A NFL Pro Bowler is a player who has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl, which is an annual event held by the National Football League featuring the leagues star players. In order to be considered a Pro Bowler for a given year, a player must either have been one of the initial players selected to the team, or a player who accepts an invitation to the Pro Bowl as an alternate. Invited alternates who decline to attend are not considered Pro Bowlers. Since 2010, players of the two teams that advance to the Super Bowl will not play in the Pro Bowl, and they are replaced by alternate players. Players who would have been invited as an alternate but could not play because they were slated to play in that seasons Super Bowl are also considered Pro Bowlers.
The Pro Bowl format has changed throughout the years. From 2014 to 2016, players did not play according to conference; instead, they were placed in a draft pool and chosen by team captains. In 2023, the Pro Bowl shifted to a Pro Bowl Games format, with events taking place over two days, leading up to 7-on-7 flag football games, rather than the traditional game, on Sunday. The Pro Bowl Games conclude on Sunday with four more skills challenges, as well as three different 7-on-7 flag football games.
Pro Bowl players receive a bonus pay, with Pro Bowl winners set to receive $116,000 and losers $58,000 in compensation by 2030. If a player is injured during the Pro Bowl, they may receive additional compensation. According to the agreement, players could receive additional compensation if they have a Pro Bowl incentive clause in their contracts as long as they were “signed prior to the effective date” of the CBA.
