The NFL’s annual Pro Bowl games are set to take place on Feb. 3. The games will be a celebration of players’ skills, and will feature the cream of the crop at each position from this season. That is on paper of course. Year in and year out, the most common themes during Pro Bowl discussions are the snubs and undeserving selections. When fan opinion takes up third of the votes, it makes sense that biases towards bigger markets will have an effect. There are some interesting decisions from this year, so let’s take a look at them.
Zay Flowers
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) gestures during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
The wide receiver position is usually stacked, so it’s normal for a player’s inclusion to feel undeserved. That is especially true for Zay Flowers. As any Ravens fan would tell you, their third-year wideout has been having a down year. His tendency to look for more YAC instead of going downfield has led to a lot of unrealized yardage. Furthermore, his lack of ball security has been a shortcoming all year. Flowers has five drops, and more fumbles (three) than receiving touchdowns (two).
Joe Alt
Sep 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt (76) blocks against New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It hurts to say that Alt isn’t deserving of a Pro Bowl nod. However, his inclusion in spite of him only playing in six games is unfair to others at his position, and it opens up a big can of worms. When Alt was on the field, there’s no denying he was among the best protectors of the league. The issue stems from the fact that other offensive tackles have also excelled with a bigger sample size. That’s not to say Alt wouldn’t maintain his elite play if he was healthy, but the fact of the matter is he wasn’t. Additionally, if Joe Alt was inducted, then by that same logic other stars who lost time to injuries should also get a nod. Tucker Kraft, Fred Warner, Malik Nabers and others had their seasons come short, and are nowhere to be found despite elite play.
Jalen Ramsey
Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) takes the field for a game against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Ramsey’s high football IQ and reliable tackling make his switch to safety a great decision by Pittsburgh’s staff. What is questionable though is his Pro Bowl induction. Sure, he’s played very well, but is he better than the other options? Jalen Pitre in Houston has been lights out, recording four picks, 11 deflections and 66 tackles. Another player is Talanoa Hufanga, who not only has 77 tackles, but 29 stops, being a threat both against the run and the pass. Ramsey’s been respectable at his position, but does he really deserve the Pro Bowl induction?
Travis Kelce
Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) greets fans after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Kansas City’s future HOF TE led the Pro Bowl in fan votes for the second year in a row. With the season he’s been having, that should be indicative of the Pro Bowl’s lack of correlation with player skills. Kelce’s presumable swan song season has not been going according to plan. He’s seen his squad miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and he’s failed to provide a spark for the team like in years prior. His performances week in and week out have lacked consistency. Moreover, the reliability he’s provided throughout his career has been absent. His seven drops on the year usually came at crucial times, and had massive implications on not just individual games, but the entirety of Kansas City’s season. It’s indisputable that Kelce is one of the greats, but this year will be one to forget for him.
