Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce snubbed despite Chiefs faring well in first Pro Bowl voting returns

Patrick Mahomes isn’t considered among the top five players in the NFL right now – if the first week of Pro Bowl Games voting is anything to go by.

The NFL has released the early results of the vote – and it’s good news for Kansas City. The Chiefs are among the top-five most voted for teams – with the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers also faring well in the polls.

Despite the Chiefs getting plenty of votes, Mahomes isn’t as popular among fans. Lamar Jackson (44,681), Derrick Henry (40,729), Saquon Barkley (40,602), Josh Allen (36,574), and Jahmyr Gibbs (35,637) have currently received the most Pro Bowl votes. That means Mahomes’ Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is also being overlooked by supporters.

Each year, NFL fans are asked to vote for their favorite players in the league ahead of the Pro Bowl Games, with the polls closing on December 23. A total of 88 players will receive Pro Bowl honors, although not all of those will attend the Games in February.

The Pro Bowl Games were first introduced in 2023 as a replacement to the NFL’s one-off Pro Bowl match. The Games see the league’s best players take part in a series of skill competitions and flag football contests, rather than a full-contact all-star game.

While not every nominated player partakes in the Games, receiving Pro Bowl honors remains a significant achievement. Mahomes knows a thing or two about that as a six-time Pro Bowler. Kelce is a nine-time Pro Bowler and hasn’t failed to get a nod since 2014.