than 10 receptions and 10 carries, and has been a key contributor to the 49ers’ balanced attack.
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: The rookie wideout has been a pleasant surprise for the 49ers, who drafted him in the fourth round out of USC. He has emerged as the 49ers’ No. 2 receiver behind Kittle, catching 94 passes for 1,175 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranks sixth in the league in receptions, and has been a reliable and consistent target for Purdy.
The 49ers’ nine Pro Bowlers are the most by any team since the 2015 Panthers, who also had nine. The 49ers will look to follow the Panthers’ footsteps and reach the Super Bowl, but they hope to avoid the same fate as the Panthers, who lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
While the 49ers have plenty of reasons to celebrate, some other players and teams might feel snubbed by the Pro Bowl voting. Here are some of the notable omissions from the Pro Bowl rosters:
- QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: The Bills’ franchise quarterback has had another stellar season, throwing for 4,212 yards and 32 touchdowns, with only nine interceptions. He has also rushed for 521 yards and eight touchdowns, making him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league. He ranks fourth in the league in total touchdowns, behind only Purdy, Mahomes and Rodgers. However, he was left out of the AFC Pro Bowl roster, which features Mahomes, Stroud and Tagovailoa. Allen might feel slighted by the voters, especially since he led the Bills to a 12-4 record and the AFC East title, while Tagovailoa’s Dolphins missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
- QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams: The Rams’ signal caller has had a bounce-back season, after a disappointing 2020 campaign that saw him throw 16 interceptions and lose his starting job in the playoffs. He has thrown for 4,103 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions, and has led the Rams to a 10-6 record and a wild card berth. He ranks fifth in the league in passer rating (107.9) and sixth in completion percentage (69.4). However, he was snubbed from the NFC Pro Bowl roster, which features Purdy, Rodgers and Wilson. Goff might feel overlooked by the voters, especially since he has outperformed Wilson, who has thrown 12 interceptions and has seen his Seahawks miss the playoffs with a 7-9 record.
- WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins’ speedster has been one of the most explosive players in the league, catching 87 passes for 1,467 yards and 14 touchdowns. He leads the league in receiving yards and ranks second in receiving touchdowns, behind only Davante Adams of the Packers. He has also rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, and has returned a punt for a touchdown. He is the only player in the league with more than 1,500 scrimmage yards and 15 total touchdowns. However, he was snubbed from the AFC Pro Bowl roster, which features Allen, Chase and Diggs. Hill might feel disrespected by the voters, especially since he has been a key factor in the Dolphins’ 13-3 record and the AFC South title, while Diggs’ Bills missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
- DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: The Browns’ pass rusher has been a dominant force on the edge, recording 13 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. He ranks third in the league in sacks, behind only Bosa and Watt, and fourth in forced fumbles, behind only Watt, Donald and Jones. He has also scored a defensive touchdown, returning a fumble for a score. He is a strong candidate for Defensive Player of the Year honors. However, he was snubbed from the AFC Pro Bowl roster, which features Watt, Donald, Jones and Young. Garrett might feel robbed by the voters, especially since he has been the leader of the Browns’ defense, which ranks fourth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed, and has helped the Browns clinch their first playoff berth since 2002 with an 11-5 record.