Four Chiefs players who could reach their first Pro Bowl in 2022
By Jacob Milham
Since 2010, at least one Kansas City Chiefs player has been selected for the Pro Bowl. Which player could earn their first selection this season?
The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the league’s premiere teams for nearly a decade now. The Chiefs have won at least 10 games in the past seven seasons, reaching the playoffs in each of those seasons. The team’s successes drown out several postseason accolades, and that is okay. Postseason wins and championships are better than All-Pro teams, listicle selections, and the like. But, a Pro Bowl selection still has value and can mean a lot to an individual player.
The Pro Bowl has been watered down in recent years, becoming a glorified scrimmage of the league’s best players. The NFL took action this year, announcing drastic changes for the game’s 2023 iteration.
“The Pro Bowl Games” are replacing the Pro Bowl, with skills competitions and a flag football game replace serving as the main events. The week-long event will include the East-West Shrine Bowl and other fan-centric events in Las Vegas.
"“We’ve received invaluable feedback from players, teams and fans about reimagining the Pro Bowl, and as a result, we’re thrilled to use The Pro Bowl Games as a platform to spotlight Flag football as an integral part of the sport’s future while also introducing fun, new forms of competition and entertainment that will bring our players, their families and fans closer than ever before,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business and League Events."
The NFL says the current voting system will remain unchanged though. Currently, the players, coaches, and fans all have an equal 33 1/3% voting power for the Pro Bowl. The postseason game’s popularity contest aspect has drawn much criticism in recent years, with some notable snubs each year. Not every player can or should make the Pro Bowl roster, but the Chiefs alone had a few notable omissions last year.
As the NFL season nears its halfway point, some Chiefs already have stellar Pro Bowl resumes. Players like quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and defensive tackle Chris Jones should be selections this year. But, all those players have multiple Pro Bowl selections in their careers. What players could make their Pro Bowl debut this year?