The Seahawks will send six players to Orlando for this week's Pro Bowl Games.
Receiver DK Metcalf, quarterback Geno Smith and special teamer Nick Bellore were all added to the NFC squad on Tuesday as injury replacements for Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Lions special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
They'll join the three Seahawks players who were selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster, linebacker Bobby Wagner, cornerback Devon Witherspoon and safety Julian Love. Seattle's six Pro Bowlers is the team's most since the Seahawks sent seven players to the Pro Bowl following the 2020 season.
Smith, last year's AP Comeback Player of the Year, will participate in his second consecutive Pro Bowl after spending the previous seven seasons as a backup. Thanks in part to injuries—both his own and to the offensive line—Smith didn't quite match last season's overall production, but he finished the season playing at a very high level, throwing eight touchdown passes with just one interception over his final four games, three of them Seattle victories. Smith had a quarterback rating of 101.6 or better in each of those final four games, and his QBR (ESPN's quarterback rating) of 81.3 in those games was the best in the NFL over that span. Most notably, Smith led five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during the 2023 season, tying Russell Wilson and Dave Krieg for the most in a season in franchise history.
"He's put everything out there," receiver Tyler Lockett said of Smith. "I think he's shown resilience throughout the course of not getting the chance to play, and then these last two years being able to play, showing that he can come back and do it again. Showing when people finally put him on notice, they're like, 'Well maybe it's just a one-year thing' and he comes out here and plays great again. He leads us to victories, he's a great leader, he does everything right. For us we're thankful and happy to have him as our quarterback."
This is Metcalf's second time being named a Pro Bowler, but will be his first time actually participating in the event, as his previous Pro-Bowl nod came after the 2020 season when the game was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Metcalf becomes just the third receiver in franchise history with multiple Pro-Bowl selections along with Steve Largent (seven) and Doug Baldwin (two).
The Seahawks' leading receiver in 2023, Metcalf had 66 receptions for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns, and averaged a career-best 16.9 yards per reception. He was also the league's fastest ball carrier in 2023, hitting 22.23 miles per hour on a 73-yard touchdown reception in Dallas, making him the league's fastest ball carrier since Raheem Mostert in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
The 2023 season was Metcalf's third 1,000-yard season in his five-year career, and he became just the third receiver in NFL history to record at least 50 catches, 900 yards and six touchdowns in each of his first five seasons along with Randy Moss and A.J. Green.
Metcalf also has the most receptions (372), yards (5,332) and receiving touchdowns (43) through five seasons in team history.
"DK is only getting better," Smith said late in the season. "He's only getting better. He's only scratching the surface of who he's going to be as a player. He's a young dude, and he's still got some ways to go. To say that is really scary, because he's already one of the best. For him, consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, it's really all the work he's put in. He's deserving. I know he's going to say he wishes he had more yards, more catches and all of that, but I think he's done a great job, he's having a heck of a season, and he's a great player. We love to have him."
Bellore, who has enjoyed a 13-year career after going undrafted out of Central Michigan, has spent the past five seasons with the Seahawks, being named a special teams captain in each of the past three seasons. Bellore finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 11, and like Metcalf, he will be participating in his first Pro-Bowl despite being a two-time Pro Bowler, having also made the squad after the 2020 season.
Take a look back through the years at Seahawks players in the Pro Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80), playing for the AFC, knocks a potential interception away from San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame cornerback Ronnie Lott (42), playing for the NFC, during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 15-6 AFC victory o (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Deron Cherry (20) and Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley (45) hammer the receiver during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 22-14 AFC victory on January 27, 1985, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Fredd Young (56), playing for the AFC, lines up during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 15-6 AFC victory on February 7, 1988, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg (17) pitches the ball during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 27-21 NFC victory on February 4, 1990, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy at the NFL Pro Bowl, a 30-13 NFC victory on February 4, 1996, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Ricky Watters (32) stiffarms Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 26-23 overtime AFC victory on February 2, 1997, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Hall of Fame quarterbacks Steve Young (8) and Warren Moon (2) meet at midfield for the coin toss just before the AFC's 29-24 victory over the NFC in the 1998 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 1, 1998 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks players Michael Sinclair, Hall-of-Famer Warren Moon, and Darryl Williams pose on photo day for the NFL Pro Bowl on January 31, 1998, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
AFC Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon (2) of the Seattle Seahawks looks for an open receiver during the AFC's 29-24 victory over the NFC in the 1998 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 1, 1998 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander #37 of the NFC squad at the 2004 NFL Pro Bowl game against the AFC on February 8, 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC defeated the AFC 55-52. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander #37 of the NFC squad at the 2004 NFL Pro Bowl game against the AFC on February 8, 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC defeated the AFC 55-52. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Second from left, Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl football players Lofa Tatupu, Mack Strong, Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck, Robbie Tobeck, Steve Hutchinson, and Walter Jones pose for a photo with hula dancers Anreana Tseu, far left, and Liana Green, far right Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Julian Peterson #59, Mack Strong #38, Lofa Tatupu #51, and Walter Jones #71 of the Seattle Seahawks take the field during pregame introductions as the AFC and NFC All-Stars compete in the 2007 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 10, 2007 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC 31-28. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8), of the NFC team, throws footballs to fans during an NFC practice for the Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, FEB. 23-24 Seattle Seahawk linebacker Lofa Tatupu, left, American Samoa Federation of American Football President Meki Solomona, center, and USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck hold a USA football helmet during a news conference at the 2008 Pro Bowl football team practice, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, in Kapolei, Hawaii. USA Football and American Samona are to partner together to further strengthen the sport of American football in American Samoa. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the NFC All-Stars Seattle Seahawks unloads a pass against the AFC during the 2008 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 10, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC defeated the AFC 42-30. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung (76) of the NFC blocks at the line of scrimmage during the NFL Pro Bowl all-star football game, Sunday, January 27, 2013 in Honolulu. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) warms up before the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl football game between the AFC All-Stars and the NFC All-Stars on Sunday, January 29, 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC won the game 59-41. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Team Irvin quarterback Russell Wilson (3) of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles out of the pocket in action against Team Rice Sunday January 31, 2016 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Seattle Seahawks Tyler Lockett (16) signals makes a fair catch during the Pro Bowl football game on Sunday January 31, 2016 in Honolulu. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) of Team Irvin is tackled by Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) of Team Rice during the NFL Pro Bowl football game on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 in Honolulu. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) of Team Irvin tries to beat a block by Chicago Bears tackle Kyle Long (75) of Team Rice during an NFL Pro Bowl Game on January 31, 2016. Team Irvin defeated Team Rice 49-27. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) of Team Irvin runs with the football in the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
Michael Irvin, Pro Bowl legend team captain and Pro Football Hall of Famer, center, takes a photo with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3), who was named the offensive player of the game, and defensive end Michael Bennett, of Team Irvin, right, after the NFL Pro Bowl football game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu. Team Irvin won 49-27. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)
