It took eight NFL seasons, including three straight record-breaking years in Carolina, but Greg Olsen has finally gotten his due. The Panthers’ tight end was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career Tuesday night.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly, who made his first Pro Bowl appearance last year, was also selected. Two other Panthers who had a shot, center Ryan Kalil and linebacker Thomas Davis, were not.

Through 15 games, Olsen has already shattered his own team records for most receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in a season. Before this year, he had eight or more catches in a game just three times in his career. He’s had four such games already this season, including career-best 10-reception performances in back-to-back weeks against the Saints and Bucs.

OLSEN AS A PANTHER

	G	REC	YDS	TD
2014	15	82	981	6
2013	16	73	816	6
2012	16	69	843	5
2011	16	45	540	5

Among NFL tight ends, Olsen is tied for most receptions (82), and he’s second in receiving yards (981). He finished fifth at his position in Pro Bowl fan voting, but that only counted for one-third of the total vote. Two-thirds was made up by players and coaches.

The other Pro Bowl tight ends are New England’s Rob Gronkowski, Denver’s Julius Thomas, and New Orleans’s Jimmy Graham. San Diego’s Antonio Gates, who finished fourth in the fan vote, was not selected.

When asked about the Pro Bowl Tuesday afternoon, Olsen repeated the answer he’d given the last few weeks:

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to make it, or if it wouldn’t mean a lot to me to make it because of course it would. It’s been something I haven’t really been able to kind of get over that hump,” he said.

Kuechly is the only other Panther scheduled to join Olsen in Glendale, AZ., the site of this year’s Pro Bowl. Kuechly, who outpaced all middle linebackers in the fan vote, leads the NFL with 145 tackles, and he’s set career highs in passes defensed (10) and sacks (3).

Kalil, a four-time Pro Bowler, didn’t make it in this year. He finished seventh in the fan vote, but he may still have a chance to go as an alternate.

Unfortunately for Davis, he was again left out. Many felt he was snubbed after a career season in 2013. His numbers are slightly down this year, and outside linebacker is loaded with talent across the league, but that didn’t stop Carolina’s coach from stumping for his guy once last time on Tuesday.

“[Davis] just continues to be productive,” Ron Rivera said. “You’d like to think that somewhere down the line somebody would take notice and say, ‘You know what, this is a young man that deserves it.’”

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