Two former Nebraska Huskers are heading to the Pro Bowl, and they’ve taken two very different roads to get there - but both are built on grit, resilience, and a whole lot of football IQ.
Cam Jurgens, the Philadelphia Eagles’ center, is making his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. Drafted in the second round back in 2022, Jurgens hasn’t just lived up to expectations - he’s sprinted past them.
A Super Bowl ring already in hand, he’s become a cornerstone of one of the NFL’s most physical offensive lines. This season, he’s been a steady force in the trenches, anchoring the middle and giving Jalen Hurts the time he needs to operate.
And it’s not just about the X’s and O’s with Jurgens - it’s the toughness that sets him apart.
Last postseason, he played through nerve pain in his back - the kind of injury that doesn’t just test your body, it tests your will. He pushed through it, helped the Eagles win it all, and had surgery in the offseason to get right.
That kind of mental toughness is rare, and it’s part of what earned him a four-year, $68 million extension. Jurgens talked about that playoff run during training camp, saying, *“It just felt impossible physically all week for most of the playoffs.
You’ve just got to mentally will yourself to say you’re good and keep going.” * That’s the mindset of a leader - and clearly, the league has taken notice.
On the other side of the ball - and the country - Luke Gifford is getting his flowers, too. The San Francisco 49ers special teams ace has been selected to his first Pro Bowl, a well-earned nod for a player who’s carved out a career the hard way.
Gifford went undrafted in 2019, bounced between the Cowboys and Titans, and now finds himself thriving with one of the league’s best teams. This season, he’s racked up 32 tackles on special teams - a number that jumps off the stat sheet in that phase of the game.
But Gifford’s story is more than just numbers. It’s about embracing a role and owning it.
He admitted early in his career that he tried to break in on defense, but quickly realized where his value would shine. “I quickly realized that my ticket was always going to be special teams,” Gifford said.
*“Regardless of where I was or what I had done on defense, because I’m an undrafted guy, and that’s just kind of how it is.” * That kind of self-awareness and commitment is what separates special teams standouts from the rest - and it’s what’s made Gifford one of the best in the business.
So here we are: two former Huskers, two different paths, same destination - the Pro Bowl. Jurgens, the high draft pick turned franchise cornerstone.
Gifford, the undrafted grinder who’s mastered his craft. Both proving that there’s more than one way to make it in this league - and that hard work, toughness, and football smarts still matter.
For Nebraska fans, it’s a proud moment. For the Eagles and 49ers, it’s a testament to their eye for talent. And for Jurgens and Gifford, it’s a well-deserved spotlight on seasons - and careers - that are built on more than just stats.