OLB T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt earned his seventh Pro Bowl nod in 2024, starting all 17 games for the Steelers and registering 11.5 sacks and 61 total tackles. His six forced fumbles led the NFL.

Watt has totaled 108.0 sacks in his career, the most in the NFL since the start of the 2017 season. His 108 career sacks are the second-most for a former Badger all-time, trailing only his brother J.J. (114.5 career sacks).

By recording 1.5 sacks in Week 5, Watt became the second-fastest player (109 games) to reach 100 sacks since 1982, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (96 games).

LB T.J. Edwards

Chicago Bears

Edwards started all 17 games in 2024, making 129 tackles and a career-high 12 TFLs. Edwards has now logged four straight seasons with 100+ tackles. Edwards also picked off a pass, forced a fumble, and recovered a pair of fumbles. He also registered a career-high four sacks.

Edwards has made 673 tackles during his career, the fourth-most of any former Badger, trailing Tim Krumrie, Troy Vincent, and Joe Schobert. He has started every game in each of the last three seasons. 

OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

Minnesota Vikings

Van Ginkel had the most productive season of his career during his first campaign with the Vikings and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance. He started all 17 games in 2024, totaling 11.5 sacks, 79 tackles and two pick-sixes, all career highs.

Van Ginkel was the only player to record multiple INT return TDs during the 2024 season, and he totaled 18.0 TFLs, the fourth-most in the NFL. 

OL Joe Tippmann

New York Jets

Tippmann started all 17 games at center for the Jets in 2024, his second NFL season. Tippmann registered a 73.4 PFF offensive grade, the eighth-best mark among NFL centers. 

OLB Zack Baun

Philadelphia Eagles

Baun assembled his best season as a pro, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He started 16 games during his first season as an Eagle, racking up 151 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and five forced fumbles, all career highs. Baun recorded the NFL’s best PFF defensive grade for a linebacker in 2024 (90.1). 

Baun and the Eagles earned the NFC’s No. 2 seed and will host the Packers in the Wild Card round on Jan. 12. 

OL David Edwards

Buffalo Bills

Edwards started 16 games for the Buffalo Bills, who ranked No. 10 in the NFL with 359.1 yards per game. Edwards’ helped a rushing attack that ranked ninth in the league with 131.2 rushing yards per game. 

Edwards‘ 16 starts were his most in a season since starting all 17 in 2021 as a Los Angeles Ram.

The Bills open postseason play on Jan. 12 versus Denver as the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

OL Kevin Zeitler

Detroit Lions

Zeitler started 16 games in his first season as a Detroit Lion, helping the Detroit offense to a league-leading 33.2 points per game. With Zeitler at right guard, the Lions ranked second in the league with 263.2 passing yards per game. 

Zeitler registered an 86.8 PFF offensive grade, the third best mark among NFL guards. His 87.2 pass blocking grade ranked No. 2 in the league. Zeitler has now started double-digit games in each of his 13 seasons in the NFL. 

The Lions won the NFC North and earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They’ll begin their playoff quest during the weekend of Jan. 17-18. 

OL Tyler Biadasz

Washington Commanders

Biadasz started 15 games in his first season with the Commanders, helping the Washington offense rank fifth in the league with 28.5 points per game. According to PFF, Biadasz ranked as the NFL’s No. 12 center during the 2024 season. 

Biadasz committed only one penalty across 946 offensive snaps. He has now started 15+ games in four-consecutive seasons. 

DL Keeanu Benton

Pittsburgh Steelers

Benton played in all 17 games, making 14 starts in his second season as a Steeler. For the second-straight season, Benton logged 36 total tackles. He posted a pair of TFLs and knocked down six passes while also grabbing an INT.

According to PFF, Benton ranked as the No. 28 interior defender in the NFL this fall. He ranked 16th in the league with a 76.5 pass rush rating, per PFF.

LB Leo Chenal

Kansas City Chiefs

Chenal played in all 17 games, starting 14 at linebacker in his third season with the Chiefs. Chenal posted 60 tackles, four TFLs and a career-high three forced fumbles. 

Chenal’s 83.6 PFF defensive grade ranked No. 5 among NFL linebackers and his 90.2 run defense grade ranked No. 4. 

Chenal and the Kansas City Chiefs earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed and begin playoff action during the weekend of Jan. 17-18.

TE Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson played in 14 games, all starts, for the Cowboys in 2024. Ferguson followed up a 2023 Pro Bowl season with 59 catches for 494 yards.

RB Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts

Taylor played in 14 games, making 13 starts for the Colts in 2024. He amassed 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the third time in his five-year career, rushing for 1,431 yards and 11 scores. 

Taylor has now rushed for 6,013 yards in his NFL career, trailing only Melvin Gordon (6,543) among NFL Badgers all-time. Taylor’s 89.7 rushing yards per game during his career are the most ever for a Badger in the NFL. 

OL Rob Havenstein

Los Angeles Rams

Havenstein played in 11 games, all starts, on the Rams’ offensive line. Across 10 seasons as a Ram, Havenstein has started 10+ games in nine seasons. 

Behind Havenstein, the Rams’ offense passed for 227.5 yards per game, the 10th-best clip in the NFL. Havenstein ranked as the NFL’s 26th-best tackle, according to PFF. 

QB Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers

Wilson played in 11 games, all starts at quarterback for the Steelers. Wilson led the Steelers to a 6-5 record in games he started, throwing for 225.6 yards per game and a total of 16 touchdowns.

Wilson has thrown for 46,135 career yards (17th in NFL history) and 350 touchdowns (12th). 

FB Alec Ingold

Miami Dolphins

Ingold played in 15 games, making 10 starts at fullback for the Dolphins after making his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2023. Ingold collected 11 catches for 96 yards and carried 10 times for 17 yards and a score. 

Ingold is the Dolphin’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the second-straight season. 

OL Tanor Bortolini

Indianapolis Colts

Bortolini played in 12 games, making five starts on the offensive line in his rookie season for the Colts. Bortolini registered a 65.1 PFF offensive grade, the 19th-best clip among NFL centers. 

Bortolini became the fifth Badger offensive lineman to start an NFL game as a rookie since 2019 (Tippmann, Biadasz, Deiter, Edwards).

OLB Nick Herbig

Pittsburgh Steelers

Herbig played in 13 games, making five starts for the Steelers in his second NFL season. Herbig logged a career-high 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, while totaling 22 tackles and five TFLs. 

Herbig ranked as the NFL’s No. 16 edge defender according to PFF. He also logged the third-best PFF pass rush rating for edge defenders (91.8). 

OL Logan Bruss

Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams

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. 

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. 

OL Cole Van Lanen

Jacksonville Jaguars

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. 

RB Braelon Allen

New York Jets

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. 

OL Michael Deiter

Washington Commanders

Deiter played in all 17 games and made two starts for the Commanders on the offensive line. He did not commit a single penalty across 232 offensive snaps. Deiter helped the Washington offense rank fifth in the league with 28.5 points per game.

LB Maema Njongmeta

Cincinnati Bengals

Njongmeta played in all 17 games and made one start at linebacker for the Bengals in his rookie season. He totaled 13 tackles and recovered a pair of fumbles. Njongmeta was a key piece on special teams for the Bengals, logging 371 special teams snaps. 

RB Dare Ogunbowale

Houston Texans

Ogunbowale played in all 17 games and made one start at running back in 2024. He totaled 112 rushing yards and grabbed 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown. 

He also played a key role on special teams, posting 200+ special teams snaps for the sixth-straight season.