Derrick Brown Deserved a Pro Bowl Nod-And He’s Not Letting the Snub Slide
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Derrick Brown woke up on Christmas Eve with a Pro Bowl-sized lump of coal in his stocking. The Carolina Panthers defensive lineman, fresh off a career year, was left off the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster-despite stacking up numbers and tape that scream dominance.
Let’s call it what it is: one of the biggest snubs of the 2025 Pro Bowl selections.
Brown finished third in fan voting among all interior defensive linemen across the league. That’s no small feat-fan votes count for a third of the selection process.
But when the votes from players and coaches were tallied, Brown was edged out by three familiar names: Jalen Carter (Eagles), Leonard Williams (Seahawks), and Quinnen Williams (Cowboys). All three made the cut last year, and all three are undeniably talented.
But Brown’s omission raises eyebrows.
Here’s why.
Through 15 games, Brown has racked up a career-high five sacks-a number that leads the Panthers and outpaces both Carter (2.0) and Quinnen Williams (2.5) combined. He also has 54 total tackles, more than Carter (32) and Williams (48). That’s not just production-it’s disruption.
And it’s not like Leonard Williams didn’t earn his spot. The 31-year-old has been a force for the NFC-leading Seahawks, with 59 tackles and seven sacks.
He’ll face off against Brown and the Panthers this weekend in Charlotte. But even with Williams’ strong season, there’s a compelling case that Brown should’ve been right there with him.
This isn’t just about stats, either. Brown’s impact jumps off the film.
He’s leading all defensive linemen in pass breakups with seven-an often overlooked stat that speaks to his ability to affect the passing game even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback. He’s one of just four defensive linemen with at least five sacks and that many PBUs.
And among defensive tackles, only three-including Brown-have managed 50 or more tackles with at least five sacks.
In other words, the man is everywhere.
What makes this snub sting even more is that there won’t be a chance for redemption as an alternate. With the Pro Bowl format now centered around a flag football game, and linemen no longer needed for the main event, the NFL isn’t naming alternates for those positions. So even if someone drops out, Brown won’t get the call.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s battled back from a serious knee injury that cost him the final 16 games of last season. Brown returned this year looking like the same wrecking ball he was before surgery-if not better.
Ask anyone who watches the trenches closely. NFL Network analyst and former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger is one of them. He’s been singing Brown’s praises all season on social media, marveling at the raw power Brown brings to the line of scrimmage.
“There’s just not many guys that can take grown men and just throw ’em like it’s a frisbee,” Baldinger said this week. And if you’ve seen Brown toss 315-pound linemen like they’re practice dummies, you know exactly what he means.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who typically avoids singling out players, made an exception when asked about Brown’s Pro Bowl snub.
“What I saw from Derrick this year is dominant football play,” Canales said. “A guy that stands for everything we believe in and a guy that’s disruptive in every way, shape and form.
Coming up with sacks this year, and certainly just against the run game and the way he’s played. He definitely is recognized, regardless of what the accolades might be, by his teammates and by his peers-the people that he plays against.”
That kind of recognition matters. So does what Brown means to the Panthers’ locker room.
Since Canales took over and Dan Morgan was promoted to GM in 2024, the organization has emphasized rewarding players who produce and lead. Brown was the first to get that nod, signing a four-year, $96 million extension that made him one of the seven highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL.
And he’s earned every penny.
Brown, along with guys like Chuba Hubbard, Jaycee Horn, and Taylor Moton, has helped build the kind of culture Carolina’s been chasing for years. Horn, by the way, did get his second straight Pro Bowl nod after a breakout season with five interceptions.
But Brown? He’ll have to wait another year to add “multiple-time Pro Bowler” to his résumé.
That said, don’t expect him to sulk.
“I was disappointed,” Brown admitted. “Being the competitor I am, definitely want the opportunity to represent my team in the Pro Bowl.
It’s one of those things, I guess my peers and coaches don’t think I’m good enough to be in there. So I’ll take that with a grain of salt and just keep working.”
That’s the mindset of a guy who’s not just trying to rack up accolades-he’s trying to dominate every snap. And now, with the Panthers still fighting for a playoff berth and games against Seattle and Tampa Bay on deck, Brown has even more motivation.
“I was definitely shocked I didn’t make it,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing good ball coming back off of the injury.
It’s not gonna knock my confidence down any. They still gotta stop that s- on Sundays, so it is what it is.”
Translation: the snub might’ve lit a fire. And if you’re lining up across from Derrick Brown in the next two weeks, you’d better be ready.