Sam Darnold leads 6 Vikings headed to NFL Pro Bowl
Vikings locker room reacts to Pro Bowl picks
Vikings players Jonathan Greenard, Byron Murphy Jr. and Garrett Bradbury reacted to the team's pro bowl selections and facing the Detroit Lions for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed Sunday night. Greenard, Murphy, Andrew Van Ginkel, Justin Jefferson, Sam Darnold and Andrew DePaola were all selected to the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Vikings face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday night for the NFC North Division title and a No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
At practice Wednesday, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced the team’s Pro Bowl selections. The Vikings have six players headed to the Pro Bowl, the team’s most since 2009, and five were selected starters. They are Sam Darnold, Andrew DePaola, Jonathan Greenard, Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy Jr. and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Darnold’s first Pro Bowl nod
Why it matters: One of the biggest storylines of the Vikings’ 14-2 season has been Darnold’s play. The No. 3 overall pick in 2017 has found a home in Minnesota. He’s thrown for a career-high 4,153 yards and 35 touchdowns, with just 12 interceptions.
Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to win at least 14 games in his first season with a team since 1950. He leads the NFL with a 100-plus passer rating in 13 games. He has 12 games with multiple touchdown passes.
What the players are saying: Jefferson and center Garrett Bradbury spoke after practice Thursday at TCO Performance Center about Darnold's Pro Bowl nod.
"That’s big, I feel more proud for him to be Pro Bowl than me. For him to go through what he’s gone through, for him to come here and have 14 wins, to be a Pro Bowler, I’m pretty sure he’s going to be an All-Pro as well. All of that goes into it, it’s just good to see that from the inside out," Jefferson said.
"He’s been on an unbelievable journey. Since the day he stepped in this building, he’s been about working hard, bonding with teammates and he’s playing at a high level," Bradbury said.
The Pro Bowl starters
What we know: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew DePoala, Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy Jr. and Andrew Van Ginkel have all been named starters.
Van Ginkel has 72 tackles and 11.5 sacks on the season. He’s the first player since 2006 to have at least 11 sacks and two pick-6s in the same season. Greenard has 11 sacks, 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 77 quarterback pressures and four forced fumbles. Greenard was the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November.
"Definitely thankful, grateful. Something I’ve been looking forward to all my life. Man I know we got so much more to go, but I’m going to definitely be in this moment for sure," Greenard said. "Hopefully I don’t have to play in it."
Murphy’s six interceptions is tied for third in the NFL, and is the most for the Vikings since Jimmy Hitchcock in 1998. He has five tackles for loss, and 14 passes defended.
"I feel real good. I’ve been wanting this for a long time, but the most important thing this year was being around the guys I’m with. It’s just a blessing," Murphy said.
Jefferson is second in the NFL with 1,479 receiving yards and tied for fifth with 10 touchdowns. He also has 100 catches, and his 14.8 yards per reception leads the NFL among players with at least 70 catches. It’s Jefferson’s fourth Pro Bowl appearance.
DePaola is headed to his third straight Pro Bowl, a steadying presence on special teams at long snapper. He’s a team captain, on the only long snapper in league history to make the Pro Bowl three straight years.
The alternates
Why it matters: Seven players have been selected alternates for the Pro Bowl – C.J. Ham, Garrett Bradbury, Josh Metellus, T.J. Hockenson, Brian O’Neill, Trent Sherfield and Harrison Phillips.
Alternates are often selected for the Pro Bowl when starters either decline their invite, or can’t participate due to injury or playing in the Super Bowl.