Pro Bowls aren’t a great measure of NFL ability, but they’re one of the few statistics that enable comparisons across positions. Ray Lewis has made 13 Pro Bowls in his 16-year career, and he can tie the NFL record if he makes another trip to Hawaii this season. Only two players in NFL history have ever made 14 Pro Bowls in their career.
As you would suspect, both are in the Hall of Fame. Among eligible players, Will Shields is the only non-Hall of Famer with 10 or more Pro Bowls on his resume, and Shields will surely be inducted within the next couple of years.
But can you name either of the two men who have made 14 Pro Bowls?
Merlin Olsen and Bruce Matthews. Olsen made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 14 seasons, a record that is unlikely to ever be matched. Matthews made the Pro Bowl in each of his last 14 seasons, another record that is tough to envision being equaled.
