Being selected to a Pro Bowl is a significant honor for any NFL player. It's recognition that fans, players and coaches view you as one of the best players in league full of elite athletes.
But for the quartet of Seahawks selected to the NFC roster this week, these Pro-Bowl selections feel particularly meaningful because of the journey to get to this point.
Geno Smith, a starter early in his career with the Jets, spent the last seven seasons as a backup quarterback before finally getting a shot to compete for a starting job, and not only did he win the job, he has spent this season showing himself to be one of the game's best quarterbacks.
Smith said he's "really grateful for the fans voting, obviously, the players and coaches as well. I'm very grateful for my first Pro Bowl and I am really excited about it." But as much as others might think of this season as one of validation for the longtime backup who waited too long to get this chance, Smith doesn't see it that way.
"Not at all," he said when posed the question about validation. 'I think that is just a result of me playing well, which is what I expect. I don't feel validated by it, I think us winning would give me some validation. I think that would be it for me. Obviously, I am grateful, but there is no validation."
Others, however, can appreciate the feel-good nature of Smith's 2022 season even if he doesn't want to talk that way.
"It's a great story," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "I'm so fired up about that. I'm so fired up that it's not something that we could do, that got orchestrated from the outside and people watching what he has accomplished and what he's done. I'm just thrilled for that. It's a good story for a lot of players, a lot of guys know that it is out there and it's not ever over. He's had a great year and I know that he doesn't care about that right now. He just wants to finish this thing right, kick butt in this next game coming up and the next couple, and see where we are."
Quandre Diggs has been a Pro-Bowler each of the past two seasons, so on one hand it's hardly a surprise he is once again recognized as one of the league's best safeties, but on the other hand, he is less than a year removed from surgery to repair a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula suffered in the fourth quarter of the final game of the 2021 season.
"The first one is special, the second one is cool, but when you come off something that I came off of, you guys have seen the videos, you have seen the videos, and it's on the internet every day," he said. "People tag you in those things and you see those things, so you kind of look up and thank God that you are able to be out here and be able to play this game. I have been blessed to play every snap and go out there and compete with my guys. Who would have thought in January that I would have been able to do that. This one is definitely special and definitely means more because knowing what I went through last offseason."
Said Carroll, "That's a phenomenal story that maybe could get lost. If you could remember where he was on the field late last year, and how traumatic that was because he knew exactly what had happened. At that moment that it happened, he was crushed, but he battled back and never backed off. He did everything that he needed to do and came back and put together another Pro Bowl season for us. He's such a big deal around here. Guys love this kid. He's such a competitor. He's so tough. When he speaks, everybody listens. To have him have that recognition again, really grateful."
Tariq Woolen arrived in Seattle as a fifth-round pick out of UTSA, a player with rare physical traits but with very limited experience at cornerback, and was seen by most as a player who might someday develop into a contributing player, not as a Week 1 starter who would go on to lead the NFL in interceptions through 14 games.
"He's had a fantastic season, he has made so many extraordinary plays, and has been a factor in so many good things that have happened with the ball coming to us, recovered fumbles, and all of the picks as well," Carroll said. "He and Coby Bryant had a string going there earlier in the year of knocking the ball loose. It's another terrific story. He showed early in camp that there was something here. We just kind of hung with it and hung with it and before you knew it, he was matching up with our best guys and doing a good job. It just meant, 'Let's see what happens, let's go with him.' He's handled it really well. He's been really humble, I don't know how he was with you guys today, but he's just been humble and very poised about all of this, so we are really proud of what he has accomplished and the coaches that helped him get through this."
In addition to being the first Seahawks defensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl since Lofa Tatupu in 2005, Woolen also takes a lot of pride in being the first Pro-Bowl player to come out of UTSA, a school that only started playing football in 2011.
"It's crazy," he said. "We had the program for 12 years, and I feel like it's one of the greatest things to do because when people go back in 100 years, they are going to see that Tariq Woolen was the first Pro Bowler. It's pretty cool because all of the other schools have history from the 1800-1900s, whatever. It just feels good to do it at my school and to be able to put my school on the map."
Jason Myers might be the most likely of the group to make the Pro Bowl—he also earned that honor in 2018, and just two seasons ago he went 24 for 24 on field goals for the season—but even his story has a good back story to it, as he is also coming off a season that was below his standards, making 17 of 23 attempts in 2021.
"It's just setting a high expectation for myself every year," he said. "You're never looking forward to a year where something doesn't fall, but it happens as a kicker in the NFL. You just have to bounce back, and to be able to see my work come out is awesome."
Said Carroll, "Really, if you look at since he has been here with the Seahawks, he's had a great run with us, and he has done a fantastic job. He's had an awesome year, there was a time where he hit two 56s (field goals) in one game and we were kind of, 'Oh okay, that's no big deal.' He's just been so solid and so accountable. He's a great kid to work with too, he's really a ballplayer and it comes out. He competes like every other position competes, so we are really fortunate to have him."
The Seattle Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs, the 53rd meeting between the two teams, for Week 16 of the 2022 season. Take a look back at some of their previous matchups.
