Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2022 国产外流网All-Pro Team, and Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback selected in 41 years.
The Chiefs' Kelce and the Vikings' Jefferson received first-team votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.
Kansas City quarterback 锘, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones each got 49 of 50 first-team votes. The Chiefs and Niners led the way with four players each on the first team.
Gardner, the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, was named on all 50 ballots, receiving 43 first-place votes. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was the last rookie cornerback chosen for the first team in 1981.
"That's a big deal to me," Gardner told the AP. "It was one of my goals before training camp. It's something I pray for. I worked so hard for it. It's a true blessing for sure."
Kelce's older brother, Jason, also earned first-team honors for the fifth time in his career to stay one ahead of his pass-catching brother. Jason Kelce's fellow Philadelphia Eagles linemate, right tackle 锘Lane Johnson锘, joins him on the squad.
"Big honor, especially happy for (Johnson) who is the best tackle in the 国产外流网without question, especially on the right side," Jason Kelce told the AP.
Johnson, a second-time All-Pro, has missed the past two games with an adductor injury but hopes to return when the No. 1 seed Eagles host a divisional round playoff game next week.
"We put in a lot of time and effort in the game, especially as you get older, you start to cherish it," Johnson told the AP.
Las Vegas Raiders running back 锘Josh Jacobs锘 is among the 16 first-time All-Pros. Jacobs led the 国产外流网in rushing with 1,653 yards, scored 12 touchdowns rushing and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Raiders had three first-team picks despite finishing 6-11.
"The year definitely didn't go the way we wanted it to but, individually, it's definitely an honor to be selected," Jacobs told the AP.
Jefferson, who had a league-best 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving, is the other newcomer on offense. Miami's 锘Tyreek Hill锘 made it for the fourth time, third as a receiver. Hill had 119 catches for 1,710 yards and seven TDs in his first season with the Dolphins. Raiders wideout 锘Davante Adams锘 got the nod for a third time. Adams had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 TDs in his first season in Las Vegas.
Cowboys right guard 锘Zack Martin锘 is a six-time All-Pro, 49ers left tackle 锘Trent Williams锘 and Browns left guard 锘Joel Bitonio锘 made it for the second straight season.
Mahomes also was an All-Pro in 2018 when he was the 国产外流网MVP. He led the league with 5,250 yards passing and 41 TDs, helping the Chiefs go 14-3 to capture their seventh straight AFC West title. Philadelphia's 锘Jalen Hurts锘 got one first-team vote, preventing Mahomes from being a unanimous choice.
Cowboys edge rusher 锘Micah Parsons锘, 49ers linebacker 锘Fred Warner锘 and Steelers safety 锘Minkah Fitzpatrick锘 are the only returning All-Pros on defense. It's a third time for Fitzpatrick. Parsons, who had 13 1/2 sacks, made it as a linebacker his rookie season last year.
Bosa, Jones, Jets defensive lineman 锘Quinnen Williams锘, Ravens linebacker 锘Roquan Smith锘, Bills linebacker 锘Matt Milano锘, Broncos cornerback 锘Patrick Surtain II锘 and Niners safety 锘Talanoa Hufanga锘 all earned their first All-Pro selection.
Bosa led the 国产外流网with 18 1/2 sacks. Williams had 11.
"I tell my wife my goals every day so she can keep me accountable and make sure I do the right thing and it was became a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro," Williams told the AP. "To get this news, all the work I put in has paid off and I gotta continue to do the same thing."
All six special-teams players are first-timers, too.
They are: Raiders kicker 锘Daniel Carlson锘, Chiefs punter 锘Tommy Townsend锘, Packers kick returner 锘Keisean Nixon锘, Patriots punt returner Marcus Jones, Commanders special teamer 锘Jeremy Reaves锘 and Vikings long snapper 锘Andrew DePaola锘.
This was the first year for the AP's new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: 锘Patrick Mahomes锘, Kansas City
Running Back: 锘Josh Jacobs锘, Las Vegas
Tight End: 锘Travis Kelce锘, Kansas City
Wide Receivers: 锘Justin Jefferson锘, Minnesota; 锘Tyreek Hill锘, Miami; 锘Davante Adams锘, Las Vegas
Left Tackle: 锘Trent Williams锘, San Francisco
Right Tackle: 锘Lane Johnson锘, Philadelphia
Left Guard: 锘Joel Bitonio锘, Cleveland
Right Guard: 锘Zack Martin锘, Dallas
Center: 锘Jason Kelce锘, Philadelphia
DEFENSE
Edge Rushers: 锘Nick Bosa锘, San Francisco; 锘Micah Parsons锘, Dallas
Interior Linemen: Chris Jones, Kansas City; 锘Quinnen Williams锘, New York Jets
Linebackers: 锘Fred Warner锘, San Francisco; 锘Roquan Smith锘, Baltimore; 锘Matt Milano锘, Buffalo
Cornerbacks: 锘Sauce Gardner锘, New York Jets; 锘Patrick Surtain II锘, Denver
Safeties: 锘Minkah Fitzpatrick锘, Pittsburgh; 锘Talanoa Hufanga锘, San Francisco
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker: 锘Daniel Carlson锘, Las Vegas
Punter: 锘Tommy Townsend锘, Kansas City
Kick Returner: 锘Keisean Nixon锘, Green Bay
Punt Returner: Marcus Jones, New England
Special Teamer: 锘Jeremy Reaves锘, Washington
Long Snapper: 锘Andrew DePaola锘, Minnesota
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Jalen Hurts锘, Philadelphia
Running Back: Nick Chubb锘, Cleveland
Tight End: George Kittle锘, San Francisco
Wide Receivers: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia; Stefon Diggs锘, Buffalo; CeeDee Lamb锘, Dallas
Left Tackle: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
Right Tackle: Tristan Wirfs锘, Tampa Bay
Left Guard: Joe Thuney锘, Kansas City
Right Guard: Chris Lindstrom锘, Atlanta
Center: Creed Humphrey锘, Kansas City
DEFENSE
Edge Rushers: Myles Garrett锘, Cleveland; Haason Reddick锘, Philadelphia
Interior Linemen: Dexter Lawrence锘, New York Giants; Jeffery Simmons锘, Tennessee
Linebackers: Bobby Wagner锘, Los Angeles Rams; C.J. Mosley锘, New York Jets; Demario Davis锘, New Orleans
Cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander锘, Green Bay; James Bradberry锘, Philadelphia
Safeties: Derwin James锘, Los Angeles Chargers; Justin Simmons锘, Denver
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker: Justin Tucker锘, Baltimore
Punter: Ryan Stonehouse锘, Tennessee
Kick Returner: Kene Nwangwu锘, Minnesota
Punt Returner: Kalif Raymond锘, Detroit
Special Teamer: George Odum锘, San Francisco
Long Snapper: Nick Moore锘, Baltimore
Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press
