Buffalo Bills linebacker Zach Brown is headed to the 2017 Pro Bowl, the first in his six-year NFL career. Brown was excited, tweeting out a response this afternoon.
Best phone call in my life!!!!
— Zach Brown (@ZachBrown_55) January 23, 2017
Not voted in initially, Brown will presumably replace Dont’a Hightower of the New England Patriots, whose squad advanced to the Super Bowl yesterday with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game.
Drafted in the second round of the 2012 Draft by Tennessee Titans, Brown had a breakout year this past season after coming over to Buffalo. A starter in all 16 games for the first time in his career, Brown recorded a personal-best 97 tackles this season.
Originally expected to back up rookie Reggie Ragland, Brown stepped in better than anyone could have imagined when Ragland went down during training camp. After the performance he put up in 2016, the soon-to-be free agent is expected to receive a significant pay increase from the $1.25 million the Bills paid him last season.
This year’s Pro Bowl will be played in Orlando, Florida instead of Hawaii where it was held for all but two times since 1979 (2010 in Miami and 2015 in Arizona). The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 29th.
Joining Brown in the game are linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, offensive guard Richie Incognito, and defensive lineman Kyle Williams. Running back LeSean McCoy was originally nominated but withdrew due to injury.