For the Reporter:
The Seattle Seahawks will be represented in the 2019 Pro Bowl by punter Michael Dickson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, the NFL announced this evening.
Dickson becomes the first Seattle punter to make the all-star game since Rick Tuten in 1994 and becomes the first rookie punter since the Los Angeles Rams’ Dale Hatcher in 1985 to be selected to the Pro Bowl. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November after he punted 16 times, averaging 53.0 yards-per-punt with a net average of 47.4 yards, both of those numbers leading the NFL for November. Five of those 16 punts were downed inside the 20 and none went into the end zone for touchbacks. He currently leads the NFL in punt average (48.9) and net average (44.2).
This will be Wagner’s fifth-consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl in his seven NFL seasons. In one of the most dominant individual defensive performances in franchise history, Wagner caused two turnovers in the red zone, ripping the ball loose for a forced fumble and recovery on a second-quarter San Francisco (12/2) drive, then he closed out the Seattle victory with a franchise-record 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. In addition to the interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery, Wagner filled out every other category on the defensive stat sheet, recording 12 tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and two passes defensed. He is the first Seahawks player to have an interception return for a touchdown, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack in the same game since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
Wagner’s 890 tackles since 2012 rank second in the NFL and he is the first player in franchise history to record seven-consecutive 100-tackle seasons. He is 95 tackles short of setting the franchise record (Eugene Robinson, 984) and leads the team with 114 tackles (69 solo) and a career-high 11 passes defensed this season.
The Seahawks have seven alternates to the Pro Bowl; running back Chris Carson, defensive end Frank Clark, return specialist Tyler Lockett, safety Bradley McDougald, guard J.R. Sweezy, quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker K.J. Wright. The player would be named to the team if a selected member of the squad cannot participate.
The 2019 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 and televised live on ABC/ESPN at noon PT from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
