Malik Nabers was the lone bright spot in an otherwise disastrous New York Giants season. After a record-breaking rookie campaign, the dynamic wide receiver is capping his debut year with a much-deserved Pro Bowl nod.
Nabers will replace Detroit Lions superstar Amon-Ra St. Brown, who pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. For a fanbase desperate for hope, Nabers’ emergence is a rare reason to be excited about really anything Giants-related. So, that's cool.
Malik Nabers named to 2025 Pro Bowl Games 😤
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 27, 2025
Details: https://t.co/bxFPw9lUFj pic.twitter.com/PeJEcsywuK
Filling St. Brown’s shoes isn’t exactly a casual task. The Lions star just wrapped up another strong season with 115 receptions, 1,263 yards, and 12 touchdowns. However, Nabers wasn't far off from catching him... in two-less games, mind you. His rookie totals—109 catches, 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns—are step-for-step with St. Brown's. It doesn't need to be said, but it will: he is already in the conversation with the best wide receivers in the league. And deservedly so.
For fun, let's take a look at St. Brown’s rookie season. Back in 2021, he had 90 catches, 912 yards, and five scores. In comparison, Nabers is miles ahead of where St. Brown was when he was in his first season. The sky is the limit for this kid.
This will be the first Pro Bowl of many for rookie sensation Malik Nabers
The most impressive part of Nabers' campaign was the utter chaos around him. He delivered these numbers while catching passes from any quarterback the Giants could find, from Daniel Jones to Tommy DeVito to Drew Lock and even Tim Boyle. Just in case you didn't read that properly, Nabers did this with the wildest quarterback circus in recent NFL history. It's certified bonkers. Despite it all, Nabers showed up every week, proving the Giants finally have someone worth holding onto hope for.
This first Pro Bowl nod is a sign that, even in a season marred by dysfunction, the Giants struck gold with the former LSU Tiger. Nabers is the first Giants receiver to earn Pro Bowl honors since Odell Beckham Jr., and his arrival brings excitement to an otherwise lifeless franchise.
The Pro Bowl stage is the perfect opportunity to show what he can do alongside other elite talent—something he hasn't had the opportunity to do just yet in East Rutherford.
Now it’s up to the Giants to build around him. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll must prioritize finding a quarterback who can maximize his potential. Whether it’s a top prospect like Shedeur Sanders or a veteran stopgap, New York cannot afford any more of this quarterback roulette.
For now, the G-Men can savor the fact their rookie phenom is getting the recognition he deserves. Replacing a player of St. Brown’s caliber is no easy feat, but Nabers has already proven he's already on that level. If the Giants get their act together, this Pro Bowl honor will just be the beginning of what could be a storied career.