The NFL’s Pro Bowl program is part of Super Bowl week for the first time ever. While Sunday’s championship game goes down at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, the Tuesday all-star invitational sets up within a San Francisco convention complex.
Though the league continues to tweak its format, the Pro Bowl vibes remain constant. It’s a low-stakes space for star whimsy, celebrity cameos and backyard football trick plays. Here’s what to know before tuning in.
How to watch the 2026 Pro Bowl Games
This broadcast is also available on ESPN Unlimited, ESPN Deportes and Disney XD.
The format
From 1980 through 2009, the Pro Bowl decamped exclusively at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. But since 2010, it has also rotated to Orlando, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Miami Gardens, before landing in San Francisco this year. And since 2023, the event has steadily remade itself with skills challenges and flag football.
Eli and Peyton Manning coached the past three Pro Bowl Games. The 2026 update swaps them out for two Niners all-timers — Steve Young on the AFC sideline, Jerry Rice as his NFC counter. It also focuses on 7-on-7 flag action.
The rules are straightforward. It’s flag football, so no tackling allowed. There’s a 50-yard playing field with 10-yard end zones. Scores are worth six points, per usual, with a 1-point conversion from the 5-yard line and a 2-pointer from the 10.
The participants
Rosters are voted on by fans, players and coaches, though as is the case every year, there are a number of opt-outs. Both starting quarterbacks have bowed out of the main event. Buffalo Bills captain Josh Allen was the AFC elect, but he has a broken bone in his right foot. Matthew Stafford got the NFC nod with the Los Angeles Rams, but he’s still dealing with an aggravated back disk.
The two Super Bowl QBs also made the cut, but they’re all the way locked in for Sunday. Both participated in last year’s Pro Bowl Games: Drake Maye, in his rookie year with the New England Patriots, and Sam Darnold, then with the Minnesota Vikings before he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency (sorry, Justin Jefferson).
The AFC’s replacements at quarterback are Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco (Cincinnati Bengals), plus rookie Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns). Flacco is a surprise first-time Pro Bowler at 41 years old. The NFC team looks far stronger at the position with East rival QBs Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), as well as the Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff.
This year’s participants linked up at the Moscone Center for light practice reps Monday. Prescott used the session to advocate for a George Pickens re-signing — the dynamic Dallas target and new Pro Bowler is a free agent this offseason.
Meanwhile, Hurts and another Cowboys wideout, CeeDee Lamb, looked ready to tune up their inverted double-pass from two years ago:
There are fewer substitutions at the skill positions, Jaxon Smith-Njigba aside. The NFC rolls out the Dallas duo of Lamb and Pickens, plus electric Lions chain-movers Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Breakout Rams receiver Puka Nacua mans the slot; 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey lines up all across the field.
On defense, the conference has pairs of Eagles (Zack Baun, Cooper DeJean), Rams (Byron Young, Jared Verse), Lions (Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell) and Chicago Bears (Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright).
For the AFC, Burrow’s teammates Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are in at WR. The NFL’s leading rusher, Bills spark James Cook, takes the backfield alongside Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) and De’Von Achane (Miami Dolphins). The defense is paced by five members of the Houston Texans’ lights-out group, starring Will Anderson Jr. on the line and Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage.
Complete rosters can be found here.
Young’s AFC flag team gets Michael Vick as its offensive coordinator and Pat Surtain for its defense. Vick, four-time Pro Bowler and innovator of the QB scramble, is now a college head coach at Norfolk State. Surtain recently coached defensive backs at Florida State; his son, Pat Surtain II, reps the Denver Broncos for a fourth consecutive year.
For the NFC, Rice has DeSean Jackson at OC and Tyrone Poole at DC. Jackson made three Pro Bowls as a vertical mismatch, and he became Delaware State’s head coach last season. Poole won two Super Bowls with the Patriots. He leads a new women’s flag football program at Alabama State.
The broadcast
The ESPN broadcast is fronted by Scott Van Pelt, enduring “SportsCenter” anchor. Former Eagles All-Pro and prolific podcaster Jason Kelce joins for analysis, as does network staple Dan Orlovsky. The field reporters are Laura Rutledge and Michelle Beisner-Buck.
Coverage begins with “Postseason NFL Countdown” at 6:30 p.m. ET, 90 minutes before the Pro Bowl Games start. That window also has the NFL FLAG High School Girls Showcase. The burgeoning sport will be an official Olympic discipline at the 2028 Summer Games in L.A.
Saturday night’s Super Bowl eve includes a Moscone Center flag game between “Team Druski” and “Team J. Balvin.” Vick and 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton will be playing in that one.
On Tuesday, R&B singer Ebony Riley performs the national anthem. San Francisco’s Glide Ensemble and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir are on deck for “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Pro Bowl numbers
Youngest and oldest 2026 Pro Bowlers
Youngest:
Oldest:
- Joe Flacco (Cincinnati Bengals), 41
-
Jon Weeks (San Francisco 49ers), 39
- Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams), 37
-
Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers), 37
-
Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), 36
-
Tress Way (Washington Commanders), 35
-
Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers), 34
Pro Bowl records and history
Most selections:
- Tom Brady, 15 (2000-22)
- Tony Gonzalez, 14 (1997-2013)
- Merlin Olsen, 14 (1962-76)
- Peyton Manning, 14 (1998-2015)
- Bruce Matthews, 14 (1983-2001)
- Drew Brees, 13 (2001-20)
- Jerry Rice, 13 (1985-2004)
- Reggie White, 13 (1985-2000)
MVPs since 2000:
- 2025 — Jared Goff and Byron Murphy
- 2024 — Baker Mayfield and Demario Davis
- 2023 — None
- 2022 — Justin Herbert and Maxx Crosby
- 2021 — None
- 2020 — Lamar Jackson and Calais Campbell
- 2019 — Patrick Mahomes and Jamal Adams
- 2018 — Delanie Walker and Von Miller
- 2017 — Travis Kelce and Lorenzo Alexander
- 2016 — Russell Wilson and Michael Bennett
- 2015 — Matthew Stafford and J.J. Watt
- 2014 — Nick Foles and Derrick Johnson
- 2013 — Kyle Rudolph
- 2012 — Brandon Marshall
- 2011 — DeAngelo Hall
- 2010 — Matt Schaub
- 2009 — Larry Fitzgerald
- 2008 — Adrian Peterson
- 2007 — Carson Palmer
- 2006 — Derrick Brooks
- 2005 — Peyton Manning
- 2004 — Marc Bulger
- 2003 — Ricky Williams
- 2002 — Rich Gannon
- 2001 — Rich Gannon
- 2000 — Randy Moss
Most appearances from one team (before injury and Super Bowl replacements):
- 1973 Miami Dolphins, 12
- 2019 Baltimore Ravens, 12
The play we all remember:
Still the most iconic Pro Bowl highlight of all time, courtesy of Sean Taylor 🙌 (Feb. 12, 2006) @Redskins pic.twitter.com/C7CUFCVJtp
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 22, 2019
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