For years, an invite to the Pro Bowl has been regarded as a prestigious honor that players gladly accept. However, on Monday, a star quarterback surprised everyone by declining his invitation to the annual game. Originally, the AFC quarterbacks named to the Pro Bowl included Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. With Allen missing out due to an injury and Jackson opting out, their replacements are New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson.
Out of these selections, Drake Maye stands out as the biggest surprise, especially since he had less than a full year as a starter during his rookie season. It turns out that Maye was named to the game only because C.J. Stroud of the Texans declined an invitation to be a replacement. On Monday, Texans beat reporter DJ Bien-Aime reported this decision, stating, “I think this is the start of an offseason of him putting his head down and getting to work.”
Don’t expect #Texans QB C.J. Stroud to be at the Pro Bowl.
He was invited as an alternate but declined per source.
I think this is the start of an offseason of him putting his head down and getting to work.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) January 27, 2025
The Texans’ season ended against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, which may have left Stroud feeling worn out after a long season. It’s indeed surprising to witness someone decline what is usually seen as a prestigious invitation in the NFL, possibly signaling that the Pro Bowl no longer holds the significance it once did. Perhaps this also reflects the excessive strain of an 18-week regular season, making it unreasonable to expect players to participate in an additional Pro Bowl week after the playoffs. Regardless, Stroud will look to recover from a notable sophomore slump in the upcoming season.
