Three former Bears in the Pro Bowl Games |
While some out there have not been happy with the changes made to the Pro Bowl, not having the Pro Bowl Games with multiple different challenges, it is still an honor to make it into the Pro Bowl. No players from the Chicago Bears made it in this year, but three former Bears did make it to the Pro Bowl - outside linebacker Khalil Mack, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, and long snapper Andrew DePaola. However, Mack will not be playing due to injury.
He may not be playing in the Pro Bowl Games this year, but he was an important player on the Bears’ defense while he was a Chicago Bear. He played for Chicago from 2018 to 2021; in 2018, when the Bears were division champions and the No. 3 seed in the NFC, Mack also was selected as an All-Pro. In fact, in his first game playing for the Bears, he sacked Aaron Rodgers and returned the fumble for a touchdown. After the 2021 season, where he was only able to play in seven games due to a series of injuries, Mack was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers for a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (which was used to draft Jaquan Brisker) and a sixth-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Roquan Smith was the first-round pick for the Bears back in 2018. He started 59 games for Chicago, including eight games this season, before being traded mid-season to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a second-round pick and fifth-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, as well as linebacker AJ Klein. Smith never was selected to the Pro Bowl or selected as an All-Pro prior to this season. He had a career-high in solo tackles this season, with 103, 52 of those coming while he was still with the Bears. In addition, Smith had three interceptions this season, also a career-high. Two of them came while he was with Chicago. In the Pro Bowl games, he will be participating in two events - dodgeball on Thursday, February 2 (6 p.m./ESPN) and flag football on Sunday, February 5 (2 p.m./ESPN).
Andrew DePaola is currently a long snapper for the Minnesota Vikings; this is his first season being selected to the Pro Bowl as well as his first season selected as an All-Pro. He’s been on a few other teams before arriving in Minnesota, including the Bears back in 2017. DePaola started all sixteen games for the Bears. In the Pro Bowl Games, he will be participating in one challenge, Kick Tac Toe, on Sunday, February 5.
Offensive lineman Orlando Brown was also selected to his fourth Pro Bowl in his career. He is not currently on the Bears and hasn’t previously played for them, but he is someone that the Bears should consider pursuing in the offseason. Brown will not be playing in the Pro Bowl Games because his current team, the Kansas City Chiefs, are in the Super Bowl. He is someone to keep an eye on as he could potentially come to Chicago in the future, particularly given the needs the Bears have at offensive line.Khalil Mack
Roquan Smith
Andrew DePaola
Bears target Orlando Brown
