8/26/2026
Many have known this for years that the NFL Pro-Bowl game needed to go. The NFL announced on Wednesday they are cancelling the annual tradition.
When the Pro-Bowl game first began it was a celebration of the great and consistent play of NFL players and it was a huge honor to be named an NFL All-Pro.
After the merger the first AFC vs NFC Pro-Bowl game really picked up steam and was played in Los Angeles in 1971. For years, the head coaches were the losing coaches of the Conference Championship games.
The All-Pro game became a big deal and just like the Super Bowl was awarded to different cities each year.
1977 Pro-Bowl in Seattle
When Seattle came into the league the NFL gave the Kingdome the 1977 All-Pro game. Not much has changed with a sell-out crowd of nearly 64,000 and a noise level second to none. This despite that not one Seahawk was named to the Pro-Bowl in 1977.
In that game on January 17, 1977, it was a Monday night and played after the Super Bowl, which was played on Sunday, January 9 in the Rose Bowl. It was the scene of John Madden’s Super Bowl victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
The AFC would win the game 24-14. Pittsburgh Steeler DB Mel Blount was named the MVP and Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll was the Head Coach of the AFC squad.
Ironically, Chuck Knox the LA Rams Head Coach was the NFC head coach. 6 years later Knox would become the Seahawks Head Coach and take Seattle to their first play-off game in franchise history and won the Wild Card game over Denver. Knox and the Seahawks then went on the road to Miami and stunned the heavily favored Dolphins with a 27-20 victory,
The Hawks then made their first AFC Championship appearance where they lost to Oakland who went on to destroy Washington for the Championship.
Aloha Pro Bowl
Three years later the Pro-Bowl would begin a long run at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The annual trip to Hawaii was a huge reward for many players and the bonus check remained a big deal for many of the players.
Money Changed the Significance
Players in the 70’s and 80’s also received a healthy paycheck for playing in that game. A check that actually made a difference to a player.
Players on the winning team in 1977 earned $2,000 each and the losing side each received $1,500. The average game check salary in 1976-77 was between $3,200 and $3,600 per game. Average salaries were between $45,000-$50,000 with quarterbacks like Roger Staubach of Dallas earning 100k and Fran Tarkenton from Minnesota at 125k.
Player salaries really became the issue of continuing the Pro-Bowl. There was no way a game check to play in an exhibition game could attract top tier players to play a full contact football game after a long regular season.
Chancing injury in a game like this was no longer viable for most of the players named to the Pro-Bowl.
The game evolved to a skills contest and flag football game.
NFL Pulls the Plug
In a statement from the NFL’s NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent on NFL.com said, “This direction came directly from our continued conversations with players and what they value most about the Pro Bowl. Being selected by your peers, coaches and fans as one of the very best at your position carries tremendous meaning. We heard clearly that the distinction matters, and our focus is on making the recognition that comes with it worthy of what these players accomplished on the field.”
As part of that focus, the NFL will no longer stage an AFC vs. NFC Pro Bowl game. Instead, the league will place greater emphasis on the moment a player is selected, the recognition that accompanies that distinction and bringing the Pro Bowl class together to celebrate the achievement.
“The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, International and League Events. “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.”
The New Program
Beginning with the 2026 season, 88 players will comprise the official Pro Bowl presented by Verizon class, with no replacement selections. The roster will continue to be determined through an equal-weighted voting process among players, coaches and fans.
By limiting the honor to the 88 players originally selected, the Pro Bowl will return its focus squarely to recognizing the league’s most outstanding performers, reinforcing the significance of an achievement held in especially high regard by players themselves.
Additional details on the Pro Bowl celebration, roster reveal, player recognition and flag football programming will be announced at a later date.
West42sports.com