Bucs starting right tackle Tristan Wirfs was named the only Pro Bowl player on the roster this year, but there is no one more deserving. In a short amount of time, Wirfs has solidified himself as one of the best offensive tackles in the league. He’s been a brick wall at the end of the line for the Bucs and gets better each year.

On Thursday, Wirfs expressed how he felt after finding out that he earned a Pro Bowl nod for the second time in his career.

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s exciting, I remember my agent called me and told me the other night and then I called my mom and she was freaking out,” Wirfs said. “She was really excited. It’s really a cool honor, I’m excited to be part of the Pro Bowl games this year, that’ll be fun. It’s cool.”

Wirfs has quickly built up an impressive resume of accolades through three seasons. In year one, he won a Super Bowl with the Bucs. Year two, he was first-team All-Pro and named to his first Pro Bowl. And in year three, he’s made his second Pro Bowl with more to come.

That’s a great run to begin a career. Wirfs talked about taking time to reflect on and appreciate the accomplishments.

“I think there was a point last year, I was just at my mom’s house and it’s when I gave her my Pro Bowl jersey,” Wirfs said. “I think it was this past offseason. It was just a really kind of exciting moment just to see her reaction and kind of step back and realize all the stuff that’s happened this past couple years. It’s been awesome. I feel like I’ve been put in a really great situation with incredible teammates who push me along the way and have been incredibly supportive, and so have the coaches. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Wirfs Gets Appreciation From Players And Coaches

While he praised his teammates and coaches for getting him there, it was those same people who continue to give him compliments.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s done a great job since the day he got here,” quarterback Tom Brady said. We all love having him out there with us and it’s been tough not having him out there. I think when he’s not out there, we all notice it. He’s really learning how to be a real professional and he takes his job seriously. He’s obviously very talented.

“Just his size, his ability to keep people out of the backfield, (he’s) very difficult for people to go through and he’s very hard to go around. He doesn’t get beat very often, very, very, very rarely so really happy for him, he certainly deserves it. If he sticks with it, there’ll be a lot more of those.”

Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich marveled at the quickness with which Wirfs has adapted to the NFL since he was drafted in 2020.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a guy come in like that,” Leftwich said. “Obviously, there’s been some great tackles in this league that I wasn’t around to be able to see everything, but he was this way when he walked through the door. He should be a three-time Pro Bowl guy when you really think of it.

“His rookie year, he was probably the best tackle grading-wise in the league. Just says a lot about who he is, what he’s about, how he approaches it. It’s not just skill with him, (it’s) the mental aspect, the work that he puts in every day. He’s a huge guy and really a great leader for us in that room. It’s good to see him get what he deserves.”

Wirfs Is Ready For Pro Bowl Events (If The Bucs Don’t Win The Super Bowl)

The Pro Bowl has a new look this year as the NFL has done away with the traditional game, opting for a skills competition format instead. Wirfs confirmed that he would like to participate in those events and mentioned which one in particular he wants to do.

“I heard there was an eating one,” Wirfs said. “We’ll see, that’d be fun, especially for the big guys. A food one would be nice. I’ll eat anything.”

If you’re a betting person, you might want to put some money on Wirfs, as he has some experience winning a competition as a kid. But as much fun as the Pro Bowl games might be, the 23-year-old has his sights firmly set on a second Super Bowl, noting that he’d prefer to be playing for a Lombardi Trophy rather than any trophy that comes from an eating competition.

“When I was a kid, I was at the March of Dimes walk and they had like pie eating contest, but it was just whipped cream,” Wirfs said. “I won, it was just how fast could you eat it. I think I was like nine or 10. Hopefully I’m not there (at the Pro Bowl), hopefully we can get this ship in the right direction and be where we want to be.”