Jordan Davis and the Art of Getting Snubbed From 2025 Pro Bowl Games
Let’s be honest for a second. If you know football, you know the Pro Bowl roster release is an annual tradition of confusion, outrage, and casual fans googling names they’ve never heard of. It’s a popularity contest masquerading as an elite athletic showcase. And this year, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis got caught in the crossfire of the “everyone and their mother has a vote” system.
Despite a breakout season where he anchored one of the league’s scariest fronts, Davis was left off the initial NFC roster. No starting spot. No alternate nod. Nothing. If you’ve been watching the Birds play this season, you know exactly how ridiculous that sounds. But if you think Davis is throwing a tantrum about it, you don’t know the guy at all.
The Maturity Behind the Muscle
When the news broke, Davis didn’t take to social media to post cryptic emojis or subtweet the NFL. He stood by his locker and gave an answer that sounded more like a seasoned vet than a 25-year-old in his fourth season.
Sure, he admitted it stung. “It was a little disheartening,” Davis told reporters. “I won’t even sit there and lie.” But that’s where the pity party ended. Instead of dwelling on the snub, he flipped the script to focus on what actually matters: his team.
Davis noted that chasing individual accolades is inherently selfish. “When I looked at it, and I took a step back, I was like, ‘Mmm, that’s very selfish of me. Let me give back. Let me pour my cup into my teammates,’” he said. He even joked about it, laughing off the idea that he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level by saying, “Apparently not.”
That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it’s exactly why he’s a cornerstone of this franchise. He’s satisfied knowing he’s dominant, contributing, and sleeping well at night.
Fangio Calls Out the System
While Davis took the high road, his defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, decided to take the scenic route straight through the voting committee. Fangio didn’t mince words when asked about his nose tackle’s omission.
“He should have [made it], for sure,” Fangio said. And then he offered a solution that makes too much sense for the NFL to ever actually implement. Fangio suggested scrapping the current voting model, which splits influence between fans, players, and coaches, in favor of a committee made up of retired coaches, personnel guys, and players who actually watch the tape.
“Everybody and their mother’s got a vote,” Fangio quipped. And he’s right. When the voting process relies heavily on name recognition and fantasy football stats, guys like Davis, who do the dirty work in the trenches to let linebackers roam free, often get overlooked.
The Stats Don’t Lie (Even if the Voters Do)
Let’s look at the numbers, because they paint a picture of a guy who absolutely deserved a ticket to the games. After dropping about 30 pounds in the offseason to improve his conditioning, Davis has been a menace.
- 65 tackles
- 4.5 sacks
- 6 QB hits
- 9 tackles for loss
- 6 pass breakups
Oh, and let’s not forget the highlight of the year: blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown to seal a win against a fellow playoff contender. If a 300-plus-pound man rumbling into the end zone isn’t Pro Bowl material, frankly, I don’t know what is.
Eyes on the Real Prize
At the end of the day, the Pro Bowl is an exhibition game that half the players skip anyway. Davis made a poignant observation: not everyone on that roster will be playing meaningful football in January. The Eagles, however, have already clinched their spot and locked down at least one home game.
Davis isn’t playing for a trip to the Pro Bowl; he’s playing for a trip to the Super Bowl. His teammate Zack Baun put it best: “It’s definitely recognized by us… If you talk to him, he doesn’t really care about the Pro Bowl or All-Pro. I’m sure he would like to have that honor, but he just wants to see the team’s success.”
So, let the voters have their popularity contest. Jordan Davis has bigger blockers to shed.
