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Kerby Joseph Pro Bowl snub: Detroit Lions safety not sweating it, focused on Super Bowl
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- Kerby Joseph Pro Bowl snub: Detroit Lions safety not sweating it, focused on Super Bowl
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph has bigger goals on his mind than an appearance in the Pro Bowl on Thursday after he was left off the 2024 roster for the NFL's All-Star event.
On Thursday morning, the NFL released the full list of players who made the 2024 Pro Bowl games. The Lions tied the franchise record with seven players on the list — quarterback Jared Goff , running back Jahmyr Gibbs , right tackle Penei Sewell , center Frank Ragnow , safety Brian Branch and punter Jack Fox — but safety Kerby Joseph was not selected despite leading the NFL with nine interceptions.
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"I saw it and I was like, 'wow that's crazy' but I wasn't too sad because my boy was on there," Joseph said. "So, I saw Branch up there and that made me happy.
"... Man, I wasn't really too worried about the Pro Bowl. I ain't trying to be in the Pro Bowl. I am trying to be in that Super Bowl. I'm trying to see that for real. So the Pro Bowl is what it is."
Was Kerby Joseph snubbed by NFL Pro Bowl 2025?
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) celebrates an interception (his second of the game) against San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
On top of being the league's top ballhawk through 16 games with a realistic chance to be the first defensive back to reach double-digit interceptions, Joseph has started every game at free safety and has a 43.9% completion percentage allowed on targets as the closest defender, according to Pro Football Reference. He has primarily served as the last line of defense, freeing up Branch to move around the defense as a playmaker in the secondary, box and slot.
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According to NFL Pro , Joseph leads all defensive backs with a 25.4 passer rating allowed when targeted and is second among defensive backs with a 40% catch rate allowed. He has been registered as the nearest defender for 30 targets in 633 coverage snaps and allowed 12 catches with one touchdown.
"Let me ask you a question, who leads the league in interceptions?" Joseph asked rhetorically. "And I'm pretty sure I'm like first in a couple of other categories too. So like, the fact I ain't make the Pro Bowl, it shows you something."
AARON GLENN: 'You're damn right' Detroit Lions can win Super Bowl with this defense
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn believes the defense has two safeties on the backline worthy of Pro Bowl honors, even if only Branch got picked.
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"I'm not surprised (Branch) is a Pro Bowler," Glenn said Thursday. "That's not what he's looking at, he's just looking at trying to be the best he can, if anything like that comes along, it comes along. He just wants to be the best player he can and that's no different than Kerby Joseph.
"I mean, to me, Kerby Joseph is a Pro Bowler, also. He might not have it by name, alright, but he is a Pro Bowler in my opinion."
Who was picked above Kerby Joseph for NFL Pro Bowl 2025?
Joseph finished first in fan voting for free safety, but was ultimately not selected in favor of Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney . The Pro Bowl voting is determined by equally weighted voting among fans, players and coaches around the league. Joseph is the second alternate at the NFC free safety position and is one of 11 Pro Bowl alternates for the Lions.
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) celebrates an interception against San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
Branch, who is one of the three NFC safeties in the games along with McKinney and Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals , said the voters messed up in their selection of a Detroit safety.
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"I feel like, if anything, Kerby should be there instead of me," Branch told the Free Press. "He's the interception leader. But I know, to me, that stuff doesn't matter. I feel like All-Pro matters (and) he'll get first-team All-Pro."
Joseph said the ultimate goal for individual honors is to be selected for an All-Pro team on top of the team goal of winning a Lombardi Trophy. The top four safeties across the league make the All-Pro teams regardless of conference.
"I feel like All-Pro, man, that's the real recognition that people give," Joseph said.
Glenn said everyone knows why Joseph was passed over, seemingly implying that his reputation around the league is a reason why he was not selected. Joseph had two low hits at the end of last season against the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams that injured tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Tyler Higbee . That led to some players, such as Packers tight end Tucker Kraft , labeling him as a dirty player. After Detroit's 3-point win, Joseph said he did not tolerate the disrespect and said his play would do the talking.
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Glenn did not elaborate in a follow-up why specifically he thought people did not vote for Joseph.
"I think we all know that, right?" Glenn said. "But it is what it is."
The Lions defensive coordinator also said Joseph, who told the Free Press Monday his ultimate goal is gaining a Hall of Fame gold jacket by the time he's done playing, does not need any motivation to keep performing. Joseph is coming off a two-interception performance against the San Francisco 49ers to re-take the interception lead.
"He doesn't need that as motivation, he knows he's a good player," Glenn said. "What he needs to know is he has nine interceptions, a ton of tackles (77 combined, according to PFR). He's made impact plays like we saw last week and that was done on national TV. He doesn't need that as motivation."
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Branch believes the Pro Bowl voting will only continue to light a fire under Joseph in Week 18 heading into the playoffs.
"I know it is going to make him go harder just because he came in this league underrated and they've been underrating him ever since and he's still," Branch said. "I don't know how the interception leader is underrated and they still find a way to underrate him."
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press . Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22 , and email him at jramsey@freepress.com .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kerby Joseph Pro Bowl snub: Detroit Lions safety not sweating it
