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The 2015 Pro Bowl will be held Sunday, January 25 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona — the weekend before Super Bowl XLIX is played in the same stadium.
This year’s Pro Bowl will follow similar guidelines to last year’s game. Two designated alumni captains — former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter and Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin — will draft from the fan-selected players on Tuesday, January 20 and make up two teams of 44 players each. Each roster must contain 21 players on offense, 18 players on defense and five on special teams.
Last year, Hall of Famers, wide receiver Jerry Rice and cornerback Deion Sanders were the two captains. These were the two 2014 Pro Bowl rosters.
In a special caveat for the game, the NFL is reportedly considering a new rule change that will shorten the goal posts for the 1st time in 90 years.
The players selected by fan-voting to play in the 2015 Pro Bowl are:
NFL Pro Bowl Rosters Revealed: http://t.co/V29zZuf2VQ #ProBowl http://t.co/z6gnmVx8bp
Quarterbacks:
Aaron Rodgers, GB
Peyton Manning, DEN
Andrew Luck, IND
Tom Brady, NE
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
Tony Romo, DAL
Runningbacks:
DeMarco Murray, DAL
Le’Veon Bell, PIT
Marshawn Lynch, SEA
Arian Foster, HOU
LeSean McCoy, PHI
Jamaal Charles, KC
Fullbacks:
John Kuhn, GB
Marcel Reese, OAK
Wide Receivers:
Antonio Brown, PIT
Dez Bryant, DAL
A.J. Green, CIN
T.Y. Hilton, IND
Calvin Johnson, DET
Julio Jones, ATL
Jordy Nelson, GB
DeMariyus Thomas, DEN
Tight Ends:
Jimmy Graham, NO
Rob Gronkowski, NE
Julius Thomas, DEN
Greg Olsen, CAR
Tackles:
Ryan Clady, DEN
Jason Peters, PHI
Tyron Smith, DAL
Joe Staley, SF
Joe Thomas, CLE
Trent Williams, WSH
Centers:
Travis Frederick, DAL
Jason Kelce, PHI
Nick Mangold, NYJ
Maurkice Pouncey, PIT
Guards:
Jahri Evans, NO
Mike Iupati, SF
Kyle Long, CHI
Zack Martin, DAL
Josh Sitton, GB
Marshall Yanda, BAL
Defensive Ends:
Calais Campbell, ARZ
Robert Quinn, STL
Cameron Wake, MIA
DeMarcus Ware, DEN
J.J. Watt, HOU
Mario Williams, BUF
Defensive Tackles:
Marcell Dareus, BUF
Aaron Donald, STL
Gerald McCoy, TB
Dontari Poe, KC
Ndamukong Suh, DET
Kyle Williams, BUF
Outside Linebackers:
Connor Barwin, PHI
Elvis Dumervil, BAL
Tamba Hali, KC
Justin Houston, KC
Clay Matthews, GB
Von Miller, DEN
Inside Linebackers:
Luke Kuechly, CAR
C.J. Mosley, BAL
Lawrence Timmons, PIT
Bobby Wagner, SEA
Cornerbacks:
Vontae Davis, IND
Brent Grimes, MIA
Joe Haden, CLE
Chris Harris Jr., DEN
Patrick Peterson, ARZ
Darrelle Revis, NE
Richard Sherman, SEA
Aqib Talib, DEN
Safeties:
Kam Chancellor, SEA
Tashaun Gipson, CLE
Glover Quin, DET
Earl Thomas, SEA
T.J. Ward, DEN
Eric Weddle, SD
Kickers:
Stephen Gostkowski, NE
Adam Vinateri, IND
Punters:
Kevin Huber, CIN
Pat McAfee, IND
The full list of players can also be found here.
This year, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned the most votes. Peyton Manning was selected to his 14th Pro Bowl, tying Bruce Matthews and Tony Gonzalez for the most in NFL history.
Before the balloting, like every year, there was real support to vote a large number of rookies to play in the game. This year, impact rookies such as Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans — a lot of wide receivers from the 2014 class — Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley, Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack and even kickers like Philadelphia Eagles Cody Parkey and Arizona Cardinals Chandler Catanzaro have all deserved some all-star recognition.
Noticeable roster snubs include Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. A full list of other snubs can be found here.
Some other noticeable roster snubs include Jets defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, who despite the Jets 3-12 record, have been excellent this season. Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is enjoying his best season as a pro by far with 95 receptions, 1,331 yards and nine touchdowns, however wide receiver is so deep, so it’s hard to completely get everybody. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobbb was another snub.
The Denver Broncos led the NFL with nine Pro Bowl selections, despite the omission of Sanders.
