FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Four members of the New England Patriots have been selected to the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl. Quarterback Tom Brady, LB Dont'a Hightower, DB Devin McCourty and WR Matthew Slater (special teams) have been selected to represent the New England Patriots in the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl on Sun., Jan. 29, 2017, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. All four players that have been selected are team captains. The Patriots have now had at least four players selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last eight seasons - (2009-5, 2010-8, 2011-8, 2012-7, 2013-5, 2014-7, 2015-7 and 2016-5).
Brady was named to the Pro Bowl for a franchise record 12th time in his 17-year career and this is Brady's eighth consecutive selection to the all-star game. He was voted to the Pro Bowl after each of the following seasons: 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and now, 2016. He has tied G John Hannah (1978-85) for most consecutive Pro Bowl selections in franchise history. Brady heads into this week with an AFC-leading 66.9 completion percentage, a quarterback rating of 109.7 and has thrown a league-low two interceptions among starting quarterbacks. Brady became the NFL's all-time winningest quarterback in 2016 and is the fifth quarterback in NFL history to reach 60,000 passing yards. He also guided the Patriots to their 14th division title of his career, the most by a quarterback in NFL history, including eight straight, also an NFL record.
Hightower was named to his first Pro Bowl. A first-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2012, Hightower has started 63-of-66 games in his five-year career and was selected by his teammates as a captain for the first time in 2016. He is fourth on the team with 64 total tackles, has 2 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defensed despite missing two games early in the season due to injury.
McCourty is headed to his third career Pro Bowl. The seven-year veteran defensive back has started all 14 games at safety this season and is currently third on the team with 65 tackles. He leads all current Patriots with 19 career interceptions. McCourty has earned Pro Bowl honors as a cornerback as a rookie in 2010 and as a safety in 2014.
Slater earned his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl selection as a special teams player. The former fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA earned a roster position with the Patriots as a rookie in 2008 with his contributions on special teams. Entering the 2011 season, teammates elected him as their special teams captain. That year, he was also selected to his first Pro Bowl. Since then, he has earned special teams captain honors to start each season and been voted to the Pro Bowl at season's end. He has led the Patriots in special teams tackles for five of his first eight seasons and enters this week tied for second on the team with five special teams tackles.
