Jacksonville: Although this is his second Pro Bowl selection, this is his first Pro Bowl overall.
Even though tight end Evan Engram of the Jaguars is fairly experienced by NFL standards, he is still enjoying what he refers to as a really special moment.
“Definitely this accolade means a lot to me,” he replied.
Engram is playing in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games this weekend in Orlando, Florida. This is his second season in the NFL and with the Jaguars. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice before, the first time he did it after the 2020 season while playing for the New York Giants.
COVID-19 caused the Pro Bowl game/event to be canceled that season.
Engram remarked, “Actually, this is my first experience.” “I don’t treat it casually. Every week when you view the film, you find yourself standing next to all the players you admire—all the defense players who are swarming the field, making plays, and creating difficulties for the offense.
“It’s cool to be around guys who I study and watch on the offensive end of the ball.” Arriving here is difficult; staying here more than once is even more so.
“I’m definitely trying to keep going, to keep being here year after year.”
Engram had one of the most productive tight end seasons in NFL history, as well as one of the best tight end seasons in Jaguars history, which earned him a spot in the ’24 Pro Bowl. With 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns, he fell two receptions short of the NFL record for tight ends and two receptions short of the franchise record set by wide receiver Jimmy Smith in 1999.
“The numbers were cool, and it means a lot to get out here and hang out with all these guys and compete and have fun,” Engram stated. “You grew up watching the Pro Bowl, where the top players in the league got together to compete and have fun. Being present here and I personally experience its blessings.
“I don’t treat it casually. I’ve been hanging out here, visiting all the parks, having a ball, and just generally taking it all in. It’s been really awesome.”
Engram’s best-ever Pro Bowl moments include:
catching up with Eli Manning, who Engram played with the New York Giants from 2017 to 2019 and who will coach the NFC squad in the flag football competition at Camping World Stadium on Sunday. “He was happy to see me here, to have the seasons I’ve had the past two years,” Engram stated. We shared some of the difficult moments that we experienced in New York together, but Eli played a significant role in my professional growth by teaching me how to be loyal to who I am in the face of difficulty. He was undoubtedly a fantastic example of that.
a chat with Ray Lewis, the Hall of Fame middle linebacker, on Thursday. “We were just hanging out and, just getting to pick his brain on how he operated every single day when he was in his prime – just from a leadership standpoint,” Engram recalled about Lewis. “All I was doing was attempting to mimic as many nuggets as possible. Not only is he among the greatest linebackers in league history, but he’s also arguably one of the best leaders in history. I thought that chat was very cool. He gave me a lot of insight that I can surely use to my own situation and bring back to Jacksonville when we return.
Engram also mentioned the necessity of making a positive transition following the Jaguars’ 2023 season, which concluded with them missing the postseason by one game following five losses in their final six games.
“I just think that experience, going through that humbling and very shocking feeling, is going to push us in the right direction as far as motivation, execution, consistency – the leadership, top down – to get where we want to go,” Engrams stated. “We need to do things much better, much differently, and consistently at a higher level.
“As detrimental as it was, as unfortunate as it was, I think it’s going to definitely put us in the right direction, as far as mentality for 18 weeks of how we have to approach each day to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.”
