Pro Bowl facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Pro Bowl National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942) Pro Bowl (1951–2022) Pro Bowl Games (2023–present)
The logo for the Pro Bowl
Frequency	Annual
Location(s)	Varies (see text)
Inaugurated	1939
Previous event	February 4, 2024 (Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida)
Next event	February 2, 2025 (TBD)
Participants	American Football Conference National Football Conference
Organized by	National Football League

The Pro Bowl is a special yearly event held by the National Football League (NFL). It brings together the very best players from the league. Think of it as an "all-star game" for football!

Over the years, the Pro Bowl has changed its name and how it's played. It started as the "National Football League All-Star Game" from 1939 to 1942. Then, it became the "Pro Bowl" from 1951 to 2022. Since 2023, it's known as the "Pro Bowl Games."

For a long time, the game featured players from the American Football Conference (AFC) playing against players from the National Football Conference (NFC). From 2014 to 2016, they tried a different way: two famous former players picked teams, like a schoolyard draft!

Some people felt the game wasn't exciting enough, as players tried to avoid injuries. In 2022, the NFL decided to change things up. Starting in 2023, the main event became a flag football game. This means players pull flags off each other instead of tackling. This change makes the game safer and more fun to watch.

Unlike other sports that have their all-star games in the middle of the season, the Pro Bowl usually happens at the end of the NFL season. For many years, it was played after the Super Bowl. Now, it's usually played the Sunday before the Super Bowl. This means players from the two teams playing in the Super Bowl cannot join the Pro Bowl.

History of the Pro Bowl
Player Selection
Coaching Staff
Game Honors and Player Pay
Rule Differences
Pro Bowl Uniforms
Stadiums that have hosted the Pro Bowl
Images for kids
See also

History of the Pro Bowl

How the Pro Bowl Started

The very first "Pro All-Star Game" was played on January 15, 1939. It featured the best players from the 1938 season. In these early games, the league champion team would play against a team of all-stars. The league champion won the first four games. This all-star game stopped after 1942 because of travel rules during World War II.

The idea for an all-star game came back in 1950. This time, it was called the "Pro Bowl." It was decided that teams would be made of all-stars from each of the league's two conferences. This was different from the old format where the league champion played against an all-star team.

Where the Games Were Played

The first 21 Pro Bowl games (from 1951 to 1972) were all played in Los Angeles. After that, the game moved to different cities each year for seven years. Then, it found a home in Aloha Stadium in Hawaii for 30 years, from 1980 to 2009.

In 2010, the Pro Bowl was played in Miami, Florida. This was the first time it happened before the Super Bowl. The game then returned to Hawaii for a few more years, still played before the Super Bowl.

Changes to Make the Game Better

After the 2012 game, some fans and writers said the players weren't trying hard enough. The NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, even said he might stop the Pro Bowl if players didn't play more competitively.

To make the game more exciting, the NFL changed some rules for the 2014 game. Instead of AFC vs. NFC, two famous former players became team captains. They picked players for their teams in a special draft. This "unconferenced" format lasted until 2016.

Since 2017, the Pro Bowl has been held in Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The league also brought back the old AFC vs. NFC format.

Pro Bowl Skills Showdown

Since 2017, the NFL has added fun side events leading up to the Pro Bowl game. These are called the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown. Players compete in challenges like passing contests and dodgeball.

The 2021 Pro Bowl game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, players were still voted onto the roster.

In 2022, the NFL announced that the Pro Bowl game would change again. It would become the "Pro Bowl Games," focusing on a flag football game instead of regular tackling football. This change was made to make the event more entertaining and safer for the players.

Player Selection

Jeremiah Trotter tackling Ladainian Tomlinson during the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii

Players are chosen for the Pro Bowl by three groups: the coaches, the players themselves, and the fans. Each group's votes count for one-third of the total. Fans can vote for their favorite players on the NFL website.

If a player who was chosen can't play (because of an injury, they choose not to, or their team is in the Super Bowl), another player is picked to take their place. Since 2010, players from the two teams playing in the Super Bowl do not play in the Pro Bowl. Being picked for the Pro Bowl is a big honor for any player.

Coaching Staff

For many years, the coaches for the Pro Bowl teams were the head coaches of the teams that lost their conference championship games. When the Pro Bowl moved to the week before the Super Bowl, the coaches came from the teams with the best records that lost in the Divisional Playoff Round.

After the change to the "Pro Bowl Games" format in 2023, famous brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning became the "honorary" coaches. Peyton coaches the AFC team, and Eli coaches the NFC team.

Game Honors and Player Pay

Players who do very well in the Pro Bowl can win awards. From 1973 to 2007, one "Player of the Game" was honored. Since 2008, the award is called the Most Valuable Player (MVP). There are now awards for both an Outstanding Offensive Player and an Outstanding Defensive Player.

Players also get paid for playing in the Pro Bowl. The players on the winning team receive more money than those on the losing team. For example, in 2022-2023, winners received $84,000, while losers received $42,000.

Rule Differences

The Pro Bowl has different rules from regular NFL games. These rules are designed to make the game safer and more fun.

Players usually avoid hard tackling. It's more like a two-hand touch football game.
There are rules about how the offense can line up.
Defensive players cannot rush the passer or blitz (send extra players to tackle the quarterback).
There are no blindside or low blocks, which are dangerous hits.
Special teams plays like kickoffs and punt returns are usually removed. Teams start on their own 25-yard line after scores.
If a game is tied after regular time, they play extra periods until a winner is decided. The Pro Bowl cannot end in a tie.

With the new flag football format (since 2023), the rules are even more different:

The field is smaller (50 yards by 28 yards).
There are seven players per team on the field.
The game has two 10-minute halves.
Teams try to score by pulling flags instead of tackling.

Pro Bowl Uniforms

Since players from many different NFL teams play in the Pro Bowl, they don't wear their regular team uniforms. This would be too confusing! Instead, they wear special Pro Bowl uniforms.

For many years, the AFC team wore red jerseys and the NFC team wore blue jerseys. Players always wear their own team's helmet.

In 2014, the uniforms changed to bright orange and volt green for the unconferenced teams. However, since 2017, with the return of the conference format, the uniforms are back to red for the AFC and blue for the NFC.

Since the switch to the Pro Bowl Games in 2023, players no longer need to wear full football uniforms. They wear red or blue shirts with shorts or pants, making it more comfortable for flag football.

Stadiums that have hosted the Pro Bowl

Wrigley Field (1939)
Gilmore Stadium (January and December 1940)
Polo Grounds (January 1942)
Shibe Park (December 1942)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1951–1972, 1979)
Texas Stadium (1973)
Arrowhead Stadium (1974)
Miami Orange Bowl (1975)
Louisiana Superdome (1976)
Kingdome (1977)
Tampa Stadium (1978)
Aloha Stadium (1980–2009, 2011–2014, 2016)
Sun Life Stadium (2010)
University of Phoenix Stadium (2015)
Camping World Stadium (2017–2020, 2024)
Allegiant Stadium (2022–2023)

Images for kids

Kyle Rudolph with the Pro Bowl MVP trophy in 2013.
Quarterback Peyton Manning (#18) before the 2006 Pro Bowl.