NFL Pro Bowl Adds Another Vikings Player to NFC Roster

While the Minnesota Vikings did not make the playoff run they hoped for following an unexpected 14-3 season, some of their players will still be playing this Sunday when the NFL Pro Bowl kicks off in Orlando. While the traditional Pro Bowl has been replaced by a series of mini-games, it is still an honor to be seen as one of the best at your position.
Being one of four teams with at least six players selected to the Pro Bowl, it comes as no surprise that Vikings players received some recognition after finishing tied for the second-best record in the NFC.
Vikings RT Brian O’Neill selected to second career Pro Bowl
That recognition arrived Monday for right tackle Brian O’Neill, who will make the second Pro Bowl appearance of his career six days from now, with the first coming after the 2021 season. O’Neill is set to replace Eagles tackle Lane Johnson, who is busy preparing for Super Bowl LIX following his team’s 55-23 win in the NFC Championship game (oh good for him).
With O’Neill added to the mix, the MN Vikings will send seven players to the Pro Bowl this year. Quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, cornerback Byron Murphy, linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and long snapper Andrew DePaola will all make the trip to Orlando for Sunday’s flag football matchup against the AFC. It’s the most pro bowlers the Vikings have had since 2009, when they sent eight.
Related: 2025 Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowlers Revealed
Since being drafted by the Vikings in 2018, Brian O’Neill has consistently been one of the better tackles in all of the NFL. He’s had six consecutive years with a PFF grade above 70, including an overall grade of 80.8 during the regular season this year that placed him fourth among right tackles. The 29-year-old is signed with Minnesota through 2026 after locking down a $92.5 million contract extension in 2021.
O’Neill’s stellar year with the Minnesota Vikings
Holding down the right side, Brian O’Neill helped the Minnesota Vikings finish with one of the top passing offenses in the NFL. They were fifth in yards per attempt, passing yards and passing touchdowns with a passer rating of 102.9, good for sixth in the league. He’s formidable in the run game as well, although the Vikings struggled with that area of the game this season.
Related: Four Pending Free Agents the Vikings Need to Bring Back
Even with injuries racking up on the offensive line, O’Neill continued to stay solid no matter who lined up next to him. The MN Vikings gave up 49 sacks this season, tied for the ninth-most in the league, but only two were attributed to O’Neill. He only allowed 19 pressures all year, putting him second behind Lane Johnson among right tackles, and had six games with no pressures allowed at all.
Still in the prime of his career, Brian O’Neill has been rewarded for his successful season and will be a key piece for the Minnesota Vikings moving forward, as he’ll need to protect whatever quarterback trots out for the purple in 2025.
More About:Minnesota Vikings News