Appearing in just eight games throughout the 2025 NFL campaign, Sanders showed a lot of potential in Cleveland. The Browns haven’t had an established starting quarterback in a very long time. Enter Sanders—though he had his fair share of rookie mistakes here and there, that could finally change for the franchise on the shores of Lake Erie.

However, Sanders’ addition to the AFC roster for the 2026 Pro Bowl wasn’t without some chance playing a role. Sanders hadn’t been invited to the NFL’s “All-Star” event, but he was named in after Drake Maye had to step down. With the New England Patriots making it to Super Bowl LX, and the Pro Bowl being held during Super Bowl week, an alternate had to be named.

Obviously, the sophomore star out of the University of North Carolina can’t participate in the Pro Bowl while gearing up for the biggest game of his career, so Sanders was named in as he was next in line.

AFC quarterback room

With Sanders being called up to represent the American Football Conference in the 2026 Pro Bowl, the rookie out of the University of Colorado in Boulder joined a group of quarterbacks made up entirely of alternates. Moreover, all three quarterbacks are play in the AFC North.

Sanders will be joined by Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco, the latter was actually Shedeur’s teammate in Cleveland early on the season. Burrow was named to his third career Pro Bowl, replacing Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Flacco earned his first Pro Bowl invitation after Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills stepped down from the event due to injury.

What it means for them

While many players take the Pro Bowl for granted and some opt out of it, Sanders and Flacco are both extremely grateful for the opportunity and recognition. For the rookie, being named a Pro Bowler after such a rough, adversity-filled season means a lot. For Flacco, the fact he won a Super Bowl in his fifth NFL season but had to wait until he was 41 to make a Pro Bowl paints a clear picture of how much he’s been through.

Burrow, who bounced back after yet another season-endangering injury, being in San Fran for the Pro Bowl says a lot about his resilience. At the end of the day, neither quarterback was the first option to represent the AFC, but they’ve done enough to deserve the opportunity.

In recent years, the event has been the target of criticism, as many have argued that the selections have not been fair to certain players. In this case, Sanders was chosen over Trevor Lawrence, for example, despite the fact that the Jaguars’ QB clearly posted better statistics.

Jermaine Eluemunor, the Giants’ talented tackle, voiced his displeasure over the situation on social media — later echoed by The New York Post — stating that the selection ultimately turned into “a joke,” while also questioning why his teammate Andrew Thomas was not chosen.

“No hate but the Pro Bowl a joke lol,” Eluemunor tweeted Monday. “AT Top LT in the NFL hasn’t made one yet but if you’re popular you get in. Laughable at this point.”

The Pro Bowl quarterbacks

The 2026 Pro Bowl roster features a mix of elite veterans and rising stars, with Josh Allen and Justin Herbert headlining the AFC alongside rookie sensation Shedeur Sanders.

Although Drake Maye was originally selected for the honor, his commitment to leading the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX opened the door for Sanders to make his Pro Bowl debut as an alternate.

In the NFC, the signal-callers are led by Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, and Sam Darnold, with Jared Goff also joining the squad as a replacement for Darnold. This lineup sets the stage for a high-energy flag football showdown as the league’s best gather in the Bay Area.

When and where is the Pro Bowl played?

For the first time ever, the 2026 Pro Bowl Games will be integrated into Super Bowl week rather than serving as a standalone event on the prior Sunday. The festivities are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in the heart of San Francisco at the Moscone Center.

[Watch Pro Bowl 2025 online for FREE in the US on Fubo]

This year the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl broadcast will feature a fresh lineup of events. NFL stars will showcase their talents in skills challenges, mini-games, and a 7-on-7 flag football scrimmage. A new format that aim to inject new energy into the annual event, focusing on entertainment and athleticism over traditional gameplay.

While the changes promise excitement, fans might need time to adjust to the new setup. The shift from a standard game to a series of interactive competitions brings a different dynamic, but with the league’s top talent on display, there’s plenty of potential for this format, making this event a one you shouldn’t miss.

When will the Pro Bowl 2025 take place?

The NFL Pro Bowl 2025 will take place this Sunday, February 2. The action is set to kick off at 3:00 PM (ET).

Pro Bowl 2025: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:00 PM

CT: 2:00 PM

MT: 1:00 PM

PT: 12:00 PM

How to watch Pro Bowl 2025 in the USA

The NFL Pro Bowl 2025 will be broadcast live in the USA on Fubo with a free trial available. Other options are ABC, ESPN.

