Kyle Long has earned a third trip to the NFL Pro Bowl in as many years. Long, who was selected 20th overall by the Bears in 2013, switched from guard to tackle this past season. Long will replace Philadelphia Eagles lineman Jason Peters as a reserve on the Pro Bowl roster.
This will mark the first time Long will play in such game as a tackle, however, many felt that Long was truly a tackle all along. Long has the elite athleticism and body type needed to play the tackle position at the highest level – it will only be a matter of time before his raw talent turns into polished ability.
The achievement caps off a rollercoaster of a year for the newly converted tackle, as there were times that Long flashed dominance, and also some learning curves at the new position.
When asked about what it meant to be headed to his third straight Pro Bowl, Long stated “I’m very thankful for the fans that voted and for the continual support from the Chicago Bears fan base.”
Overall, Long remains a foundational piece for the Bears franchise, as he is not just a fan favorite but also the type of leader that many feel is needed in the locker room during a rebuild such as the one that the Bears are currently going through.
Congratulations to Kyle, hard work pays off, and I am sure that every Bears fan is excited to see what a full off-season at tackle will do for #75 next year.