The Pro Bowl is an annual event of the NFL where players are voted and invited to play in a game consisting of ‘All Stars’. That is, players are selected from the AFC and the NFC to feature in the game based on the performances they have had throughout the regular season. Although this game doesn’t have any official records as far as the NFL’s regular season or postseason goes, it is still a great honor to represent your team in this fun-filled event.
When a player’s career in the NFL comes to an end, there are several key statistics and records that place him in the history of this great sport. For quarterbacks, it is their passing records, touchdowns, and interceptions along with other minor stats which are looked at and debated over. For receivers, it is their catching stats, total receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, for running backs it is their rushing yards and touchdowns while for defensive players it is their sacks, interceptions, forced and recovered fumbles, and more that make them the greatest.
But even with these stats, a player is also regarded in high esteem for the number of Pro Bowls he has been named to. Having played in multiple Pro Bowls not only looks good on the player’s resume but it is also alluded to while discussing his greatness. So how can a player actually get selected to the Pro Bowl?
How do players get voted
With a system that has been in place for so many decades now, there are bound to be a few changes. Until 1995, the league gave rights only to the players and coaches to select the players who they thought deserved to be in the Pro Bowl. From 1995 onwards, the NFL allowed the fans to also partake in the voting by allowing them to cast their votes on the official NFL.com website.
As per that rule change, each group's vote, that is the players, coaches, and fans counts for 33.3%. For any player to be considered a Pro Bowler, the said player must either have been selected to the team or he must have accepted an invitation as a replacement player. Those players who are invited but who do not attend are not considered a Pro Bowler for that year.
Since 2010, the Pro Bowl has been played before the Super Bowl which means all players who will be playing the Super Bowl do not make an appearance in the Pro Bowl. However, their status as a Pro Bowler does not change. The same is the case for any replacement Pro Bowl candidates.
With that said, the selection process is met with lots of criticism as the fans generally vote for players from their favorite team rather than the most deserving players. Similarly, many times players also vote for the same peers year in and year out, limiting the opportunities for those players who have had a better season of football under their belt.
List of Players with most invitations to the Pro Bowl
A whole bunch of players have been invited to the Pro Bowl on at least 11 occasions but Tom Brady is the current leader of the pack with 15 Pro Bowls to his name. Few players have even been named to the Pro Bowl on 12,13, and 14 occasions as well.
| Pro Bowls | Player | Pos | Seasons by team | Selection years |
| 15 | Tom Brady | QB | New England Patriots (2000–2019) | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009–2018, 2021 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2022) | ||||
| 14 | Tony Gonzalez | TE | Kansas City Chiefs (1997–2008) | 1999–2008, 2010–2013 |
| Atlanta Falcons (2009–2013) | ||||
| Peyton Manning | QB | Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) | 1999, 2000, 2002–2010, 2012–2014 | |
| Denver Broncos (2012–2015) | ||||
| Bruce Matthews | G | Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / | 1988–2001 | |
| Tennessee Titans (1983–2001) | ||||
| Merlin Olsen | DT | Los Angeles Rams (1962–1976) | 1962–1975 | |
| 13 | Drew Brees | QB | San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) | 2004, 2006, 2008–2014, 2016–2019 |
| New Orleans Saints (2006–2020) | ||||
| Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore Ravens (1996–2012) | 1997–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011 | |
| Jerry Rice | WR | San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000) | 1986–1996, 1998, 2002 | |
| Oakland Raiders (2001–2004) | ||||
| Seattle Seahawks (2004) | ||||
| Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia Eagles (1985–1992) | 1986–1998 | |
| Green Bay Packers (1993–1998) | ||||
| Carolina Panthers (2000) | ||||
| 12 | Champ Bailey | CB | Washington Redskins (1999–2003) | 2000–2007, 2009–2012 |
| Denver Broncos (2004–2013) | ||||
| Ken Houston | S | Houston Oilers (1967–1972) | 1968–1979 | |
| Washington Redskins (1973–1980) | ||||
| Randall McDaniel | G | Minnesota Vikings (1988–1999) | 1989–2000 | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000–2001) | ||||
| Jim Otto | C | Oakland Raiders (1960–1974) | 1961–1972 | |
| Junior Seau | LB | San Diego Chargers (1990–2002) | 1991–2002 | |
| Miami Dolphins (2003–2005) | ||||
| New England Patriots (2006–2009) | ||||
| Will Shields | G | Kansas City Chiefs (1993–2006) | 1995–2006 | |
| 11 | Larry Allen | G | Dallas Cowboys (1994–2005) | 1995–2001, 2003–2006 |
| San Francisco 49ers (2006–2007) | ||||
| Derrick Brooks | LB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995–2008) | 1997–2006, 2008 | |
| Brett Favre | QB | Atlanta Falcons (1991) | 1992, 1993, 1995–1997, 2001–2003, 2007–2009 | |
| Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) | ||||
| New York Jets (2008) | ||||
| Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) | ||||
| Larry Fitzgerald | WR | Arizona Cardinals (2004–2020) | 2005, 2007–2013, 2015–2017 | |
| Bob Lilly | DT | Dallas Cowboys (1961–1974) | 1962, 1964–1973 | |
| Tom Mack | G | Los Angeles Rams (1966–1978) | 1967–1975, 1977, 1978 | |
| Gino Marchetti | DE | Dallas Texans (1952) | 1954–1964 | |
| Baltimore Colts (1953–1964; 1966) | ||||
| Anthony Muñoz | OT | Cincinnati Bengals (1980–1992) | 1981–1991 | |
| Jonathan Ogden | OT | Baltimore Ravens (1996–2007) | 1997–2007 | |
| Willie Roaf | OT | New Orleans Saints (1993–2001) | 1994–2000, 2002–2005 | |
| Kansas City Chiefs (2002–2005) | ||||
| Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo Bills (1985–1999) | 1987–1990, 1992–1998 | |
| Washington Redskins (2000–2003) | ||||
| Jason Witten | TE | Dallas Cowboys (2003–2017, 2019) | 2004–2010, 2012–2014, 2017 | |
| Las Vegas Raiders (2020) | ||||
| Rod Woodson | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers (1987–1996) | 1989–1994, 1996, 1999–2002 | |
| San Francisco 49ers (1997) | ||||
| Baltimore Ravens (1998–2001) | ||||
| Oakland Raiders (2002–2003) |
FAQs
A. Tom Brady with 15 Pro Bowl invitations is at the top of the list.
A. Jerry Rice is a thirteen-time Pro Bowler.
A. A total of 28 players have been invited to at least 11 Pro Bowls.
A. Players are selected by their peers, coaches, and fans who all cast their votes.
A. Peyton Manning was invited to the Pro Bowl 14 times.
