NFL is eliminating the Pro Bowl game, according to reports
The National Football League (NFL) is ending the Pro Bowl game, according to reports.
The Athletic was the first to report it. ESPN confirmed the report.
NFL executives informed team owners of the decision Wednesday, explaining that it was eliminating the game in its entirety, including its many historical forms (tackle, flag, and skill games).
The Pro Bowl game, which aimed to honor the best players in the NFL each year, began in 1951. What started as an attempt to pit the top players from each conference in a high-quality, high-stakes competition devolved over the years into a low-interest event more concerned with avoiding injury than winning or entertaining.
“All-star games, I think, for all leagues have been fraught for a long time, and they haven’t necessarily represented the very best premium of that sport for those players,” Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business, international and league events, told The Athletic. “But ultimately, the Pro Bowl, at its core, is about honoring the best of the best in that season, on the field, in real games. And the shift here is about shifting the focus from the game — which is ultimately where people’s attention goes, especially the replacement players tied to it — to the honor.”
According to The Athletic, players will still receive Pro Bowl honors, as voted on by fans, players and coaches. They just won’t participate in a physical competition.
Instead, 88 players on offense, defense and special teams across both conferences will be invited to Los Angeles in February for an event recognizing their achievements.
The honors will be announced in December, and there won’t be any replacements.