QB Brock Purdy among league-high nine 49ers selected to Pro Bowl،
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl on Wednesday as their respective conferences' starting quarterbacks.
Purdy is the first 49ers quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Jeff Garcia in 2002.
Tagovailoa is the first Dolphins quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Dan Marino in 1995, ending the NFL's longest active drought, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
This is the first time both starting quarterbacks have been chosen for the first time since the 1999 season, when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen.
Purdy was one of nine players chosen from the San Francisco 49ers (12-4), who clinched first place in the NFC. He was joined by edge rusher Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Fred Warner and tackle Trent Williams.
The 49ers (13-3) had the most players selected. Baltimore (13-3) and Dallas (11-5) each have seven Pro Bowl players.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, linebackers Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith and kicker Justin Tucker were chosen among the Ravens, who secured the top spot in the 'AFC.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, punter Bryan Anger, kicker Brandon Aubrey, cornerback DaRon Bland, receiver CeeDee Lamb, guard Zack Martin and rusher Micah Parsons were selected among the Cowboys, who can clinch the title NFC East with a victory on Sunday.
Besides Purdy, other first-year NFC selections include Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, Eagles running back D'Andre Swift, Rams running back Kyren Williams, Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Bears edge Montez Sweat, Bears cornerback Jaylon. Johnson, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, Seahawks safety Julian Love, Ward, Bland, Aubrey, Saints return specialist Rashid Shaheed and Lions special teamer Jalen Reeves- Maybin.
Besides Tagovailoa, other AFC first-year selections include Browns tight end David Njoku, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, Bills running back James Cook, Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, Madubuike, Queen, Hamilton, Broncos return specialist Marvin Mims Jr., Steelers special teamer Miles Killebrew and Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik.
Patrick Mahomes is the third-ranked quarterback in the AFC while Matthew Stafford is the third-ranked signal-caller in the NFC. Trent Williams is headed to his 11th Pro Bowl, the most among players selected. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was selected for the 10th time. Martin, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner are nine-time Pro Bowl picks. Juszczyk and Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill will participate for the eighth time.
Twenty-eight teams had at least one player selected and 21 clubs had multiple players selected.
Player selections were determined by consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group's vote counting as one-third in deciding the final rosters. The NFL is the only sports league that combines fan, coach and player voting to determine its all-star teams.
The Pro Bowl takes place on February 4 and returns to Orlando, Florida for the first time in three years. This will be the second year for the Pro Bowl Games, which will feature a multi-day AFC versus NFC competition that includes skill events and culminates in a flag football game. Peyton and Eli Manning will once again serve as coaches.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
