The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be clinging to postseason hopes from the outside looking in, but one thing is clear: Tristan Wirfs hasn’t let the team’s up-and-down season shake his standard of excellence. In fact, despite injuries and missed time, Wirfs has once again earned a Pro Bowl nod-his fifth straight-cementing his status as one of the premier tackles in the game.
And this one meant a little more.
After hearing the news, Wirfs got emotional. Not because he’s unfamiliar with accolades, but because of the journey it took to get here this time around.
“It’s a combination of everything,” he said. “The injuries I had this year and all those reps I missed in training camp.
That’s when you get your timing down. I started practicing and the next week I was playing the [Philadelphia Eagles].
I didn’t have time to get that comfortability and confidence back.”
That honesty tells you everything you need to know about Wirfs’ 2025 season. Coming off offseason knee surgery, he missed valuable ramp-up time in camp.
Then, just as he was finding his rhythm, he was sidelined again-this time with an oblique injury that kept him out of Week 14. Still, through all the setbacks, he kept grinding.
And eventually, he found his groove.
“To find my set again, middle of the season was tough,” Wirfs admitted. “The whole O-line had my back.
Bucs T Tristan Wirfs said he became emotional when he learned he had been named to a fifth straight Pro Bowl Tuesday after missing the first three games following knee surgery. pic.twitter.com/FS1XEEWkRz
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 23, 2025
Everybody had my back. They mean the world to me.
To get a Pro Bowl this year, I got a little emotional about it. You have those thoughts, ‘are you going to be yourself?’
I was excited.”
That vulnerability is rare in this game. But make no mistake-Wirfs was more than just himself. He was dominant.
In 11 starts this season, Wirfs has posted a 92.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest among 83 qualified tackles. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
He’s fifth in pass blocking (84.6) and third in run blocking (91.0), showing the kind of balance that few tackles in the league can match. Whether he’s anchoring against elite edge rushers or clearing lanes in the run game, Wirfs has been a steady, powerful presence on the Bucs’ offensive line.
And that’s been critical for a Tampa Bay team trying to claw its way into the postseason. While the playoff picture remains murky, one thing is certain: if the Buccaneers are going to make a late push, they’ll need No. 78 to keep playing like the All-Pro he’s proven to be.
Through pain, doubt, and missed reps, Tristan Wirfs has once again reminded everyone why he’s one of the best in the business. The Pro Bowl honor is just the latest proof.