The NFL has announced rosters for the 2025 edition of the Pro Bowl Games, with both conferences featuring familiar faces and some shocking snubs.

This season’s celebration of the best players from around the league — voted on by coaches, players, and fans — will return to Orlando for the second consecutive year, taking place on two separate days, with January 30th seeing the skill games portion of the event, when the players taking on unique competitions to determine just who is the best at their position, before the following Sunday (February 2nd) hosts the now-annual AFC vs NFC flag football game.

Only four teams failed to have a player named for the Pro Bowl Games, while the greatest number of selections belong to the Detroit Lions (seven players), Minnesota Vikings (six), Philadelphia Eagles (six), Dallas Cowboys (five) and Kansas City Chiefs (five). This year’s rosters feature 24 debutants, including three rookie in Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders) and Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams). Daniels becomes only the fourth rookie quarterback since 1970 to be selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster, after his stellar first season in the league throwing for over 3,500 yards and leading his Washington Commanders to the NFL Playoffs.

Another notable debutant — and potential contender for Comeback Player of the Year — is Sam Darnold, whose Minnesota Vikings upset pre-season predictions by making it comfortably into the playoffs. Daniels and Darnold will be joined by Detroit’s Jared Goff on the NFC roster, while the opposition will be led by Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens).

Those already familiar with the new-style Pro Bowl include veteran tight end Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), who comes back for his tenth appearance, while Indianapolis Colts’ Quenton Nelson is third offensive lineman to be selected for the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons since 1970, joining Hall-of-Famer Joe Thomas and Richmond Webb. The full cast can be found here, although it is almost certain that many of those named will not actually make the event, either due to injury or, in the best possible scenario, involvement in the Super Bowl.

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Hoping to receive a late call-up will be those players that failed to make the cut amid the vagaries of partisan voting. Among the most notable omissions is Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes, who led his Chiefs to the AFC’s number one seed and a 15-1 record. Whilst most fans will accept that, based on the stats outside the win column, Mahomes hasn’t been at his best this season, it is still surprising to see the superstar left out.

Another snub comes in Tampa Bay where Baker Mayfield finally seems to have found a home for his talents, having thrown for over 4,000 yards — posting the third-highest total in the league — and almost 700 yards more than Daniels. Likewise, Philadelphia’s star wide receiver A.J. Brown has been left out, leaving fans to compare his superior stats to those of Washington’s Terry McLaurin, who was selected. Brown hasn’t only got more receiving yards than ‘Scary’ Terry, and with almost 100 fewer routes run, but also has more than double the yards per reception than his Commanders counterpart.

Other offensive players who may feel their seasons warranted inclusion on a Pro Bowl roster include Jonnu Smith (TE, Miami), Puka Nacua (WR, L.A. Rams), Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay), Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, Jacksonville), Ladd McConkey (WR, L.A. Chargers), James Cook (RB, Buffalo) while, on the other side of the ball, Houston edge rusher Danielle Hunter — whose first season as a Texan has been exceptional with the best pass rush success numbers in the league — had almost 30 more pass rush wins than the selected Maxx Crosby, who ended the year on IR.

Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen is another notable snub, despite his 51 pass rush wins ranking second within the position. Having also recorded 8.5 sacks, Allen’s stats appear far superior to the selected Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore).

Other defensive players of note that have been left out include interception-leader Kerby Joseph (S, Detroit), Trent McDuffie (CB, Kansas City), Kaden Elliss (LB, Atlanta), Cooper DeJean (CB, Philadelphia) and Jordyn Brooks (LB, Miami) but, whatever the roster, the selections will always face disagreement from fans and pundits alike. Many of those names listed will surely be offered a spot as an alternate in the next few weeks, joining the all-stars already deserving of their place in what should be an exciting event.