Chargers fans are officially Team Rice fans in this year's Pro Bowl after Jerry Rice selected Jason Verrett in the annual draft on Wednesday night.
Number 22 made a habit of shutting down some of the game's top wide receivers all year long. On Sunday, Verrett will go toe-to-toe with Team Irvin's stable of receivers including Julio Jones, A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Robinson. He'll also line up in the secondary next to his football idol in Charles Woodson.
Originally named a first alternate, Verrett was officially added to the Pro Bowl in early January to replace an injured Darrelle Revis .The second-year star emerged as one of the league's top cornerbacks in 2015, and was voted the Chargers Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Bolts with three interceptions and 11 passes defensed along with 47 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Verrett authored some memorable moments throughout the year, including his first career pick-six on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears. He read Jay Cutler's eyes and jumped the route as he ran it back 68 yards to pay dirt up the left sideline. His diving interception off Alex Smith in Kansas City ended the Chiefs quarterback's streak of 312 passes without a pick, which was the second longest in NFL history.
The rising star is the first Chargers cornerback to play in the Pro Bowl since Antonio Cromartie in 2008.
Look through the top photos from Jason Verrett's 2015 season.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate (15) and San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) battle for a ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) defends on Cincinnati Bengals tight end Ryan Hewitt (89) during an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Chargers travel to Baltimore in week 8 but come up short losing with a last second field goal, 29-26
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) during an NFL preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 in San Diego. The Chargers won the game 17-7. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
The Chargers take on the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau and lose in a close shootout 27-20
Chargers take on the Denver Broncos in a week 13 battle and fall short, 17-3.
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett, left, breaks up an end zone pass to Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
The Chargers lose to the Chicago Bears in the Annual Salute to Service game on Monday Night Football, 22-19.
The Chargers lose to the Chicago Bears in the Annual Salute to Service game on Monday Night Football, 22-19.
The Chargers battle the Raiders in the first divisional game of the season but fall short, 37-29
The Chargers battle the Raiders in the first divisional game of the season but fall short, 37-29
The Chargers take on the Chiefs and drop their 6th straight, 33-3
The Chargers take on the Chiefs and drop their 6th straight, 33-3
The Chargers take on the Chiefs and drop their 6th straight, 33-3
The Chargers lose to the Raiders 23-20 in a thrilling overtime game in Oakland.
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) dances and celebrates after breaking up a first quarter pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the 2015 NFL week 5 regular season football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 in San Diego. The Steelers won the game 24-20. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Chargers take on the Denver Broncos in a week 13 battle and fall short, 17-3.
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett brakes up a pass as Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown looks on during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) intercepts a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) during third quarter in the NFL game in San Diego, Calif. December 6, 2015. (Eric Bakke via AP)
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett, left, intercepts a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders during the second half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Chargers prepare take on the Jaguars in a week 12 road game.
San Diego Chargers Jason Verrett (22) during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29,2015 in Jacksonville, FL.
(Tom DiPace via AP )
Chargers head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs but fall short 10-3.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (19) can't hold on to a pass while defended by San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (22) makes an interception of a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (19) during the first half of their NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Chargers head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs but fall short 10-3.
The Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in the final home game of the 2015 season 30-14.
The Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in the final home game of the 2015 season 30-14.
