The NFL killed the Pro Bowl, marking first league to abolish its All-Star Game

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 27: (L-R) Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears, and Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans pose after the 2019 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. | Getty Images The Pro Bowl is no more. The NFL is abolishing its annual All-Star Game this season, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. The NFL stopped doing NFC vs. AFC for the Pro Bowl in 2013, and since then it has undergone some radical changes. The league shifted to the “Pro Bowl Games” the four years, which featured various skills competitions and a flag football game. Now it’s finally over thanks to dwindling ratings and a lack of participation from key players. The Pro Bowl just wasn’t what it used to be. Shedeur Sanders even got a Pro Bowl nod last year for in a season in which he started eight games, and threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Pro Bowl ratings have been in steady decline. The 2026 event pulled in a record low 1.6 million viewers. The 2025 Pro Bowl pulled in 4.7 million viewers, which was down from 5.8 million viewers in 2024. The NFL will still honor 88 players are “Pro Bowlers” this season even after abolishing the game. Fans will still cast ballots for Pro Bowl selections, and they will still be weighted with player and coaches votes. The players chosen as Pro Bowlers will be flown out to Los Angeles for a celebration. The NFL is choosing to eliminate the Pro Bowl at a time when the NBA All-Star Game is major source of bad publicity for the league. It feels like MLB and the NHL know how to run a great All-Star Game, but the NFL and NBA can’t figure it out. Canceling the Pro Bowl feels like the best move for the league right now. RIP, Pro Bowl. You won’t be missed.

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