Starting in 2026, the NFL will permanently eliminate the traditional all-star game between the AFC and NFC. Player selections will remain, but the honor will now become a permanent individual recognition for the 88 selected players.
Goodbye to the Pro Bowl! The NFL Eliminates Its Traditional All-Star Game
Starting in 2026, the NFL will permanently eliminate the traditional all-star game between the AFC and NFC. Player selections will remain, but the honor will now become a permanent individual recognition for the 88 selected players.
The NFL is set to make a major change beginning with the 2026 season, officially eliminating the traditional Pro Bowl game and ending the on-field showdown between stars from the AFC and NFC.
Instead, the Pro Bowl will become an exclusive individual honor. A total of 88 players will be selected to the new Pro Bowl Class, with voting continuing to include players, coaches and fans.
The league's decision aims to restore the prestige of being named one of the best players in professional football while eliminating the physical demands and injury risks associated with playing an exhibition game at the end of a long season.
There will also be no replacement players, meaning the original selections will carry even greater significance. Those chosen will receive permanent recognition, including visible identification on their uniforms and personalized commemorative items.
The announcement marks the end of several attempts to reinvent the event. In 2023, the NFL replaced the traditional full-contact game with the Pro Bowl Games, featuring flag football competitions between the two conferences. However, that format will also be discontinued.
The league will still host a celebration honoring the selected players, with the Pro Bowl Class expected to gather in Los Angeles during the traditional Pro Bowl weekend.
It is the beginning of a new era for one of the most recognizable individual distinctions in American football: the Pro Bowl remains, but the game itself is officially over.
