The NFL has changed the Pro Bowl a lot since the days of it being a glorified touch football game. No longer are players expected to participate and pretend it is a regular football game. Instead of those games, players who earn Pro Bowl honors go and play in more “fun” events like flag football, dodge ball, and several other events which showcase the strength and athleticism these athletes possess.

Thursday morning the NFL released the initial roster of Pro Bowlers, and there were four players from the Pittsburgh Steelers who earned such an honor. They were:

• DL Cameron Heyward
• OLB T.J. Watt
• S Minkah Fitzpatrick
• PK Chris Boswell

This from the Steelers official Twitter/X account:

Four #Steelers voted to the #ProBowlGames 🙌

📝: https://t.co/Y9YejIQKGV pic.twitter.com/YRXiztPFeZ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 2, 2025

All four of the players selected by the Steelers have been selected in year’s past. Watt (7) and Fitzpatrick (5) have become mainstays at the event and were both selected last year. T.J. Watt has been selected to the Pro Bowl every year since 2018 with his rookie season being the only one he wasn’t awarded the honor. Minkah Fitzpatrick has been selected three-straight years and five of his six seasons in Pittsburgh with 2021 being the only exception.

Returning to the Pro Bowl this season is Cam Heyward, who missed out in the 2023 season as he missed a large portion of the season due to injury. His seventh selection, Heyward was a Pro Bowler every season from 2017 through 2022. Chris Boswell also returns to Pro Bowl status as he was selected once before in 2017.

Again, the traditional Pro Bowl game has been replaced by activities, which will culminate with an AFC vs. NFC Flag Game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, February 2. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.