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Football

Badgers in the NFL: Regular season recap

27 Badgers saw action in the 2023 NFL regular season

With the 2023 NFL regular season complete, and the playoffs around the corner, Wisconsin Badgers have continued to leave their mark in the National Football League. Highlighted by T.J. Watt's league-leading 19.0-sack performance, 27 former Wisconsin Badgers saw action during the 2023 season, with 18 different players making starts across the NFL. 

Watt logged his sixth-straight Pro Bowl appearance while Miami fullback Alec Ingold reeled in his first Pro Bowl nod. With their selections, Wisconsin has now had a former player named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last 17 seasons. 

Watt and Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards both started all 17 games this season. In his first season as a Bear, Edwards logged 155 tackles and a career-high three interceptions. Edwards, OL Tyler Biadasz and OL Kevin Zeitler all played more than 1,000 snaps.

Former Badgers tallied 44 offensive touchdowns, including 5 from Dallas TE Jake Ferguson who logged career highs in catches (71), receiving yards (761) and touchdowns (5). Led by Watt's record-breaking season, former Badgers racked up 558 tackles, 37.5 sacks and 60 TFLs. UW alums added seven interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. 

Houston RB Dare Ogunbowale completed his seventh NFL season and completed one of the most unique feats of any Badger in the NFL ever. Ogunbowale connected on a 29-yard field goal to give the Texans a fourth-quarter lead against the Buccaneers. He became the first Badger to make a field goal in the NFL since John Hall in 2006.

Three Badgers made their NFL debuts in 2023 with OL Joe Tippmann seeing his first action with the Jets and OLB Nick Herbig and DL Keeanu Benton debuting with the Steelers.

Beginning on Saturday, Jan. 13, 16 former Badgers will be featured in the NFL Playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens (RB Melvin Gordon, OL Kevin Zeitler) earned the AFC's bye as the No. 1 seed.

Saturday, Jan. 13

(5) Cleveland  AT  (4) Houston - OL Michael Deiter, RB Dare Ogunbowale - 3:30 pm. (NBC)

(3) Kansas City - LB Leo Chenal   AT  (6) Miami - FB Alec Ingold, LB Andrew Van Ginkel - 7:15 p.m. (Peacock)

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Pittsburgh -  DL Keeanu Benton, OLB Nick Herbig, DE Isaiahh Loudermilk, OLB T.J. Watt   AT  (2) Buffalo - OL David Edwards - Noon (CBS)

(7) Green Bay  AT  (2) Dallas - OL Tyler Biadasz, TE Jake Ferguson - 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

(6) Los Angeles Rams - OL Logan Bruss, OL Rob Havenstein   AT  (3) Detroit - 7:15 p.m. (NBC)

Below, check out highlights of each former Badger to start a game this season.

Watt (90) assembled another DPOY-worthy season in 2023

OLB T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers

Earning his sixth Pro Bowl nod, Watt is on track to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year after another season of dominating the edge in the Steelers’ defense. With an NFL-high 19.0 sacks, Watt became the first player to lead the NFL in sacks three times. 

Watt recorded a sack in 13 of 17 games this season and has averaged 0.98 sacks per game since he was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, which is the highest clip in NFL history (min. 100 games started).

Watt's just the fourth player in NFL history to record multiple 19-sack seasons. One of the other three: his brother, J.J.

Edwards (53) played his first season for his hometown Chicago Bears in 2023

LB T.J. Edwards

Chicago Bears

Edwards started 17 games at linebacker for the second-straight season, this year leading the Bears with 155 tackles, which ranked seventh in the NFL. Edwards posted career highs with 2.5 sacks and three interceptions. 

Ferguson (87) made a catch in every game this season

TE Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson played in all 17 games, starting 16 for the NFC East champion Cowboys at tight end. Ferguson tallied career highs in catches (71), receiving yards (761) and touchdowns (5). His 71 catches ranked second for the Cowboys and fifth among NFC tight ends.

Biadasz (63) started 16 games for the NFC East champions

OL Tyler Biadasz

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys' offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz played in 16 games, all starts. Biadasz paved the way for one of the league's best offenses and committed only three penalties, his fewest ever as a regular starter in his career. Dallas ranked third in passing offense (258.6) and fifth in total offense (371.6) in 2023.

Wilson (3) had his best statistical season as a Bronco

QB Russell Wilson

Denver Broncos

Denver quarterback Russell Wilson had his best season as a Bronco in 2023, throwing for 3,000+ yards for 12th-consecutive season. Wilson's 26 passing TDs and three rushing scores were his most since the 2020 season. 

Zeitler (70) played a key role in one of the NFL's best offenses

OL Kevin Zeitler

Baltimore Ravens

Zeitler played in 15 games, all starts, on Baltimore's offensive line. Zeitler helped Baltimore's offense rank sixth in the league with 370.4 yards per game. The Ravens earned the AFC's No. 1 seed by posting a 13-4 record and earning the AFC North crown. 