The 2024 NFL season is nearing its conclusion. With the final week of regular-season games approaching, the league is gearing up for the postseason, including the highly anticipated Pro Bowl.

In recent years, the Pro Bowl has undergone significant changes to make it more engaging for fans. The NFL has now unveiled the complete rosters for both the AFC and NFC, with several surprising omissions that have left players and fans stunned.

Tua Tagovailoa’s teammate react after being snubbed in 2025 Pro Bowl selections

As the 2024 regular season wraps up, the NFL is preparing for its marquee events, including the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl. While the Pro Bowl aims to celebrate the league’s top performers, its roster decisions often stir controversy.

Over the years, the NFL has revamped the Pro Bowl format to make it less competitive and more entertaining, emphasizing player enjoyment. Despite these efforts, the roster selections remain a contentious topic, and this year’s choices have sparked outrage once again.

Jonnu Smith, the Miami Dolphins’ tight end, has delivered an exceptional 2024 campaign. Entering Week 18, he has accumulated 828 receiving yards (10.5 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns. However, despite his stellar stats, he was left off the Pro Bowl roster.

While Brock Bowers of the Raiders earned a well-deserved starting spot, the choice for the backup tight end has raised eyebrows. Travis Kelce, who has not performed as well statistically as Smith this season, was selected instead, leaving many puzzled.

On X (formerly Twitter), Jonnu Smith reacted to the snub with a simple raised-eyebrow emoji, widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the NFL for favoring the Chiefs‘ tight end over him.

Why did the NFL overlook Jonnu Smith for the 2025 Pro Bowl?

Smith joined the Dolphins this season and made an immediate impact on their offense. The 29-year-old has been a reliable target for Tua Tagovailoa, contributing significantly to Miami’s success.

While Brock Bowers’ inclusion was indisputable, the decision to select Kelce as the backup sparked criticism. Many believe Kelce’s popularity and social media influence played a role in his selection over Smith, despite the latter’s superior numbers this year.

Arian Foster played for eight years in the NFL. He was the rushing yards leader in 2010 and 2012, and the rushing touchdown leader once. Unfortunately, his career ended sooner than expected and he retired in 2016.

A few weeks ago, Foster decided to talk about the conspiracy theory that says that the NFL is scripted. Now, he revealed something that’s also very controversial and the whole league is worried about it.

Arian Foster makes bold accusation about the Pro Bowl: ‘Everyone is drunk’

The Pro Bowl is an event where all the best players show their skills. The NFL used to have a football game, but it has changed recently and nowadays it is just a flag match.

Foster was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, an event known for being an absolute celebration for players. However, the former running back has now revealed that the party extended beyond the field.

“Everybody’s just drunk, man,” Foster said to Macrodosing Podcast when asked about the Pro Bowl. “Nobody really playing football, you know?”

Foster remembered the 2012 Pro Bowl when Jeff Saturday snapped his last ball to Peyton Manning. The play continued with Foster, who said he was drunk, and only ran a couple yards.

In this 2023 edition, thePro Bowlhada lot of changes. For the first time ever, the main event consisted of 7 on 7 flag-football games and we had a skills competition during the week. It’s not the traditional AFC-NFC regular matchup anymore andthe old days ofHawaiiare over. It was a plan to avoid contact as much as possible.

However, believe it or not, there was a NFL star who got injured in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. Even without the contact. Read here to check out what happened to Myles Garrett and how long is he out.

Myles Garrett got injured at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Myles Garrett dislocated his toe during the 2023 Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas. The Cleveland Browns confirmed that the X-rays came negative, but he might need a few weeks for rehabilitation.

During a relay race at an obstacle course, Myles Garrettparticipatedin the task, but, when he finished, limped with the problem in his toe. This gauntlet was part of the skills’ event schedule for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

The Pro Bowl has always been controversial, because many NFL stars decide not to participate precisely to avoid the risk of a big injury. The NFL is differentto other leagues like the NBA, MLB or the NHL, considering an All-StarGamecannot be scheduled in the middleof the season.

Obviously this year Patrick Mahomes will not be playing in the Pro Bowl for obvious reasons, he will play the upcoming Super Bowl 57 against the Eagles, but Burrow and other big quarterbacks will play.

It is expected that during the Pro Bowl some celebrities will be present, not only pro sports players, but people like Pete Davidson and Snoop Dogg will be on the field with the players as representatives of the conferences.

When did Pro Bowl stop tackling?

Starting in 2023 there will be no more tackles during the Pro Bowl, that was the NFL announcement to prevent players from getting injured. Now the game will be with the Flag Football rules, the players will be able to run faster and the quarterbacks will be able to make deeper passes.

