The defending Super Bowl champion Bucs saw two players from their roster earn All-Pro honors. Right tackle Tristan Wirfs was named first team All-Pro in just his second NFL season, while quarterback Tom Brady made second team All-Pro behind Aaron Rodgers.
Other Bucs players to receive votes were inside linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White, nose tackle Vita Vea, safety Antoine Winfield Jr, center Ryan Jensen and left guard Ali Marpet.
The All-Pro list is voted on by the Associated Press and is considered one of the highest honors that a player can individually achieve in a season.
It’s a historic significance for the Bucs franchise as well with Wirfs and Brady. Wirfs becomes the first offensive lineman in team history to make first team All-Pro. Brady is no stranger to making this list as he’s a three-time first team All-Pro, but he’s the first quarterback in the Bucs organization to make any All-Pro team.
“It’s cool,” Wirfs said. “I hadn’t really thought about it much as a goal. I remember earlier in the season I said the Pro Bowl would be cool. When I get out of camp, you just get out there and you’re practicing and you want to do the best for your teammates. You go out there and are grinding every week and you just want to showcase what you can do on Sundays and not let your teammates down. That’s my mindset going into games and going into a season.”
Wirfs has been a rock at right tackle for the Bucs ever since he came into the league last year. He’s allowed just three sacks in two seasons and played every single offensive snap during the 17-game regular season. Though it may be early in his career, but Wirfs is a cornerstone piece that should be here for years to come. He also made his first Pro Bowl along with Jensen and Marpet.
Brady, who is also in his second year with the Bucs, is also having one of the best seasons of his 20-year career. He led the league with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes on the way to his 15th Pro Bowl nomination. The passing yards were the most he’s ever thrown in a season, while the touchdown passes were the second most of his career. Brady is once again in the running for MVP, looking to win the title for a fourth time.
Brady has helped lead the Bucs to a 24-9 regular season record and a 4-0 playoff record since joining Tampa Bay. He’ll look to improve that to 5-0 when the Bucs host the Eagles in the wild card round on Sunday.