NFL ends Pro Bowl, opts for skill competitions and flag football

The NFL will no longer hold a Pro Bowl game at the end of the regular season each year.

Instead, the league will replace the event with « The Pro Bowl Games » and feature AFC and NFC players showcasing their football and non-football skills in a series of multi-day challenges. February, including a flag football match.

The first iteration of the event will take place in Las Vegas in February with the flag football match taking place at Allegiant Stadium on February 5.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE AT FOXNEWS.COM

« The Pro Bowl is something that we’ve been looking at for a while, and it’s really continuing to evolve, » NFL leader Peter O’Reilly told The Associated Press on Monday. « Coming out of last year’s game, we really made the decision based on a lot of internal conversations, getting feedback from general managers and coaches, getting a lot of player feedback. We think it There’s a real opportunity to do something completely different here and move away from the traditional tackling game of football. We decided the goal was to celebrate 88 of the NFL’s biggest stars in a really positive way, fun and competitive.

“Very direct feedback from the guys who have been in the Pro Bowl recently was to keep building the week, make sure you have that multi-day element. It was overwhelmingly positive from both the players and the clubs.”

Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions will also be involved in programming the event throughout the week. The legendary quarterback will also be on staff for the flag football game.

DOLPHINS’ ‘BUTT PUNT’ PARTICIPANT LAUGHS AT MADNESS AFTER TEAM VICTORY OVER BILLS

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, #89, catches a touchdown during the NFL Pro Bowl presented by Verizon on February 22. February 6, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
(Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Pro Bowl game featured top players from both conferences facing off in a final All-Star event to set the stage for the season. The Pro Bowl debuted in 1951 and has been played in Los Angeles, Hawaii, Miami, Phoenix, Orlando and Las Vegas.

The match aspect of flag football comes as concerns about injuries during the match have increased in recent years. Flag football is also looking to make its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles. The NFL has a major interest in the game and has partnered with the International Federation of American Football to promote it at the World Games and later the Olympics.

« You tap into everything that feels good about Pro Bowl week, the skills, the helmets off, the commitment, and then culminates that, keeping the AFC-NFC build, into something really important, that is flag football and this opportunity to have the best athletes in the NFL playing this game that is so much about the future of our sport, » O’Reilly added. « It’s been an evolution, but coming out of Las Vegas last year we really focused on how to reinvent and celebrate our stars even better. »

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, No. 15, attempts to pass the ball at the NFL Pro Bowl presented by Verizon on February 6, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
(Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fan voting will still determine the AFC and NFC rosters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.