The NFL has made it a point of emphasis to reinvent the wheel with its Pro Bowl. While the NBA All-Star game continues to struggle, leading to a major four-team showdown this season, the NFL continues to add tweaks year in and year out.
In 2022, commissioner Roger Goodell made it a mission to improve the Pro Bowl, claiming that the current model “doesn’t work.” That change came in 2023, with a flag football game earmarking the week-long skill showcase.
The skill showcase in question has been a staple of the league for seven years now, beginning in 2017. A number of micro-competitions like dodgeball and various passing contests between the league’s elite kick off the proceedings. This year, however, the event is getting a minor overhaul, with the NFL announcing the list of competitions slated to take place.
What Can Fans Expect From the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills?
The new and returning Pro Bowl skills will see AFC and NFC players lock up in 8 thrilling challenges during the Pro Bowl Games. Spread over two days, the competition has been divided into two parts.
The first, on Jan. 30, is as follows:
Passing the Test: As straightforward as the name suggests, in a QB competition, passing the test is going to judge their accuracy. With various targets spread across the field, their ability to accurately find them will be the basis of judgment.
The twist, though, comes in the form of teammate spirit. Before their turn, QBs can select a teammate of theirs to answer trivial questions about the Pro Bowl. For each correct answer, an additional 10 seconds are added, with 50 total seconds up for grabs.
Satisfying Catches: In association with Snickers, this is going to be a rather complete ordeal. A wide receiver, a tight end, and a defensive back from each conference will take part in an obstacle course. The primary objective is to make catches at three different distances from a jug machine. The lowest time wins.
Relay Race: As simple as it sounds, four players will take part in 40-yard dashes, handing the football over each time. Over three rounds, the fastest team wins.
Helmet Harmony: Potentially a fan favorite, keeping recent Instagram and TikTok trends in mind, players will be tested on their knowledge about their teammates. The team with the most correct answers takes home the prize.
Dodgeball: The staple event is going to see a three-round tournament of classic dodgeball. Six teams (five players each) will take part in the tournament, with AFC players mixing it up against NFC talent.
The second leg, to be conducted on Feb. 2, will hold three events of their own:
Punt Perfect: A punter and non-punter will attempt to punt as many times as possible into six buckets placed in the end zone from the 35-yard line. Each successful attempt is worth one point, with every fifth punt counting for an additional two points. The highest combined score wins.
The Great Football Race: Six players from the AFC and the NFC will take part in five different challenges in the form of a relay race, concluding with the sled push. The fastest team wins.
Tug-of-War: As straightforward as it sounds, five players from each conference will battle over a foam pit. A best-of-three event, the first to two victories wins.
With a host of new and returning events on the agenda, the Pro Bowl Games promise to be fun for everyone involved. With Goodell himself looking for ways to innovate, expect the trend to continue in the coming years as well.
