When the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East, the spotlight turned to the Pro Bowl roster that followed-five Eagles players earned spots, but defensive tackle Jordan Davis was left out, sparking a candid response from the 25-year-old.
The Snub and Team Reaction
“It was a little disheartening,” Davis said by his locker on Tuesday. “I won’t even sit there and lie. But at the end of the day, that’s just the decision of the fans and I guess the people who voted. I don’t have any say in that. All I can do is just continue to work. I think that’s the biggest motivation for me is just continue working.”
Davis followed up with, “Pro Bowl, while it’s good to have, it doesn’t tell the story of the journey that I’ve been through. And all this work that I’ve been putting in for myself, I don’t do it for the Pro Bowl. I do it for the team. I’m just satisfied getting better and playing my best ball.”
A few days after the Eagles clinched the NFC East, they had five players named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster: DT Jalen Carter, CB Quinyon Mitchell, CB Cooper DeJean, LB Zack Baun and C Cam Jurgens. The most notable omission from the list was Davis, who has arguably been the Eagles’ most important defensive player this season.
Stat-Driven Performance
Davis worked hard to transform his body in the offseason, losing around 30 pounds. In 15 games this season he has:
- 65 tackles
- 4 ½ sacks
- 6 quarterback hits
- 9 forced fumbles
- 6 pass breakups
- A blocked field goal that he returned for a touchdown against another NFC playoff team
These numbers highlight why he was expected to be on the Pro Bowl list, yet he was not even named an alternate.
Coaches and Teammates Speak
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said, “He should have, for sure. I think they need to perform a committee for the Pro Bowl, get a couple retired coaches, couple retired personnel guys, couple retired players that will take pride in it and they name it, not all. Everybody and their mother’s got a vote.”
LB Zack Baun added, “Yeah, he’s definitely playing at that level. It’s definitely recognized by us, the linebackers, the DBs, everyone in this building. If you talk to him, he doesn’t really care about Pro Bowl or All-Pro. I’m sure he would like to have that honor but he just wants to see the team success.”
When asked if he feels he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level, Davis laughed and said, “Apparently not,” breaking into laughter with everyone around him. “Nah, I’m just playing. I can’t really say. I guess that’s for other people to decide. That’s not my vote. I definitely think that at some point everybody was like, ‘Ahh, hate that for you.’ But at this point, it’s just like, look, man. On to the next one. We’ll get it next time.”
Focus on the Playoffs
Davis said he’s more concerned with the upcoming playoffs. The Eagles clinched their playoff spot in Week 16 and will have at least one home game in the postseason. He noted that not everyone on the Pro Bowl roster will play meaningful games in January, but he will.
In the NFC, the three defensive tackles named to the Pro Bowl were Carter, Leonard Williams of the Seahawks and Quinnen Williams of the Cowboys. Pro Bowl voting is 1/3 fan vote, 1/3 coaches and 1/3 players.
Key Takeaways
- Jordan Davis was left off the Pro Bowl roster despite strong statistics and a breakout season.
- He publicly acknowledged the snub, emphasizing team success over individual accolades.
- Coaches and teammates praised his performance, while Davis focused on preparing for the playoffs.
The Eagles’ defensive line has proven its value, and Davis’s reaction underscores a commitment to the team’s collective goals over personal recognition.
