Bills All-Pro LB Matt Milano gets the recognition he deserves
Only one player for the Bills made The Associated Press first-team All-Pro team announced Friday, and it's not the player you might think.
Linebacker Matt Milano, who did not make the Pro Bowl, was the only Buffalo player honored on the first team. Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs made the second team. QB Josh Allen didn't make the cut for either team.
The team was selected by 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.
Although he isn't a household name, Milano has been a key contributor for the Bills' defense since being drafted out of Boston College in the fifth round in 2017.
In 2022, Milano led the team in tackles for loss (12) and fumble recoveries (2) and finished second in tackles (99), passes defended (11) and interceptions (3).
Milano is a big reason why Buffalo's defense has been dominant the past five seasons. Since 2018, the Bills have been ranked in the top six in defense every year except 2020.
In 2020, the Bills went 3-3 in the games Milano missed, allowing 29.8 points per game. In the 10 games Milano played, Buffalo went 10-0 and gave up 19.6 points per game.
In 2021, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler included Milano in story on the NFL's "secret stars," writing, "Milano has done a little bit of everything for Buffalo."
Said an NFL scouting director: "He's a three-down player -- can run, cover and is smart."
Milano deserves mention in the same breath with other top-end linebackers Fred Warner (49ers) and Roquan Smith (Ravens), who joined him as a first-team All-Pro.
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