Overview
- The NFL announced Wednesday that it will stop staging televised Pro Bowl games and instead treat the Pro Bowl as an honorific recognition.
- Under the new policy, which takes effect for the 2026 season, 88 players will be named in late December and invited to a ceremony in Los Angeles during Super Bowl week in February.
- The league said it will not name replacement selections for the 88-player class, so alternates will not be announced if selectees decline to participate.
- Officials including vice president Peter O’Reilly cited player safety and the goal of returning the award to a pure recognition of performance after years of low interest and player reluctance.
- The decision follows failed reinvention attempts since 2022—skills contests, dodgeball and a 2023 flag-football game—and could shift how networks and fans engage with All-Star honors while testing whether a ceremony restores credibility.