Despite leading the league in Pro Bowl fan voting, the Chicago Bears will only have three players from their roster represented on the Pro Bowl roster, but they deserve a lot more.
Three players will be representing Chicago at the Pro Bowl in San Francisco: G Joe Thuney, C Drew Dalman, and FS Kevin Byard III. This is a two-player increase compared to last season, in which SS Jaylon Johnson was (rightfully) their only Pro Bowler.
Why Did Thuney, Dalman and Byard Make Pro Bowl?
Thuney was an obvious lock to be selected. The numerous-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion is the best pass-blocking guard in the league and ranks sixth overall for guards this year, according to PFF. His addition in the offseason cannot be overstated enough, as his experience blocking for Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes has helped anchor this offensive line significantly.
Dalman, similar to Thuney, was added this past offseason and has also bolstered the offensive line unit.
The former Falcon has been solid all year, ranking as the seventh-best run-blocking center, fourteenth-best pass-blocker, and seventh-best overall center per PFF. He has built up chemistry with Caleb Williams in each game and looks to be a stable force for the foreseeable future.
Lastly, Byard III is the only Bears returner to make the Pro Bowl this season. He has been a certified ballhawk.
His six interceptions lead the NFL, and his presence on the field has aided Chicago in leading the league in takeaways with 33 — four more than the next closest team (Houston).
Despite an injury-riddled season for the Bears, all three players have played in every game this season, which has been monumental for their success.
Obvious Omissions
Improving the number of Pro Bowlers on a roster from season-to-season is certainly a positive. However, it feels as though the Bears should have had even more players participating in the game this season.
Cornerback Nahshon Wright was arguably the biggest Pro Bowl snub of any player in the league. His eight takeaways (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries) leads the league. His coverage at times has proven to be shaky and he is prone to allowing explosive plays, but nobody else this season has create the momentum-swinging forced turnovers he has.
Offensive tackle Darnell Wright is also deserving of a Pro Bowl spot. According to PFF, the former first-round pick ranks as the sixth-best run-blocker among tackles, and he has allowed just two sacks and 18 pressures on the season.
It helps to play alongside Thuney and Dalman, and the penalties have been a major problem for Wright (11 on the season), but he has been integral towards the dynamic rushing attack.
Special teams ace Josh Blackwell has saved the Bears countless times this season. He made the game-winning block against the Raiders in Week 3, had a crucial kick return block against the Vikings in Week 11, and recovered the onside kick that led to the game-tying drive against the Packers in Week 16.
Blackwell has won games for the Bears and has certainly been a Pro Bowl caliber player this year.
Overall Relevance? Not Much
For years, the NFL’s Pro Bowl has shifted from players receiving necessary praise for their play into a popularity contest. The 2025 season has shown to be no different, especially after what happened to the Chicago Bears.
The Wrights (Nahshon and Darnell) and Blackwell are not the flashiest players, and that is precisely why they did not make the Pro Bowl. The NFL selected other players with larger name recognition or bigger reputations instead, despite the Wrights and Blackwell leading to winning football and posting better statistics.
The Chicago Bears, however, should have loftier goals anyways. There is a chance the Bears will be playing in the Super Bowl just days after the Pro Bowl, so perhaps these omissions will not matter at all.
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