As is the case with all voting of any All-Star ilk, Pro Bowl voting is a popularity contest. For a player to earn a selection on the original ballot, which often carries financial implications, they must garner enough votes from fans, coaches and players in equal measure.
Then, as players on the Super Bowl teams are rendered ineligible and others choose not to go, Pro Bowl alternates get their opportunity to experience what is now a set of competitions rather than an attempt to play a legit football game.
All of that said, being a Pro Bowler is an honor and it's a meaningful part of any player's career resume, right next to any notable career stats, how many Super Bowl rings were won and how many All-Pro nods were earned.
The Chicago Bears finally have a coaching staff who can maximize the talent on the roster, and these five players could be first-time Pro Bowlers this year.
5 Chicago Bears who could be first-time Pro Bowlers in 2025
5. DJ Moore, WR
Moore accomplished the rare (if not unprecedented) feat of nearing 100 receptions (98) and failing to reach 1,000 yards (966) last year. But he has topped 90 receptions in three of the last four seasons, and as long as Caleb Williams stays healthy this year it will be the first time in his career he will have had a quarterback play at least 400 snaps in back-to-back years.
Ben Johnson also dabbled with using Moore in the backfield during training camp, which opens up a small avenue to additional production.
For all the (worthy) buzz around Rome Odunze, Moore is in line for a rebound season and the first Pro Bowl nod of his career could follow.
4. Caleb Williams, QB
Speaking of Williams, he was easily tabbed by Kevin Patra of NFL.com as Bears' top candidate to be a first-time Pro Bowler this season. Everything has been aligned for him to have success in Year 2, from Johnson calling plays to a retooled offensive line to two additional weapons being added to the talent around him in the draft.
If Williams sets some notable single-season records for a Bears' quarterback this season, namely yards and touchdowns through the air, he will naturally be in the mix to earn a Pro Bowl nod.
3. Drew Dalman, C
Speaking of the refurbished Bears' offensive line, a significant investment was made in Dalman as the literal center of the new interior trio. He's also the only one of the three who has never made a Pro Bowl.
In each of his final two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Pro Football Focus graded Dalman as a top-five center in the league. His pass blocking grade was notably better than ever last year, and while his run blocking grade fell from a lofty 90.0 in 2023 his 79.8 mark was still fifth-best at the position.
If the Bears' ground game this year replicates what Johnson had in Detroit, Dalman stands to get noticed in-kind as the Chicago version of Frank Ragnow. A Pro Bowl nod, maybe even on the initial ballot, could follow.
2. Jaquan Brisker, S
After his third concussion in as many seasons last year, the No. 1 key for Brisker this year is health. He's also in a contract year, so along with realigning with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen he has that extra motivation.
When he was the New Orleans Saints head coach, Allen apparently told Brisker they were going to draft him. The Bears then foiled that plan one pick before.
Allen seems sure to use Brisker as a versatile chess piece, with some focus on where he is most effective (in the box). If he can stay healthy, nice all-around production, headlined by a high tackle total, would put Brisker on the Pro Bowl radar. Not to mention how a fully healthy season would bolster his next contract.
1. T.J. Edwards, LB
By his Pro Football Focus grade and some erosion in some other numbers, 2024 could be marked as a "down year" for Edwards. It's also safe to say most off-ball linebackers would be plenty satisfied with 129 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks while rarely leaving the field (1,055 defensive snaps).
But by the standard Edwards has set, with over 150 total tackles in each of the previous two seasons and overall PFF grades among the 12 off-ball linebackers in each of the previous three seasons, last year was not completely up to par.
Enter Allen, whose status as a top defensive mind in the league is without question.
Over a five-season span from 2019-2023, with Allen as his defensive coordinator and then his head coach, Saints linebacker Demario Davis earned one First-Team All-Pro selection, four Second-Team All-Pro selections, and two Pro Bowl nods. He topped 100 total tackles with double-digit tackles for loss in all five of those seasons, along with at least four sacks four times in that span (6.5 sacks in both 2022 and 2023).
Read more: Bears' wide receiver tandem in position to be elevated to stud status in 2025
Davis (6-foot-2, 248 pounds) is built differently than Edwards (6-foot, 228 pounds). But Allen knows what to do with a versatile off the ball linebacker, and with that in mind a season worthy of Pro Bowl recognition could easily be in the offing for Edwards this year.
Honorable Mention: WR Rome Odunze, RT Darnell Wright, CB Kyler Gordon