Former Buff Lindsay Lands Historic Pro Bowl Spot For Broncos

ENGLEWOOD — Phillip Lindsay continues to make history.

The former Colorado and current Denver Broncos star running back was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, continuing a storybook season that began last spring when he signed with Denver as an undrafted rookie.

Now, he is fifth in the NFL in rushing and second in the AFC with 991 yards this year, and he trails Cincinnati's Joe Mixon by just four yards for the AFC lead.  

Lindsay is the first undrafted offensive player to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie in NFL history. The only undrafted defensive rookie to earn the honor was Dallas cornerback Everson Walls, who accomplished the feat in 1981. Lindsay joins kicker David Treadwell (1989) and Von Miller (2011) as the only Broncos rookies to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Miller was also selected this year, his seventh trip overall and fifth in a row.

Via social media, Lindsay said, "I am so blessed to be selected to my first Pro Bowl. It is a tremendous honor and I am so thankful to all of Broncos Country for supporting and believing in me this season."

Lindsay, a Denver South prep product, last year became the first player in CU history to put together back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. After being snubbed throughout the entire NFL draft, he signed a free agent deal with Denver after the Broncos drafted two running backs. But Lindsay gained a starting job by midseason and has become a bright spot in what has otherwise been a mostly dreary season for the 6-8 Broncos.

Lindsay has three 100-yard games this year, including a career-high 157-yard, two-touchdown day in a 24-10 win over Cincinnati. He has nine rushing touchdowns and has also caught 33 passes for 230 yards and another score. His 5.4 yards per rushing attempt is tied for second-best in the league, his nine rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth-best and his 70.8 yards per game rushing is 10th in the NFL. His 1,407 all-purpose yards are ninth-best in the league, and his 29 rushes of at least 10 yards are tied for second in the league.

He is now just nine yards away from becoming only the third undrafted rookie in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and he is the only player in the league to currently rank in the top five in rushing yards (fifth), rushing average (second) and rushing touchdowns (tied for fifth).

The Pro Bowl game will be played Sunday, Jan. 27 in Orlando, Fla.