The NFL will discontinue the Pro Bowl Games, bringing an end to years of format adjustments to its annual all-star event.
Starting with the 2026 season, 88 players will be named Pro Bowlers. However, the league will no longer hold an AFC‑NFC contest, a flag‑football match, or a series of ancillary events. Instead, the selected players will be invited to next year’s Super Bowl location in Los Angeles for an in‑person celebration in February.
Beyond ending the games, the NFL is eliminating alternates. Only the original 88 Pro Bowlers will receive the honor; no additional alternates will be added, ending a practice that previously expanded the roster when players withdrew due to injury, Super Bowl obligations, or other circumstances.
The voting process remains divided equally among fans, players, and coaches, each contributing one‑third of the selection criteria.
“The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL,” said NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly on Wednesday. “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.”
In recent years the NFL has repeatedly altered the event as interest in the traditional tackle format waned. The AFC‑NFC game was briefly replaced by a fantasy‑draft format in 2014 before reverting in 2017, and the Pro Bowl moved away from its longtime host, Hawaii, after the 2016 edition.
A traditional tackle game was last held in 2022. The event was rebranded as the Pro Bowl Games in 2023, featuring skills contests and flag football. This past season, the Pro Bowl Games were scheduled for the Tuesday preceding the Super Bowl in San Francisco.
League officials said player feedback drove the latest change, noting that repeated alternate selections had diluted an honor that can affect contracts and legacy.
