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For the first time since Richard Sherman in 2017, a defensive back from the Seattle Seahawks will be going to the Pro Bowl.
On Sunday Shaquill Griffin, who was initially named as an alternate, was moved up to the NFC roster per his agent.
When you find out @ShaquillG made the pro bowl. So happy for my guy pic.twitter.com/9d6cFtdbpB
— Tony Bonagura (@esg_bonagura) January 19, 2020
In his second season as the Seahawks’ left cornerback, Griffin enjoyed an excellent breakout season which saw him finish t-3rd in the NFL in pass breakups.
Shaquill Griffin was excellent in 2019:
— Alistair Corp (@byAlistairCorp) January 2, 2020
- 55.9% completion when targeted
- 6.7 yards per target
- 14 PBUs–3rd in the NFL
- 3 TDs allowed
- 407 air yards allowed/141 yards after the catch
- Comp. % lower than Richard Sherman
- YPT lower than Jaire Alexander, Marshon Lattimore
Griffin has also grown into a leadership role on the team, and showed as much by closing out the season playing the final five games with a severe hamstring strain—a stretch of games where Seattle’s top defensive back had a string of crucial, tough tackles.
Though who Griffin is replacing in the Pro Bowl hasn’t yet been announced, it’s worth noting this news came out before Richard Sherman—voted to the Pro Bowl—punched his ticket to the Super Bowl.
Regardless of how he got there, Griffin will close his 2019 season with a well deserved Pro Bowl nod, and he will join Russell Wilson in Orlando.