ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When outside linebacker Nik Bonitto learned of his first career Pro Bowl selection, the moment felt surreal.
"I still didn't kind of believe it," Bonitto said of receiving the news via a phone call from General Manager George Paton. "I [was] like, [I've] got to see it officially for me to actually believe it."
The NFL officially released the 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters on Thursday morning, and Bonitto was named an AFC starter alongside cornerback Pat Surtain II and return specialist Marvin Mims Jr.
And for the third-year player, the honor is not only a culmination of the hard work he has put in throughout his career, but the fulfillment of a goal he has had since a very young age.
"Just being able to watch [the Pro Bowl] all the time as a kid, and trying to envision myself one day being there, for it to be a reality now, this is just a dream come true," Bonitto said.
Bonitto's confidence in his ability to perform at a high level has always been there, but this season has allowed him to burst onto the scene as one of the league's premier players at his position. After being selected 64th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Bonitto started just five games during his first two seasons on the team. This season, though, Bonitto has started every game for Denver since Week 3. And in the process, he has had his most productive season yet, recording career highs in every category.
"I always had the confidence in myself, especially in that draft," Bonitto said. "I knew I was one of the better players in there. And when Denver took a chance on me, I kind of told myself, 'I want to be able to prove Denver right in why they picked me.' And I always kind of had that chip on my shoulder."
Bonitto has made his case all season long, as he has ranked among the league's best in sacks throughout the year. His team-leading 11.5 sacks allowed him to become the first Denver defender with at least 10 sacks in a season since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb in 2018, and he has also added two forced fumbles, 14 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits throughout the year.
"It's fun to watch Nik be a Pro Bowler," Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph said. "He was a young guy last year with great talent who wasn't this last year. So, he's that now, and that's even more fun for me to watch guys improve and become Pro Bowlers."
Bonitto has also added two highlight-worthy defensive touchdowns this season, and both came at critical moments in close games. In a Week 13 "Monday Night Football" battle vs. Cleveland, Bonitto recorded a 71-yard pick six, marking the first interception and first defensive score of his career. Just 13 days later, he became just the second defender in franchise history to record defensive touchdowns in back-to-back games when he plucked the ball out of the air on an Indianapolis trick play and returned it 50 yards for a score.
"He's just tenacious," Surtain said of Bonitto. "He made a huge jump from last year. So, a player with his pedigree, coming off the edge, creating sacks, creating strip-sacks, it just goes to show you the type of work ethic he has to get to the quarterback each and every play. He's a wrecking force out there. And when you have him on the defensive side of the ball, it obviously brings confidence around the defense, and we feed off of the energy. I'm glad he's on my team, for sure."
Bonitto has played a large role in Denver's league-leading 58 sacks this season, and the tally marks a season-high for the franchise. Bonitto, though, has been quick to credit the play of those around him for allowing the unit to find that level of success this season.
"It's really amazing just knowing the type of guys that we have, not only in the edge room but in the D-tackle room," Bonitto said. "... You can't really just give it to one guy. There [are] so many guys that can contribute and help other guys get sacks. ... It's just a collective group."
As the team now looks to earn its 10th win in Week 18, Bonitto will aim to help bring the franchise that took a chance on him its first postseason berth since 2015.
"The way it worked out, and [Paton] having that confidence in me as a player, it means the world," Bonitto said. "Hats off to him for bringing me here and giving me confidence to play here."
