The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having just clinched a playoff berth with two weeks left in the season. Yet, only one of their players was selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl games: Long-snapper Ross Matiscik.
Whether linebacker Devin Lloyd also deserved a designation is the subject for another column. Moreover, short of traveling back in time and changing the ballots, there's nothing we can do. So for the time being, let's focus on the one player who did make the Pro Bowl, Matiscik.
Ross Matiscik will represent the Jaguars in the 2026 Pro Bowl games
All things considered, it's not particularly surprising to find out that Ross Matiscik made the Pro Bowl. After all, he got the nod each of the past two years, making this his third selection in a row. Of course, there's not much you can assess in a long snap.
The three-peat 😮💨
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) December 23, 2025
@rossmatiscik is a Pro Bowl starter for the third year in a row! pic.twitter.com/uIpKW65We8
Whereas you can quantify yards, catches, or touchdowns, a long snap only stands out if it's too high or misplaced. But precisely for that reason, Matiscik deserves plenty of praise, as he was the best among his peers to get it done.
On a related note, linebacker Devin Lloyd, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, and wide receiver Parker Washington (as a returner) were selected as alternates. It doesn't carry the same weight as being a first-ballot designation, but it's still somewhat of a consolation.
2026 marks @rossmatiscik's third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. In 2025, Matiscik has made four tackles on special teams, tied for second in the league among long snappers. Since entering the league in 2020, his 22 special teams tackles are tied for the most in the NFL at his… pic.twitter.com/GIovGIwCK3
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) December 23, 2025
Apart from getting three consecutive Pro Bowl selections, Matiscik was also a First-Team All-Pro designation in 2023 and a Second-Team last year. Together with punter Logan Cooke and kicker Cam Little, the trio form one of the best special teams cores in the whole NFL.
Related: The NFL Coach of the Year race is tight only if you ignore Liam Coen
Different Jaguars regimes have valued Ross Matiscik
The Jaguars originally signed Ross Matiscik as an undrafted free agent in 2020. That was last season that Doug Marone spent with the team. Urban Meyer took over the following year and got the boot near the end of 2021. Doug Pederson became the head coach in 2022 and held the job for three seasons before he was axed after going 4-13. Throughout the constant turnover, Ross Matiscik was one of the very few constants.
Along with fellow special teamer Logan Cooke, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, and safety Andrew Wingard, Matisick has been one of the few remains from the Doug Marrone era. And that deserves recognition.
After all, every new regime tries to bring in its own guys. That Meyer, Marone, and more recently, Liam Coen, have kept him around goes on to show how valuable he is. Sure, his work probably goes unnoticed more often than not, but when was the last time you saw him mess up?
Ideally, the Jaguars would have gotten more players selected to the Pro Bowl. Then again, it could have been worse. Just ask the New Orleans Saints, the Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Jets.