Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 26
NFL Ends Pro Bowl Game, Will Honor 88 Players in Los Angeles
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 26

NFL Ends Pro Bowl Game, Will Honor 88 Players in Los Angeles

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 26

Summary

  • 88 players will still be named Pro Bowlers and honored in Los Angeles after the NFL scrapped the game that had existed in some form since 1951.
  • Peter O’Reilly called it a shift “from the game to the honor,” while Troy Vincent said players do not want competitive play after the playoffs and that the event no longer reflected the sport well.
  • Several flag football events will still be held around the honors program, extending the league’s move away from traditional tackle competition that began with the 2023 format change.
  • The decision caps years of declining interest in the Pro Bowl, which had already moved from its longtime Honolulu home and was canceled only once before — in 2021 during the pandemic.

Insights

Will the NFL's gamble to scrap the Pro Bowl game actually restore its prestige, or just erase a beloved fan tradition forever?
With the NFL killing the traditional Pro Bowl game, how will rising stars hit their lucrative contract bonuses without alternate spots?
As the NFL replaces the Pro Bowl with a digital-first celebration, can social media engagement replace the revenue of a live broadcast?