Seattle Seahawks' John Sawyer, left, and Kansas City Chiefs' Jimbo Elrod, right, roll after the ball fumbled by Sawyer during the first quarter of their game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 11, 1977. (AP Photo/John Filo)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Dave Brown steps in front of Kansas City wide receiver Henry Marshall in route to his second interception return for a touchdown as the Seahawks shutout the Kansas City Chiefs 45-0, November 4, 1984. Brown combined with Keith Simpson and Kenny Easley to establish the NFL record for most interception returns for touchdowns at four. The three also combined with defensive back Terry Taylor, who intercepted two Chiefs passes that afternoon, to establish a new NFL mark for most interception return yardage in one game with 345 return yards (Brown 148 yards, Simpson 76, Easley 58, Taylor 43) Both records still stand going into the 2020 NFL season.
Quarterback Todd Blackledge (14) of the Kansas City Chiefs, is grabbed by Jacob Green (79) of the Seattle Seahawks and sacked for a four-yard loss during the second quarter of their NFL game, Sept. 14, 1986. Also rushing Blackledge is Joe Nash (72) of the Seahawks. Seattle beat Kansas City 23-17. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Quarterback Todd Blackledge, right, of the Kansas City Chiefs, is sacked for a seven-yard loss by linebacker Brian Bosworth, left, of the Seattle Seahawks, during the third quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 20, 1987. Seattle beat Kansas City 43-14. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle's David Wyman (92) brings down Kansas City's Christian Okoye (35) during the second half of Sunday, Oct. 8, 1989 NFL game in Seattle. The Chiefs won 20-16.(AP Photo/Billchan)
Running back Barry Word (23) of the Kansas City Chiefs runs past Cortez Kennedy (99) of the Seattle Seahawks for three of his 85 yards during the third quarter of NFL game in Seattle, Nov. 23, 1992. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Kansas City Chiefs' running back Marcus Allen (32) manages to move the ball past the goal line for a first-quarter, one-yard touchdown in Seattle against the Seattle Seahawks, Dec. 5, 1993. Helping block for Allen is teammate Ernie Thompson (45). The Chiefs beat the Seahawks, 31-16. (AP Photo/Dick Downey)
Seattle Seahawks fullback Steve Smith (35) heads into the end zone for a fourth quarter touchdown behind a block by teammate Howard Ballard (75) on Nov. 27, 1994 in Seattle against the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Richard Downey)
Kansas City Chiefs Marcus Allen, left, (32) is hit by Seattle Seahawks Robert Blackmon (25) after 10-yard run in the first quarter at the Kingdome, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1995, Seattle, Wash. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
The ball is just out of reach for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Mike Pritchard during the first quarter Thursday, Oct. 17, 1996, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jerome Woods is a couple of steps behind on the incomplete pass play. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Pete Stoyanovich (10) kicks the game winning field goal over Seattle Seahawks defender Chad Brown (94) in overtime Sunday, Sept. 28, 1997, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs beat the Seahawks 20-17. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Seattle Seahawks Darrin Smith (59) high steps it into the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter of their game against Kansas City Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998 in Seattle. Smith intercepted a Elvis Grbac pass and ran it back 26 yards for the score. (AP Photo/Rick Giase)
Seattle Seahawks' Christian Fauria runs ahead of Kansas City Chiefs' Donnie Edwards after catching a pass in the third quarter in Seattle on Sunday, Dec. 26, 1999. (AP Photo/Lauren McFalls)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna throws a touchdown pass to Derrick Mays under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs' Eric Hicks (98) and Chester McGlockton (75) as Seahawks' Brian Habib (68) looks on during the second quarter in Seattle on Sunday, Dec. 26, 1999. The Seahawks won 23-14. (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander leaps into the end zone for a touchdown on a 3-yard run past Kansas City Chiefs defender Ray Crockett in the second quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) follows the blocks of Seahawks center Robbie Tobeck (61) and guard Floyd Wedderburn during the Seahawks 39 to 31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Seahawks Stadium, 11/24/2002.©Corky Trewin/NFL Photos
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) scores his second touchdown of the game, a 46 yard fourth quarter run, as the Seahawks defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 39 to 32 at Seahawks Stadium, 11/24/2002.©Corky Trewin/NFL Photos
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram (84) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Ray Crockett (39) tries to tackle during the Seahawks 39 to 32 vcitory at Seahawks Stadium, 11/24/2002.©Corky Trewin/NFL Photos
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson (81) speeds up field during the Seahawks 39 to 32 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Seahawks Stadium, 11/24/2002. ©Corky Trewin/NFL Photos
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens (86) catches this ball over Kansas City defensive back Eric Warfield (44) for his first NFL touchdown reception during the Seahawks 39 to 32 victory over the Chiefs at Seahawks Stadium, 11/24/2002.©Corky Trewin/NFL Photos
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch (83) is pushed out of bounds by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Lenny Walls (35) just short of the goal line late in the third quarter of their football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Seattle Seahawks Chris Baker drives across the end zone to score a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs Kendrick Lewis in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in action against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks center Max Unger (60) faces the Kansas City Chiefs line, in the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) carries the ball past Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker James-Michael Johnson (52) in the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
