49ers' Deommodore Lenoir voices frustration over 2025 Pro Bowl snub - "Highway robbery"

Deommodore Lenoir has been a bright spot for the San Francisco 49ers during their 2024 regression, posting a career-best 85 tackles (53 solos), nine pass deflections and a forced fumble. However, those numbers have proven insufficient to give him his first Pro Bowl appearance.

On Thursday, the cornerback reacted to being named an alternate alongside quarterback Brock Purdy, offensive tackle Trent Willams and defensive end Leonard Floyd:

"Highway Robbery Smh."

Deommodor Lenoir reacts to being snubbed from Pro Bowl

The 49ers are represented in the Pro Bowl by fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa and inside/middle linebacker Fred Warner.

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Deommodore Lenoir once thought football career was over

It is remarkable to see Deommodore Lenoir's ascent from a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft to one of the 49ers' most important players. By his admission, he once thought his dreams of making it to the league seemed dead when team after team passed up on him.

In November, he said:

"There were teams calling (about being) an undrafted free agent. Nobody was saying they were going to pick me. And there were still two rounds left.

"I was about to stop playing football, honestly. I feel like I dedicated a lot of my time to it and just for that moment if it didn’t happen how I wanted it to happen, then I felt like the mission was over."

Almost three seasons, he could still feel the uncertainty:

“I was seeing my name a lot (in the mock drafts), so that’s what led me into having hope. But on draft day when I didn’t get called in the round I thought I was going, it was life after football.”

Fortunately, by that time, he had secured a five-year, $92-million extension and was very happy with the "blessing":

"When I heard my agent tell me the deal was finally done, I burst out into tears that I was finally able to change my family's life, for generations."

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was also "pumped" at the then-new contract:

"He's exactly what we want as a Niner. His style of play, how good he's become, and really just how much he loves football, and he's the same dude every day."

Lenoir and the 49ers end their season at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Kickoff is at 4:25 PM ET/2:25 PM MT on Fox.