Whether he’s a Pro Bowler or not, Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown is still a force to be reckoned with.
The sixth-year defender, in what was perhaps the biggest all-star snub of the season, was not named to the NFC’s 2026 Pro Bowl Games roster on Tuesday. Brown is currently in the midst of one of his very best pro campaigns, as he’s tallied a career-high 5.0 sacks, a forced fumble and seven passes defensed through 15 games.
He was asked about his exclusion following the team’s walkthrough practice this afternoon.
“I was disappointed,” Brown told reporters from his locker. “Being the competitor I am, definitely want the opportunity to be able to represent my team in the Pro Bowl. I guess my peers and coaches don’t think I’m good enough to be in there. So I’ll take that with a grain of salt and keep working.”
Brown’s work has helped the Panthers defense greatly improve from 2024, where they allowed (by far) the most rushing yards in football. The unit has gone from relinquishing a whopping 179.8 rushing yards per game to just 119.5 here in 2025.
He’s also helped position Carolina for their first playoff berth since 2017 and their first division title since 2017. Brown and the Panthers enter Week 17 with a one-game lead in the NFC South.
And even though the Pro Bowl is no longer on the agenda for Brown, that doesn’t mean he won’t be letting up on whoever has to line up in front of him.
“It’s not gonna knock my confidence down any,” he later added. “They still gotta stop that [expletive] on Sundays, so it is what it is.”
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.