It’s not boring, flag football is just as competitive as tackle football only players are protected and quick plays can be better visualized.

After the Pro Bowl, a week later, the Chiefs will play the Eagles for the Super Bowl 57 title at the State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals home field).

Burrow had another sensational season with the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2021 AFC Champions returned to the same stage that saw them gain a ticket to the main stage one year ago, although on this occasion they were in the loosing end of a thriller.

His level of play was nothing short of excellent. They ended the regular season with eight wins in a row, then defeated the Baltimore Ravens at home and the Buffalo Bills on the road before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. So it can be a surprise that he isn’t participating in this star-studded event.

Why isn’t Joe Burrow in the 2023 Pro Bowl?

The QB names that are representing the AFC certainly don’t help the idea that the best players in the league are in the Pro Bowl. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Burrow were the three quarterbacks chosen initially, but they aren’t there. Their absences were followed by the ones of their three replacements as well.

All of Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa and Lamar Jackson weren’t able to be there for injuries. Burrow is not in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games after opting out of it. The reason is not totally clear yet. Some aim to a hand issue he had, although there is the belief that he just preferred not to participate. Raiders’ Derek Carr was selected to replace him, with Trevor Lawrence and Tyler Huntley completing the position.

In this 2023 edition, the Pro Bowl has a lot of changes. For the first time ever, the main event will consist of flag-football games and we already had a skills competition during the week. It’s not the traditional AFC-NFC regular matchup anymore andthe old days of Hawaii are over. Las Vegas got the call as host city.

So, it’s Pro Bowl time for coaches and players to end their season on a good note. Continue reading to find out if there’s indeed a prize for the winners of this long awaited eventfull of NFL stars.

2023 Pro Bowl Games: Is there any prize for the winners?

After last Thursday’s skills competition, the AFC and the NFC are set for three 7-on-7 flag football games for Sunday at Las Vegas. It’s important to remember that Peyton Manning is the head coach of the American Football Conference and his brother Eli is in charge of the National Football Conference.

One thing is for sure. Each and every player at the Pro Bowl is going home with a check. The members of the winning teamget $84,000 each and the players of the losing team $42,000.

Though many NFL starsskip the Pro Bowl, and the money isn’t a problem because of their extraordinary contracts, the truth is for some players who maybe are in the game for the first time, this prize is an extra motivation.

Now that the NFL Playoffs are over it’s time for the equivalent of the all-star game of the NBA. The action in this revamped event began on Thursday with plenty of activities, all praised on social media. From dodgeball to water-balloon passes to linemen catching punts, the stars of the league had a ton of fun.

Allen was not in the list of players that participated in this competition. The quarterback is instead playing in the famous AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, where Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers is also making headlines. Although that raised the question of why he isn’t in Las Vegas.

Why is Josh Allen not participating in the 2023 Pro Bowl?

The Pro Bowl rosters always have modifications to the original selections. Some players aren’t there because they are in the Super Bowl, while others decline the invitation for injuries. This year was particularly noticeable since the AFC has a QB lineup that includes Tyler Huntley. There are six other star signal-callers not playing for different reasons.

Allen is not in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games due to an injury. The quarterback cited that as to why he isn’t in Las Vegas with his other teammates. Bills quarterback had an issue in his right elbow vs the New York Jets in week 14 that carried on the rest of the season. But it’s definitely worth noting it was more of an excuse since he is indeed in a golf tournament at this time.

Fans all around the worldvoted the best players of the 2022 NFL season. Their voice was very important to choose the rosters, but the team’s coaches, Peyton and Eli Manning, where the oneswho made the final selections.

With tons of great players available, Eli Manning, who will coach the NFC, had to choose only a few to defend their Division. Unfortunately, Christian McCaffrey didn’t appear on his list, but why?

Why is San Francisco 49ers RB Chrisian McCaffreynot playing for the NFC in the 2023 Pro Bowl?

In recent history, Christian McCaffrey has been one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL. He’s a versatile player who can also be trusted by air and he has proved it with four seasons (including the 2022) with +1000 yards combined.

During his first years with the Carolina Panthers, CMC was seen as the key player for their offense. For this 2022, he was traded to the 49ers and has had a remarkable season with 880 yards in eight games.

But despite his great performances, Eli Manning saw better options for the NFC backfield for the 2023 Pro Bowl. Saquon Barkley (Giants), Miles Sanders (Eagles) and Tony Pollard (Cowboys) will be the running backs for their Division.