NFL Officially Calls It Quits on Decades-Long Tradition
The NFL is pulling the plug on its Pro Bowl game tradition after testing out many different formats over the past several years.
The NFL is discontinuing its Pro Bowl game after decades of tradition, according to league officials speaking with Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. Although players will continue to receive recognition for their Pro Bowl honors, the league will no longer host any form of the game. The Pro Bowl has been a staple of the NFL since 1951, but criticism has long centered around its lack of competition, entertainment value, and star power.
The NFL tested various formats over the years, before ultimately deciding to end the game altogether. Team officials were informed of the cancellation during league meetings in Atlanta on Wednesday. Peter O’Reilly, an NFL executive, stated that while all leagues have faced challenges in producing all-star games that truly represent the best talent, the NFL ultimately aims to shift the focus from the game itself to the honor of the players being recognized.
Instead of a traditional game, a select group of players will be invited to an in-person celebration event in Los Angeles. The process for selecting Pro Bowl honorees will remain the same.
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