Let the games begin.
After years of speculation surrounding the evolution — or outright removal — of the NFL’s Pro Bowl exhibition, there are big changes coming to the format and the events during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
On Sept. 26, the NFL announced wholesale changes to the Pro Bowl; the game itself will be no more, with the league scrapping the all-star event in favor of a series of alternate competitions.
NFL executive Peter O’Reilly commented on the changes coming to the game in a statement released Monday:
We’ve received invaluable feedback from players, teams and fans about reimagining the Pro Bowl, and as a result, we’re thrilled to use The Pro Bowl Games as a platform to spotlight flag football as an integral part of the sport’s future while also introducing fun, new forms of competition and entertainment that will bring our players, their families and fans closer than ever before.
PR jargon aside, it sounds like the NFL is trying to find ways to keep its stars highlighted for a dying event: Viewership for the game, while still a gaudy 6.6 million for the 2022 edition, was the lowest number in years, and the lowest rating since 1994.
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The yearly celebration for the NFL’s best and most popular has come under microscope in recent years for players’ reluctance to play in the game, with the on-field product suffering, too. All that has led to the changes for the postseason event.
The league, though, will keep with the Pro Bowl theme. Here’s the latest on what to expect from the Pro Bowl.
NFL Pro Bowl changes
On Sept. 26, the NFL announced that there will be no more tackle football — at least in the Pro Bowl.
The league is replacing the Pro Bowl with the “Pro Bowl Games,” which will be a week of skills competitions leading up to an AFC-NFC flag football game the Sunday prior to the Super Bowl.
Think of it like “American Gladiators,” just with less spandex, more football and no giant Q-tip fighting. Also, stretched out over a week.
In years past, the NFL has done skills competitions during Pro Bowl weekend, so expect to see more of that, but amplified. The events will be broadcast on ESPN along with other NFL partners, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions will be involved in programming the week’s events.
The NFL also says that fan voting will continue and begin later in the fall, which will help determine the rosters.
When is the Pro Bowl 2023?
With the Pro Bowl no more, the 2023 Pro Bowl Games take place the week of Jan. 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, leading up to the Pro Bowl flag football game on Sunday, Feb. 5.
It’s unclear what the schedule of events will be for the week, but the NFL says there will be events held every day leading up to the flag football game on Feb. 5.
Also taking place during the week will be the East-West Shrine Bowl, the yearly showcase for college players.
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