Pro Bowl selections are in and the Rams will have at least five players headed to Orlando in January. Running back Todd Gurley, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker, and return specialist Pharoh Cooper have all been elected to the Pro Bowl.
The five Rams representatives are the most for the franchise since the 2003 season, when offensive tackle Orlando Pace, wide receiver Torry Holt, defensive back Aeneas Williams, defensive end Leonard Little, quarterback Marc Bulger, and kicker Jeff Wilkins were each selected.
"The presence of five of our players on the Pro Bowl roster is a testament to the collective effort of our football team," Rams Head Coach Sean McVay said. "While we emphasize football as a team sport, we appreciate their individual contributions to our overall success. We're extremely proud of them, and it's great to see other players, coaches and fans recognize their achievements as well."
Gurley earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl for his outstanding rookie campaign in 2015, which he finished with
1,106 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. This season, the Georgia product has re-established himself as one of the best running backs in the league — making plays both on the ground and in the air.
Through 14 games this season, Gurley ranks first in the NFL in total touchdowns (17) and rushing touchdowns (13). He also ranks second in yards from scrimmage (1,817), third in rushing yards (1,187), and second among all running backs in receiving yards (630). He is the the only player this season to score at least three touchdowns in multiple games.
This year will mark Donald's fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, as he's gone each year of his career. The former Pittsburgh standout is widely considered one of the best interior linemen in the league and he has continued to display his dominance this year. Donald has a team-high 11.0 sacks so far and 39.0 sacks in his career, putting him past D'Marco Farr (36.5) for ninth on the Rams all-time career sack list. Through Week 15, he has been Pro Football Focus' highest graded interior defender (94.9) by a wide margin.
Hekker will also be making his fourth trip to the Pro Bowl in January. The three-time All-Pro has attempted just 54 punts through 14 games this season — the fifth fewest of any team in the league. But he ranks atop the NFC in both average yards per punt (47.6) and net yards per punt (45.6). Hekker has also registered the second-longest punt of the season, booming the football a whopping 70 yards in Week 13's win over the Cardinals.
The Oregon State product will be joined in Orlando by two of his fellow special teamers in Zuerlein and Cooper.
Zuerlein will be making his first trip to the Pro Bowl this year after a record-breaking 2017 season. With 158 points, Zuerlein is currently the NFL's leading scorer. He is on pace for 181 points overall, which would bring him to second in league history behind running back LaDainian Tomlinson (186 points for the Chargers in 2006). The Missouri Western product has also made a league-best 38 field goals this season and has made six of seven field goals of at least 50 yards.
Capping off the Pro Bowl special teams unit is Cooper. The second-year receiver out of South Carolina will be making his first trip as the conference's return specialist. Cooper has excelled in the role this year, ranking No. 2 with an average of 28.2 yards per kickoff return. He is also one of just three players in the NFL to record a kickoff returned for a touchdown this season, and his 13.4 yards per punt return trail only the Lions Jamal' Agnew.
In addition to the Rams' five Pro Bowl selectees, the NFL also announced QB Jared Goff (first), LT Andrew Whitworth (first) and CB Trumaine Johnson (second) as Pro Bowl alternates.
Check out the full NFC Pro Bowl Roster below:
Arizona Cardinals
Baker, Budda — Special Teamer
Fitzgerald, Larry — Wide Receiver
Jones, Chandler — Outside Linebacker
Peterson, Patrick — Cornerback
Atlanta Falcons
Jones, Julio — Wide Receiver
Mack, Alex — Center
Carolina Panthers
Kuechly, Luke — Inside/Middle Linebacker
Dallas Cowboys
Frederick, Travis — Center
Lawrence, Demarcus — Defensive End
Martin, Zack — Guard
Smith, Tyron — Tackle
Detroit Lions
Slay, Darius — Cornerback
Los Angeles Rams
Cooper, Pharoh — Return Specialist
Donald, Aaron — Interior Lineman
Gurley, Todd — Running Back
Hekker, Johnny — Punter
Zuerlein, Greg — Placekicker
Minnesota Vikings
Barr, Anthony — Outside Linebacker
Griffen, Everson — Defensive End
Rhodes, Xavier — Cornerback
Thielen, Adam — Wide Receiver
New Orleans Saints
Brees, Drew — Quarterback
Ingram, Mark — Running Back
Jordan, Cameron — Defensive End
Kamara, Alvin — Running Back
Lattimore, Marshon — Cornerback
Thomas, Michael — Wide Receiver
New York Giants
Collins, Landon — Strong Safety
Philadelphia Eagles
Brooks, Brandon — Guard
Cox, Fletcher — Interior Lineman
Ertz, Zach — Tight End
Jenkins, Malcolm — Strong Safety
Johnson, Lane — Tackle
Wentz, Carson — Quarterback
San Francisco 49ers
Juszczyk, Kyle — Fullback
Seattle Seahawks
Graham, Jimmy — Tight End
Thomas, Earl — Free Safety
Wagner, Bobby — Inside/Middle Linebacker
Wilson, Russell — Quarterback
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McCoy, Gerald — Interior Lineman
Washington Redskins
Kerrigan, Ryan — Outside Linebacker
Scherff, Brandon — Guard
Williams, Trent — Tackle
