The NFL Pro Bowl, an annual showcase of All-Star players of the National Football League that dates back to the 1930s, is no more. The league announced on Wednesday that it will cancel the Pro Bowl—currently known as the Pro Bowl Games—going forward, making the 2026 edition contested in February the final edition.
Even with the cancellation, the league will still honor its All-Star players, who will get the accolade of being called a Pro Bowler. So, while the game itself, or collection of events culminating in a flag football game in the current iteration, is going away, the honor of being a Pro Bowler remains.
“The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL EVP, Club Business, International and League Events. “A Pro Bowl selection will return to its original purpose, honoring the best of the best. We want that distinction to carry even greater meaning for the players, their families, their clubs and our fans.”
In recent years, there has been the initial Pro Bowl roster, but then with players pulling out, being injured, or competing in the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl alternates have been named to contest in the events. That has led to some players deemed undeserving of the honor still getting the achievement of going to the Pro Bowl.
An example of that came at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, which was contested after the 2022 NFL season. The three chosen quarterbacks for the AFC Pro Bowl roster were starter, Patrick Mahomes, and reserves, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. However, Mahomes was unable to participate because his Kansas City Chiefs were playing in the Super Bowl the next week. Also, Allen withdrew due to injury, while Burrow declined to play in the Pro Bowl Games.
Thus, the league was forced to name not one, not two, but three alternates to replace the aforementioned. That led to Trevor Lawrence, Derek Carr, and most notably, Tyler Huntley, being named as replacements. Huntley’s selection drew the most ire as he started just four of 17 games that season and made the Pro Bowl as a quarterback who threw two touchdowns all year.
This type of situation will no longer occur, with no game, or Pro Bowl Games, taking place. The voting for Pro Bowlers remains the same, with it split up between fans, coaches, and fellow players.
This year’s Pro Bowl roster, which consists of 44 players per conference for a total of 88 players, will be announced in late December, as has been the norm. Pro Bowlers will get honored with a patch on their uniforms, and will receive a unique commemorative keepsake, a personalized Pro Bowl Topps trading card, and an in-person celebration during the usual Pro Bowl weekend.
Troy Vincent, who is the NFL’s EVP of Football Operations, after being a five-time Pro Bowl selection himself during his playing career, says this change comes after discussions with players.
“This direction came directly from our continued conversations with players and what they value most about the Pro Bowl,” said Vincent. “Being selected by your peers, coaches and fans as one of the very best at your position carries tremendous meaning. We heard clearly that the distinction matters, and our focus is on making the recognition that comes with it worthy of what these players accomplished on the field.”
The Pro Bowl dates back to the inaugural game in 1939, which was the 20th season in National Football League history. However, it wasn’t labeled the Pro Bowl back then and was simply called the National Football League All-Star Game. It would be called that for its first four years of existence. It was then discontinued after 1942 due to travel restrictions in place during World War II.
The event returned in 1950 under its new, and better known, name as the Pro Bowl. It was contested in Los Angeles every year from 1950-1971 before then being held at various locations for the next seven years. Then in 1979, the Pro Bowl found its home in Honolulu at Aloha Stadium, and it would be played there every year from 1980-2009.
It has usually been held in Hawaii since then, with occasional visits to the mainland. In 2022, the Pro Bowl was replaced by the Pro Bowl Games after years of lackadaisical and low-quality play that often amounted to two-hand touch with pads on. The Pro Bowl Games was a series of skill challenges, such as dodgeball, precision passing, and obstacle events, which culminated in a series of flag football games to determine the overall winner of the event.
The 2027 Pro Bowl Games were set to be held in Los Angeles, shortly before Super Bowl LXI, which will take place on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium.
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