(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Ashburn, Va. – Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams has been selected to the 2016 Pro Bowl. The annual NFL contest that features the league’s best players will take place Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and tight end Jordan Reed were selected as alternates.
Williams’ selection is the fourth of his career and his fourth consecutive selection since 2012. It is also the 17th by a Redskins offensive tackle since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, including those of Chris Samuels (2001-02, 05-08), Jim Lachey (1990-91), Mark May (1988) and Joe Jacoby (1983-86). Between Williams and Samuels, Redskins left tackles have been selected to eight of the last 11 Pro Bowls. Williams joins Samuels and Jacoby as the only Redskins tackles to make four consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl since the merger.
“I’m extremely honored,” Williams said. “To me, this is a huge award to receive more so because it reflects on how your peers view you on and off the field. I’m extremely excited to have this award for the fourth time, and it couldn’t have come at a better time while we’re in the midst of our playoff hunt.”
Williams, 27, is in his fifth season as an offensive captain for the Redskins and has been among the league’s top left tackles since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has played 84 career games with the Redskins with 83 starts, including starting all 13 games in which he has played for Washington this season.
This season, Williams has helped anchor an offensive line that ranks tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks allowed (24) a year after ranking 31th in that category (58). Williams’ protection of quarterback Kirk Cousins’ blindside has helped Cousins establish single-season team records in completions (336) and 300-yard passing games (six).
With Williams’ selection this year, the Redskins have had at least one Pro Bowl player for 22 straight seasons. The only year Washington has not had a Pro Bowler in team history was 1993.
Consecutive Pro Bowls Players (Seasons)
7 S Ken Houston* (1973-79)
5 LB Chris Hanburger* (1972-76)
4 WR Charley Taylor* (1972-75)
4 G Russ Grimm* (1983-86)
4 T Joe Jacoby^ (1983-86)
4 LB Ken Harvey (1994-97)
4 CB Champ Bailey (2000-03)
4 T Chris Samuels (2005-08)
4 LB London Fletcher (2009-12)
4 T Trent Williams (2012-15)
* Pro Football Hall of Famer
^ Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Semifinalist