Congrats to #Saints special teams ace J.T. Gray on being voted Associated Press All-Pro! 🙌
Story: https://t.co/8PKcYSuKUv pic.twitter.com/qWwa0S59bt
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 10, 2025
New Orleans Saints captains J.T. Gray and Demario Davis have become overly familiar with inconsistent recognition at the national level. Gray was snubbed from the Pro Bowl, but he was announced as a member of this year’s Associated Press All-Pro team. Gray earned a place on the All-Pro second team.
The same thing happened to Davis his first three years in New Orleans. The linebacker was a first-team All Pro in 2019 and second-team All Pro in 2020 and 2021. In none of these seasons did he make the Pro Bowl.
For Gray, this is the second time he’s made All-Pro without making it to the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is often looked at as a popularity contest, and special teams aces aren’t the most popular players outside of their fanbase. Gray has done really well for himself as a former undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State.
This is Gray’s third appearance on an All-Pro team, and his first one since being first-team All Pro back in 2021. In addition to leading the league in special teams tackles, 22 total with 10 solo, Gray added a blocked punt to his resume and downed a couple of punts deep in enemy territory. He’s a force in the kicking game.
And that nearly won Gray a spot on the All-Pro first team; it was a close call between him and the New England Patriots’ Brenden Schooler. Schooler had one more first-team vote and just five more cumulative points. That slim margin was the difference between Gray and Schooler claiming the title of the best special teams ace in the league.
Davis received six points from two All-Pro votes by the Associated Press, while rookie punter Matthew Hayball also received two votes.
