The 2023 regular season is coming to an end, which means that Pro Bowl voting is underway. While the Kansas City Chiefs certainly have bigger worries on their mind, the fact of the matter is that Kansas City’s loyal fanbase has acknowledged the hard work and high play of three starters. The NFL recently released a list of the top vote-getters for each position, and there are a few familiar faces on the list.
First off, it’s important to note that fan voting is not yet complete, as fans across the league have until December 25th to cast their ballots. If you want to vote, you can do so here. Additionally, winning the fan vote alone does not guarantee a Chiefs player a spot on the Pro Bowl roster. Coaches and players still get to vote on who earns a spot at the NFL’s equivalent of an All-Star game, but generally speaking, there is a strong correlation between the fan vote winners and the actual Pro Bowl selections. With that out of the way, the three Chiefs leading the Pro Bowl voting are tight end Travis Kelce, center Creed Humphrey, and defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Just announced: Leading Pro Bowl vote-getters for the AFC and NFC:
Offense:
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott
RB: Raheem Mostert, Christian McCaffrey
FB: Alec Ingold, Kyle Juszczyk
WR: Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb
TE: Travis Kelce, George Kittle
T: Terron Armstead, Trent Williams… pic.twitter.com/fsGUR6oU7C— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 6, 2023
Report: 3 Chiefs Currently Lead Pro Bowl Voting
The Leaders
Travis Kelce is widely considered the best tight end in football, so it’s no surprise that the Chiefs tight end is leading the Pro Bowl vote. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend might be slowing down ever so slightly, but Kelce at 90% is still better than just about every other tight end in the league. Through 11 games, Kelce has recorded 74 receptions for 813 yards and five touchdowns while ranking third in PFF grade among 72 eligible tight ends. He’s done all this despite being the only proven reliable weapon in Kansas City’s passing attack, as his ability to beat double teams makes him one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the league.
Creed Humphrey, meanwhile, anchors down one of the best offensive lines in football. The former second-round pick has been an elite center ever since he entered the league, and he’s playing up to his usual insane level in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, Humphrey is the fourth-best center in the league and the second-best in the AFC, and it’s hard to argue against that assessment. Humphrey made a Pro Bowl during his last full season of health, and it’s safe to assume the Chiefs center will do it again in 2023.
Chris Jones missed the first game of the season while holding out for a new contract, but the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion didn’t miss a beat when he finally returned to the field. While he’s not quite as dominant in 2023 as he was in 2022, he’s still among the game’s elite interior pass rushers. During his 11 games on the field, Jones has recorded 7.5 sacks, 24 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 17 quarterback hits. The Chiefs defensive tackle gets after the quarterback with ease, and his ability to anchor one of the best defenses in the league makes him an easy Pro Bowl selection.
Why the Chiefs Pro Bowl Vote (Hopefully) Won’t Matter
Winning the Pro Bowl vote is nice, but the Chiefs should be aiming for a higher goal. The Pro Bowl takes place before Super Bowl LVIII, which means that players participating in the big game cannot play in the exhibition event. As reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs have every reason to believe they can become the first team to repeat since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots.
Winning the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult and you can’t make it to the big game every single year. However, when Patrick Mahomes is your quarterback and Andy Reid is your coach, it’s always going to be Super Bowl or bust. It would be nice if some Chiefs players win the Pro Bowl vote, but it would be disappointing if any of them are available to play in the game.
Main Photo: Mark Hoffman – USA Today Sports
