Earning a Pro Bowl is one of the highest individual season honors a player can receive in the NFL. Though the reputation of the Pro Bowl has been tarnished in recent years, players still work diligently for a chance to make the Pro Bowl rosters. The Pittsburgh Steelers had four players crack the list this year.
This is largely a popularity contest, as the fans vote for players they believe should make the Pro Bowl. Unsurprisingly, T.J. Watt made the cut. The Steelers star is having a down year statistically but is still one of the top Defensive Player of the Year candidates for the 2024 season.
Joining Watt on the Pro Bowl roster will be fellow Steelers teammates Cameron Heyward, Chris Boswell, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Heyward is having a phenomenal season at age 35, while Boswell was by all accounts the best kicker in the NFL during the 2024 season.
For Watt and Heyward, this will mark seven Pro Bowl appearances. This will be Fitzpatrick's fifth Pro Bowl, while Boswell makes the Pro Bowl for the second time in his NFL career.
Controversial Steelers player makes Pro Bowl roster
Minkah Fitzpatrick has been a terrific player over his career, but his 2024 season was nothing to write home about. Though his presence in the secondary often forced quarterbacks to look elsewhere, Minkah earned just one interception since Week 16 of the 2022 season. Meanwhile, the three-time All-Pro safety has allowed a passer rating of 128.7 from Week 1 to Week 17 this year.
Additionally, Fitzpatrick also ranks outside of Pro Football Focus' top 30 safeties in 2024 in terms of his overall grade. This very much feels like an award based on reputation, not Minkah's 2024 season performance.
Which Steelers could be next in line for Pro Bowl honors?
With George Pickens missing a three-game stretch late in the season, it was unlikely the 23-year-old receiver would earn his first Pro Bowl in 2024. However, if Pickens continues to progress, he could be a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl by his fourth NFL season in 2025.
He's not the only one on the verge of earning Pro Bowl recognition. Rookie center Zach Frazier has already proven to be one of the better centers in the league, and if he takes a step forward in year two, he could receive Pro Bowl honors next year.
Likewise, edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig both had fantastic seasons in 2024, but injuries caused them to miss multiple games—cutting into their raw production. Both dynamic pass rushers played at a Pro Bowl level and are on the cusp of earning individual recognition.
When are the 2025 Pro Bowl Games?
The 2025 Pro Bowl events are split over two days. The Pro Bowl Skills Show will take place on Thursday, January 30 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, while the Pro Bowl Games will be Sunday, February 2 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET.
Both events will take place in Orlando, Florida. Fans can watch the game on cable TV or stream by tuning into ESPN, ABC, DISNEY XD, ESPN+, ESPN DEPORTES, or NFL+.