The National Football League (NFL) has announced the end of the Pro Bowl game, ending an exhibition of the league's top players that was held in some form almost every year since 1951. The game was not played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the only pause in the postseason event.
At the owners' meeting in Atlanta, NFL executive vice president Peter O'Reilly said, "It's OK to be the first league to walk away from a competitive all-star game." The league said that 88 players will still be named as Pro Bowlers and honored in Los Angeles after this season. Several flag football events will also take place at that time.
In a statement, O'Reilly said, "The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL. 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."
O'Reilly described the decision as "a shift from the game to the honor." Troy Vincent, the league's executive vice president of football operations, said he heard from players that they "don't want competitive play" after the playoffs. "You come off the championship games and the viewers see the physicality of the game and you try to replicate that," Vincent said. "Frankly, it just doesn't sit well. This isn't a good representation."
The Pro Bowl has waned in popularity in recent years. Once a staple in Honolulu, the NFL has moved the event to various cities and even switched from tackle to flag football in 2023.