Dynamic defensive star Aaron Donald and unstoppable tight end Travis Kelce are unanimous for the Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team on Friday.
Donald and Kelce swept the votes of a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. This is the sixth All-Pro pick for Donald, who helped the Los Angeles Rams to the best defense in the NFL, and the third for Kansas City’s record-setting Kelce.
“I think the best display of greatness is to make people around you better,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Donald. “And that’s exactly what he does, because he influences them every week.”
Chiefs boss Patrick Mahomes praised Kelce for the way he approached his job.
“He works his tail off every day and exercises every day and makes sure he is prepared for these moments,” Mahomes says. ” If a man has so much talent, works so hard and can really learn like that every day, it makes him so special on the field. ”
Donald and Kelce join 15 returning players and 14 newcomers. Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner also makes his sixth group.
“The amazing endurance he has shown for the midfielder after all these years is just outside the rankings,” said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Aaron Rodgers, who led Green Bay (13-3) to the top seed in the NFC, makes his third team, as does Chiefs coach Tyreek Hill. First in the offensive skill positions is Derrick Henry of Tennessee, Buffalo coach Stefon Diggs, who led the NFL in catching and receiving Rodgers, and Rodgers’ favorite target, Davante Adams.
“For me, honestly, I think it’s just found different little things that I can get better at,” Adams says. ‘I feel like I’m a pretty complete receiver. … It’s just putting off the things I do well and just figuring out a way to do it even better. ‘
Diggs was traded to Buffalo by Minnesota in the off-season and made a huge impact when the Bills won their first AFC East in 25 years.
“For me, it was just in whatever situation I would be packed into,” Diggs says, “I would just embrace. The first thing I always try to do is gain respect for my teammates and my coaches. and this by working your (butt) down, keep grinding and putting in that work and dropping the chips where it lies. ‘
The Packers and Colts both have four All-Pros. Green Bak’s left tackle David Bakhtiari makes his second appearance and center Corey Linsley his first. Indianapolis has DeForest Buckner and linebacker Darius Leonard on defense, left-back Quenton Nelson offensive and George Odum as the special team. Nelson is a three-time All-Pro, Leonard a double pick, while Buckner and Odum make it for the first time.
The attack is rounded off by Jack Conklin (second choice) and Washington right guard Brandon Scherff (first).
Also in defense are TJ Watt, the forerunner of the NFL Bags for Pittsburgh, who is in his second All-Pro team, and newcomer Myles Garrett of Cleveland; San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner (first choice); cornerbacks Xavien Howard (first) of Miami, the league’s assistant coach, and Jalen Ramsey (second) of the Rams; and safety conditions Tyrann Mathieu (third) of Kansas City, Minkah Fitzpatrick of Pittsburgh and Budda Baker of Arizona, both for the second time. There was a draw between Fitzpatrick and Baker for second place.
The long snapper position is new to the All-Pro team in 2020, and Baltimore’s Morgan Cox is the choice. Chicago kicker Cordarrelle Patterson makes it for the fourth time. The rest of the special teams’ positions are newcomers: Jason Sanders, Miami kicker, Jake Bailey, New England striker, and Gunner Olszewski, scorer.
Repeaters from 2019 are Donald, Wagner, Nelson, Watt, Fitzpatrick, Mathieu and Patterson.
A total of 18 players represent the AFC, which is considered the stronger conference this season, and 11 for the NFC. Exactly half of the 32 clubs have a 2020 All-Pro.
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AP Pro football writers Josh Dubow and Simmi Buttar, and sports writers Dave Skretta, John Wawrow, Steve Megargee and Tim Booth contributed.
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