Rob Havenstein
Havenstein (79) has played in 130 career games

OL Rob Havenstein

Los Angeles Rams

Rams' offensive line fixture Rob Havenstein played in 14 games, all starts, in 2023. Havenstein has now started 14+ games in four straight seasons. The Rams ranked in the NFL's top 10 in both total offense and passing offense. 

Tippmann (66) made an immediate impact for the Jets

OL Joe Tippmann

New York Jets

First-year Jets' lineman Joe Tippmann saw action right away, playing in 16 games and making 14 starts. Tippmann showed versatility by making starts at both right guard and center. 

Ingold (30) earned his first Pro Bowl nod

FB Alec Ingold

Miami Dolphins

Ingold earned his first Pro Bowl selection in his fifth NFL season. He totaled 13 receptions for a career-high 119 yards. As Miami’s starting fullback, Ingold has paved the way for a Dolphins unit that led the NFL in total offense and scoring offense. Ingold has served as the lead blocker for a Miami rushing attack that led the league in yards per carry (5.0) and ranked sixth in rushing yards per game (135.8). 

In addition to his strong season on the field, Ingold was named the Dolphins’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his work off of it. Through his foundation and work with the Dolphins’ community relations connections, Ingold has made an impact in schools around the Miami area this season. Ingold was also a nominee for the award in 2020 during his time as a Las Vegas Raider.

Ramczyk (71) has played in 101 career games

OL Ryan Ramczyk

New Orleans Saints

Ramczyk started 12 games on the Saints offensive line in 2023. He has now logged 10+ starts in all seven of his NFL seasons since entering the league as a first-round draft pick in 2017. He became the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL in 2021.

Van Ginkel (43) recorded 4.0 sacks over the season's final 5 games

OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

Miami Dolphins

Dolphins' OLB Andrew Van Ginkel played in all 17 games this season, starting 11. He collected his first career pick-6 and logged 6.0 sacks and 69 total tackles. Van Ginkel has played in all 17 games in each of the last three seasons. 

Deiter (63) mostly played center in his first season as a Texan

OL Michael Deiter

Houston Texans

Texans' offensive lineman Michael Deiter played in 16 games and made 10 starts in his first season in Houston. Deiter's 10 starts were his most since his 2019 rookie season in Miami. At center, Deiter has helped protect rookie QB C.J. Stroud during his impressive debut season. 

Chenal (54) saw more action defensively in his second NFL season

LB Leo Chenal

Kansas City Chiefs

Second-year linebacker Leo Chenal made a career-high 10 starts for the Chiefs this season and played in all 17 games. Chenal logged 65 tackles to rank fifth for Kansas City. He started the last four games of the season and notched TFLs in the final two regular season contests. 

Sanborn (57) played in all 17 games in his second season as a Bear

LB Jack Sanborn

Chicago Bears

Another second-year linebacker, Jack Sanborn provided steady play to the Bears' defense in 2023. Sanborn totaled 65 tackles, playing in all 17 games and starting 10. Alongside fellow Badger T.J. Edwards, Sanborn recorded his first interception and made 7.0 TFLs, a career high. 

Benton (95) recorded his first career sack vs. Las Vegas

DL Keeanu Benton

Pittsburgh Steelers

Rookie defensive lineman Keeanu Benton emerged as a playmaker in his first season as a Steeler. Benton made nine starts and played in all 17 games, racking up 36 tackles and two forced fumbles. Benton and OLB Nick Herbig both immediately helped a strong Steelers defense that includes Isaiahh Loudermilk and T.J. Watt.

Taylor (28) totaled 741 rushing yards in 2023

RB Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts

Battling injuries in his fourth NFL season, Colts' running back Jonathan Taylor played in 10 games, making seven starts. Taylor totaled seven rushing scores, his most since a first-team All-Pro performance in 2021. Taylor also aided the Colts' passing game, hauling in catches in each of his final six games.

Baun (53) lines up in kickoff return for the Saints

OLB Zack Baun

New Orleans Saints

Outside linebacker Zack Baun started a career-high six games for the Saints in 2023. Baun played in all 17 contests for the second time in his four-year career. Baun tallied a career-high 2.0 sacks and four TFLs while also being a key special teams asset for New Orleans. 

Erickson (82) hauls in a TD catch vs. Las Vegas

WR Alex Erickson

Los Angeles Chargers

Wide receiver Alex Erickson found a new home in 2023, playing in seven games for the Chargers. Erickson hauled in 16 catches, his most since 2019. Erickson scored against the Raiders, his first touchdown catch since 2017, his second NFL season in Cincinnati.