The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team for the 2025 season omitted Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto. The Broncos are currently on a first-round bye, shifting their focus from awards to what it will take to be successful in the postseason.
The snub is surprising, given that Bonitto has been having one of the most impactful seasons of his career. At the same time, he set a career-high in sacks, surpassing his total from 2024, when he earned his first All-Pro selection.
Bonitto’s Impactful Regular Season
The linebacker the Broncos drafted 64th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma isn’t just All-Pro-worthy because he led the Broncos in sacks, but because of where he ranks among other sack leaders in the NFL.
Bonitto ranked fifth in the league this season in both sacks and sack yards with 14 sacks and 92.5 sack yards, only behind Myles Garrett, Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter, and Aidan Hutchinson in this category.
The impact Bonitto had on Denver’s defense was pretty consistent because he became the second player in team history to reach 13.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, joining former Broncos defensive end Simon Fletcher.
Bonitto enters the postseason as one of the Broncos’ most valuable defenders, ranking among the NFL’s best in multi-sack games. He ended 2025 with six multi-sack games. Bonitto also proved he is one of the best at getting to the quarterback, as he was once among the league’s leaders in quarterback hits.
Heading into the Broncos’ last regular-season game, Bonitto had 72 quarterback pressures and a quarterback pressure percentage of 19.4%, according to NextGenStats, which ranked third in the NFL behind Micah Parsons and Will Anderson Jr.
How Bonitto Compared to the All-Pro Selections
Linebackers who made the NFL All-Pro team over Bonitto include Jack Campbell of the Detroit Lions, Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins, Devin Lloyd of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Ernest Jones IV of the Seattle Seahawks.
In terms of key stats, none of these linebackers were even close to Bonitto when it comes to how many sacks he accumulated this season. Stats such as solo tackles and interceptions are what solidified these other players’ selection as All-Pros over Bonitto.
Despite not ranking near the top in tackles or interceptions, Bonitto held his own and remains in the same tier as those players. He continues to impact and help one of the league’s top defenses through sacks, while also forcing fumbles.
What the Snub Means as Denver Prepares for the Postseason
Even without a 2025 All-Pro selection, Bonitto remains vital to Denver’s playoff run as the Broncos’ defense prepares for its Divisional Round opponent. Most of the quarterbacks in the AFC this year have prior postseason experience. It will be important for Bonitto to put pressure on quarterbacks and try to disrupt their games as much as possible.
Bonitto can turn the All-Pro snub into postseason motivation as he looks to prove he’s one of the league’s best linebackers. If Bonitto goes off in the postseason, the committee will instantly regret its decision.
Denver will need Bonitto at his best despite the lack of recognition. Given the type of season the Broncos have had, many teams are hoping to get a shot at playing the Broncos, even if they’re the away team.
Bonitto must play fast and physical next week, as the Broncos’ defense needs as many sacks and turnovers as possible to create scoring opportunities and support an offense that has struggled at times this season.
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