With another year of NFL football in the books, former Badgers continued to make an impact across the league. 30 Badgers played in an NFL game this season with 24 making a start. 11 former Badgers made the playoffs, culminating in super bowl championships for LB Leo Chenal and RB Melvin Gordon with the Kansas City Chiefs. After the pair earned super bowl rings, 15 different Badgers have now won NFL championships since 2010.
YESSIR @TJEdwards8 ??
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) February 13, 2023
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??: #SuperBowlLVII on FOX pic.twitter.com/lng0Db5Quv
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— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) February 13, 2023
Congrats, @chenal_leo and @Melvingordon25! #SuperBowlLVII pic.twitter.com/jbqOLmDtNS
Offensively, eight different former Badgers found the endzone. On the offensive line, Cowboys' center Tyler Biadasz earned his first-career Pro Bowl appearance while Rams tackle Rob Havenstein started every game in 2022. Ravens tackle Kevin Zeitler started 15 games, adding to an impressive career of longevity in the league. Since he entered the NFL in 2012, Zeitler has totaled the most snaps for any active non-QB player in pro football.
On defense, Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards and Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt assembled impressive 2022 campaigns. Edwards every regular season and playoff game on Philadelphia's Super Bowl run, totaling 159 regular season tackles, the second-most by an Eagle over the last 31 seasons. The team leader in tackles, he also ranked second in the NFC and seventh in the entire league. Meanwhile, Watt posted his best season since 2018, totaling 12.5 sacks, the most on the Cardinals, and logging 18 TFLs to rank second in the NFC. Watt announced his retirement, wrapping up a legendary career with a strong campaign in Arizona.
Thanks for the memories, JJ ?? https://t.co/7hsC25mpR4
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) January 9, 2023
Ladies and Gentlemen, JJ Watt pic.twitter.com/v85Rzurpap
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 8, 2023
Joining Edwards in the league as undrafted linebackers, rookies Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn both made an impact in their rookie seasons. Sanborn was the only undrafted player named to the PFF All-Rookie team and Chenal posted the highest PFF defensive grade among rookie LBs on his way to logging six tackles in Super Bowl LVII.
With the 30 players seeing action, and a handful on new contracts, former Badger players earned $163,395,750 from their 2022 contracts. Broncos' quarterback Russell Wilson inked a new contract and threw for 16 touchdowns in his first season in Denver.
