The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sending two of their homegrown stars to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games: tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Both players, drafted in 2020 by GM Jason Licht, have become cornerstones of the franchise-and their latest Pro Bowl nods are just the latest recognition of that impact.
Let’s start with Wirfs, who’s quickly building a résumé that puts him among the franchise’s all-time greats. This marks his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, making him just the third offensive player in Bucs history to reach that number.
Only Mike Evans and Mike Alstott, with six each, have more. But here’s the kicker-Wirfs and Alstott are the only offensive players in team history to earn five straight Pro Bowl trips.
That’s elite company. And when you expand the lens to both sides of the ball, Wirfs becomes the first Buccaneer to pull off this streak since defensive lineman Gerald McCoy made six straight from 2012 to 2017.
What makes Wirfs’ consistency so impressive is that he’s not just getting by on reputation. He’s still playing at an elite level.
Through Week 16 of the 2025 season, he’s logged 710 offensive snaps and allowed just four quarterback hits and two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. His 92.0 offensive grade is the second-highest among all qualified offensive linemen.
And he’s not just a pass protector-his 91.0 run-blocking grade ranks sixth league-wide, while his 84.6 pass-blocking grade sits at seventh. Only he and Giants tackle Andrew Thomas have managed to grade out above 84.0 in all three major PFF categories this season.
That’s the definition of all-around dominance.
Since Wirfs entered the league, the Buccaneers have been one of the best in the NFL at keeping their quarterbacks upright. They rank second in fewest sacks allowed per pass attempt (4.6%) and third in total sacks allowed (180) since 2020. That’s no coincidence-Wirfs has been anchoring the line since day one, including as a rookie starter on the team’s Super Bowl LV championship squad.
On the other side of the ball, Antoine Winfield Jr. continues to be one of the most complete safeties in the game. This is his second career Pro Bowl selection (his first came in 2021), and it’s well deserved.
In 15 games this season, he’s racked up 83 tackles (including four for loss), seven passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a sack, and four quarterback hits. Those numbers reflect a player who’s always around the ball-and always making an impact.
In fact, Winfield Jr. is the only defensive back in the league-and one of just three players overall-who has posted 75+ tackles, multiple interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery through Week 16. That’s rare versatility, and it shows up in the analytics too.
Among safeties with at least 35 defensive targets this season, he ranks second in lowest opponent passer rating when targeted (75.7) and seventh in “hawk rate” (17.9%), a stat that measures how often a defender makes a play on the ball. Bottom line: quarterbacks are learning the hard way not to test him.
Like Wirfs, Winfield Jr. was a key contributor on the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl team and has continued to elevate his game each season. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in his debut year. Now in Year 6, he’s still making plays all over the field-and getting recognized for it.
The Buccaneers also had a pair of Pro Bowl alternates named: cornerback Jamel Dean and quarterback Baker Mayfield. While they didn’t make the initial cut, their inclusion as alternates speaks to the depth of talent on this Tampa Bay roster.
This year’s Pro Bowl Games will look a little different-and a lot more exciting. For the first time, the event shifts to Super Bowl LX Week in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It’ll feature an AFC vs. NFC flag football showdown, with Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) serving as head coaches.
The venue? San Francisco’s Moscone Center South Building, transformed into a high-energy flag football arena.
It’s all part of the NFL’s push to showcase the sport’s speed and skill ahead of flag football’s Olympic debut at LA28.
Fans can catch the action live on Tuesday, February 3, with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The flag football game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN, Disney XD, and ESPN Deportes.
For Wirfs and Winfield Jr., this Pro Bowl trip is another chapter in what’s already been an impressive ride. For the Buccaneers, it’s more proof that their 2020 draft class didn’t just bring in talent-it helped shape the foundation of a championship-caliber team.