RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Feb 4, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; NFC tight end Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys makes a catch during the 2024 Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that it would be ending the annual Pro Bowl game starting with the upcoming 2026 season. Players will still receive recognition as being named Pro Bowlers, but it will simply be an awarded honor without any game attached to it.
The Pro Bowl has been in existence in some form or fashion going back to 1939, when it was called the National Football League All-Star Game. We’ve seen it morph over time, especially in recent years as the league’s increased focus on player safety has made this extra game less desirable. As its competitive nature has increasingly waned, fan interest has continuously decreased.
This means there will no longer be Pro Bowl alternates. #NFL should do this retroactively from a record keeping standpoint so there’s uniformity across eras Put all replacement Pro Bowl honors in a separate bucket https://t.co/QiGi1lGtU2
— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) August 26, 2026
This change also means that there will no longer be a need for alternates to be named to Pro Bowl rosters. In the past, either because they were participating in the Super Bowl, were injured, or otherwise declined to play, original Pro Bowl selections have had to be substituted for. Last year, 15 replacements were needed to make up for absences from the original 88 players. This new format will eliminate that entirely.
The impact of that could be greater than it sounds. For example, Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson is a two-time Pro Bowl alternate from the 2023 and 2025 seasons. Under this system, he would never have been. That could matter when it’s time for players to talk contracts, or when Hall of Fame credentials are being discussed.
Even if agents and owners see through that stuff, it will certainly impact fan perceptions. Going on a player’s Wikipedia page and seeing “2x Pro Bowler” means something to many, as does the absence of such recognition. There may be a bigger adjustment here for some of those than it sounds on paper.
As this takes effect immediately, we won’t have to wait long to gauge the impact. Hopefully, we’ll be too excited about the Cowboys’ Super Bowl appearance to worry much about it.
So long, Pro Bowl! We’ll miss you. Well, some of us.
Maybe.
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