FOXBOROUGH – Brenden Schooler was announced as the Patriots only Pro Bowl selection on Thursday, a significant honor for the third-year player who has emerged as one of the best special teamers in the NFL.

"This was an award my dad and I talked about growing up together," relayed Schooler from the locker room on Thursday. "It would be me, him and my brother all watching Sunday night, Monday Night Football, and him just believing in us and knowing that someday one of us can go do this. So, to have that privilege, and now have that on my resume, it's awesome."

After hearing the news from Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, Schooler made a special call home to share it with his family.

"To share that moment, even though it was over with the phone call with my family, was awesome," said Schooler. "You just hear the joy and you know all the hard work that went into it. It's nice to be recognized and see all your hard work pay off."

After securing a roster spot as an undrafted rookie in 2022 with standout special tams play, Schooler has grown his all-around game to new levels in 2024. Aside from establishing himself as one of the best punt team gunners in the game, he began to carve out a role on defense as well.

Thus far, Schooler has played 24 defensive snaps, picking up 2 sacks while often serving as a quarterback spy.

It's a move that Jerod Mayo began to put into place during training camp last summer.

"I thought it was important to not just have core special teams players only focused on special teams," said Mayo during camp. "Schooler will be at the game. He's an All-Pro type of special teams player. In saying that, there will be times where maybe we need to get out of a game because of injuries or whatever it is... But he needs to have a fundamental understanding of our defense. This guy can run, and this guy can tackle and this guy is smart. You put those three things together, you've got a pretty good defensive player."

Matthew Slater, the Patriots legendary special teams standard bearer, retired from the NFL last season after serving as a key mentor for Schooler over his first two seasons. Now Slater is behind the scenes as a member of Jerod Mayo's staff and still making his impact felt as his former pupil is now earning the kind of recognition that Slater received with his own ten Pro Bowl selections.

"Brenden is gifted in so many ways," Slater told Patriots.com in making a case for Schooler's selection last month. "If you look closely and you really watch what's going on in the field, Brenden is always making an impact, whether it's in the return game or in coverage. He really stands out and it's each and every week regardless of the matchup."

"Slater and a handful of other guys paved the road for special teams players," said Schooler. "Every single day I get to come into the building, it's an honor to go to work with him, even though we're not lacing the cleats up together anymore, but we're still out there going to work together. So to have him just be kind of that role model for me to look up to ever since I was in high school, and getting to have two awesome seasons to run under him. It's been huge for my growth and my development."

Schooler has also helped fill the leadership void left behind after Slater's retirement, actively aiming to take the next step as a tone-setter for the Patriots.

"I think just being able to be a leader on and off the field and have my emotions in check," said Schooler of what strides he aimed to make in 2024. "I know last year I had a couple of penalties that weren't really a testament to how I like to play the game. So, to step into a leadership role this year, on and off the field, like I said, if guys need anything, I want to be the first one that guys call on. I want to be able to lead the guys on the field and lead them off the field as well."

Those teammates were ecstatic to hear Schooler would be headed to Florida for the Pro Bowl games when the coaching staff announced it to the team on Wednesday morning.

"It was awesome just to feel the love from all those guys and just feel all the hard work, everything that we put in together," said Schooler. "It's my award, but it's a testament to those guys because without the 10 of the guys on the football field, I'm not able to do my job. So, you know, I tip my hat off to those guys that come up to work every day and give everything we have."

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