VIA TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS COMMUNICATIONS -
The Associated Press announced today its annual All-Pro team, which includes Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs, who was selected with first-team designation, and quarterback Tom Brady, who was awarded second-team designation from the delegation of 50 voters.
Wirfs, who is in just his second NFL season, earned AP All-Pro honors for the first time in his career, in addition to being selected for his first career Pro Bowl in 2021. Wirfs, the youngest member of the 2021 first-team All-Pro offense, is the first Buccaneers offensive lineman in franchise history to earn a first-team selection, and is the first Tampa Bay player at any position with a first-team designation since running back Doug Martin in 2015.
Despite leading the NFL in pass attempts in 2021, the Buccaneers also surrendered the fewest sacks in the NFL this season (23). Tampa Bay allowed a sack on just 3.1 percent of pass plays – the best mark in the league. Over the past two seasons since Wirfs’ arrival, the Buccaneers lead the league in that category allowing a sack on 3.2 percent of pass plays and have also recorded the most games without a sack allowed during that span (11).
Brady has been named second-team AP All-Pro three times now in his career (2005, 2016, 2021), in addition to his three first-team All-Pro selections (2007, 2010, 2017) and is the first quarterback in franchise history to earn AP All-Pro recognition. In his 22nd NFL season, Brady led the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns, which each set new single-season franchise records, on his way to joining Drew Brees (2008) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2013) as the only three players since 1991 to lead the league in passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts in the same season. Brady’s 5,316 passing yards are a career high and the third-most in a single season in NFL history. He joined Brees as the only players in league history with multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons. Brady’s 485 pass completions are the most in a single season in NFL history, while he also ranked first in the NFL this season with 269 passing first downs and 75 completions of 25-or-more yards, while tying for the most 300-yard (nine) and 400-yard passing games (three). He was selected to his NFL-record 15th Pro Bowl this season, as well.
Brady and Wirfs held key roles on an offense that finished as the league’s top passing offense (307.6 ypg), in addition to ranking second in points per game (30.1), touchdowns (63), total offense (405.9 ypg), yards per play (6.06) and third-down conversion percentage (47.1 percent). Since their arrival in 2020, Tampa Bay has scored 30-or-more points in 22 games, including postseason – the most-such games in the NFL during that span. The Buccaneers are 22-0 over the past two seasons in games in which the team scores 30-or-more points.
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Photo: Getty Images
Moments after finding out he had received the honor, Tristan Wirfs spoke to the media via ZOOM. To hear that conversation click below.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES