Rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase didn't have a Pro Bowl selection on his now-famous mirror where he puts his goals, but Wednesday's selection to the NFL all-star game reflects how far the Bengals have come this season.
For the first time in five years they placed at least three position players on the AFC team when running back Joe Mixon and right end Trey Hendrickson joined Chase as first-time Pro Bowlers for a team that is in first place in the AFC North at 8-6 with their most wins in six years.
"I just never really thought about it," said Chase of the Pro Bowl. "It's certainly an honor, but I guess the thing I'm focusing on is making the playoffs."
Take a look at the Bengals players that were selected for the 2022 Pro Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1), right, celebrates his touchdown with Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) dives into the endzone for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson points after recording a sack of Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, October 10, 2021.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase flexes after helping the Bengals record a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, September 30, 2021.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon points forward after rushing for a first down against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates after touchdown reception against during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) rushed for a career high 165 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson chases down Lions quarterback Jared Goff at Ford Field in Detroit.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs past Minnesota Vikings defensive back Bashaud Breeland (21) after making a catch and takes it in for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Mixon (28) runs out of a tackle bySan Francisco 49ers' Azeez Al-Shaair during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson rushes the passer against the Denver Broncos.
Ja'Marr Chase tip toes the back of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown reception against the 49ers.
Running back Joe Mixon catches a screen pass down the sideline during the 3rd quarter at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) reacts against the Denver Broncos in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates a touchdown in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (Ryan Meyer via AP)
Running back Joe Mixon flexes after rushing for a big gain against the Green Bay Packers defense.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson rushes the passer in Cincinnati's Week 3 game against the Steelers.
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase hauls in a pass good for a 44-yard gain against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs for a touchdown avoiding Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) in the second half during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the second half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase breaks away from Green Bay Packers defenders in a game on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Running back Joe Mixon tries to split a pair of defenders rushing the football against the Denver Broncos.
Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, second from right, tackles New York Jets quarterback Mike White during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) hands off to running back Joe Mixon (28) during the first quarter of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson celebrates after recording a sack in the first quarter against the 49ers.
Receiver Ja'Marr Chase makes a fantastic catch for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson points after recording his second sack of the game against the Detroit Lions.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs away from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Hendrickson, a half-sack shy of tying Carlos Dunlap's club record 13.5 sacks, became the first Bengals free agent to make the Pro Bowl the year he signed in 25 years when cornerback Ashley Ambrose made it. Mixon, the NFL's second-leading rusher with 1,094 yards, became the first Bengals running back to go Pro Bowling since Rudi Johnson in 2004.
Quarterback Joe Burrow and long snapper Clark Harris were named second alternates for the Feb. 6 game in Las Vegas. Left end Sam Hubbard and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi are fourth alternates and slot cornerback Mike Hilton is a fifth. Alternates are added to the game if a voted player in their position group is unable to participate. Selections from the two teams reaching the Super Bowl are among those unable to play, as well as injured players not cleared.
"It's a tremendous honor for our players to be recognized among the league's best by their peers, coaches and fans," said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor in a Bengals news release. "Ja'Marr, Trey and Joe have had terrific seasons, and their contributions both on and off the field have been critical for us all year long. Those three, as well as our players who were voted as alternates, are major reasons we are in position to achieve our goals this season."
Chase, who leads all NFL rookies with 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns, becomes the fourth Bengals rookie receiver to make it, following in the royal line of Isaac Curtis (1973), Cris Collinsworth (1981) and A.J. Green (2011). In 1970, cornerback Lemar Parrish also made it as a rookie, as did quarterback Andy Dalton in 2011.
Making the playoffs is one of the few things on Chase's list of goals that hasn't been checked.
"I've got the yards. I've got the catches," said Chase, who wanted 50 catches and 1,000 yards and leads the team with 61 catches. "I'm still looking for (12) the touchdowns."
Chase has already broken Curtis' 48-year-old Bengals rookie record of nine touchdowns and is 20 yards from breaking Green's rookie yardage record and seven catches from breaking the receptions record held by Collinsworth and tied by Tee Higgins last season.
There was no question who he would contact first.
"My parents," Chase said. "They've been telling me all year I was going to make it."
