Former Tennessee football linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been selected as the NFC’s Special Teamer for the 2024 Pro Bowl games.
It is Reeves-Maybin’s first Pro Bowl selection in his seven-year NFL career. Reeves-Maybin is the only former Vol to be selected to participate in the Pro Bowl Games this year.
View the entire NFC roster here, and entire AFC roster here.
Reeves-Maybin has had an eventful season serving as the Detroit Lions’ special teams captain. His season started with a bang in Week 1, when he picked up a first down on a fake punt run, gaining three yards.
Fast forward to Week 17, Reeves-Maybin converted his second first down of the season on a fake punt, completing a 31-yard pass to move the chains. Both of Reeves-Maybin’s highlight reel plays came on primetime, too, as his Week 1 play came in the first game of the NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs, and his Week 17 play came on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys.
Reeves-Maybin has also recorded 18 total tackles, one sack, one TFL, two QB hits and two pass deflections in limited action on defense this season.
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The VFL linebacker has made a career out of being a special teams extraordinaire. Reeves-Maybin has played for the Lions in all but one season of his career, as he was a Texan in 2022.
2021 was the only season in which Reeves-Maybin played consistently on defense. He started 11 games as an inside linebacker for Detroit, setting career highs in tackles (82) and TFLs (4).
Now back with Detroit after a year away, the 28-year-old is the go-to guy when head coach Dan Campbell decides to dial up a fake punt attempt. And knowing Campbell’s coaching style, fake punts are bound to happen at least a handful of times in any given season.
While Reeves-Maybin is the only former Vol to make the 2024 Pro Bowl Games roster, others had a strong case.
Los Angeles Rams rookie defensive end Byron Young tops the list. Young has had a tremendous season racking up seven sacks, which is tied for second among NFL rookies. Young has also totaled seven TFLs, 18 QB hits and two forced fumbles.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara also had a strong case to make the Pro Bowl, as he recorded 1,160 scrimmage yards and scored six touchdowns in 13 games. Additionally, Kamara has the most receptions by a running back this season despite playing three less games.
The Pro Bowl Games will take place on Sunday, February 4, in Orlando, Florida. VFL Peyton Manning and his brother Eli Manning will once again serve as head coaches for the AFC and NFC rosters, respectively.
