The Pro Bowl is no more.
After decades of format tweaks and noncompetitive play, the NFL is officially ending the Pro Bowl as a standalone event, according to The Athletic. On Wednesday, league executives presented a new vision to team owners that folds the festivities directly into Super Bowl week.
Under the new format, 88 players will receive Pro Bowl honors without any replacement alternates. All physical competitions, which included tackle football, flag football and skills challenges, will be completely eliminated, leaving only the official honor itself.
Instead of the traditional game, Pro Bowl selections will be invited to Los Angeles for an in-person celebration in February. The selection process remains unchanged as fans, players and coaches’ votes are weighted equally to determine the 88-player roster across both conferences.
The NFL’s first All-Star Game was played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles in 1939. Decades later, the Pro Bowl ended its long-standing tradition of being held in Hawaii, moving to mainland venues across the country.
Over time, the event shifted from a physical contest into a friendly, non-competitive flag football game. Following years of skepticism from fans and players around the league, the tradition has officially come to an end.
The game will always be remembered as one of the sport’s premier annual events. However, the Pro Bowl game’s cancellation felt almost inevitable and that long-feared possibility has finally become a reality on Wednesday afternoon.
