The 2021 Pro Bowl was to be the National Football League (NFL) all-star game for the 2020 NFL season, originally scheduled to be played on January 31, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

2021 NFL Pro Bowl
DateJanuary 31, 2021
StadiumGame canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternative festivities were held in its place, including an esports exhibition game featuring the Pro Bowl rosters in Madden NFL 21 controlled by teams of NFL players, alumni, and celebrity guests, the game was won by the NFC 32–12

On October 14, 2020, the NFL announced that it had canceled the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and had deferred Las Vegas's hosting of the game to 2022. The league still conducted a fan vote to determine the Pro Bowl rosters, and instead organized alternative festivities such as Verzuz "highlight battles" featuring NFL players; and an esports exhibition featuring a game of Madden NFL 21 played with the Pro Bowl rosters (controlled by teams of NFL players, alumni, and celebrity guests) that was won by the NFC 32-12.

Background edit

The original site for the game was announced on June 16, 2020. The Las Vegas Raiders' home Allegiant Stadium's bid won out over Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles metro area.[1]

On October 14, 2020, the league decided to cancel the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Allegiant Stadium was awarded the 2022 Pro Bowl instead.[2] The league further announced that the Pro Bowl rosters for the 2020 season would still be voted upon, and that they would instead hold alternative events to honor the players chosen.[3] Voting began on November 17, 2020, on the NFL's website and Madden NFL 21, and on Twitter starting on December 1. Voting on all platforms then ended on December 17 with the rosters being announced on December 21.[4][5]

Alternative events edit

The NFL partnered with Verzuz to air a series of Pro Bowl "highlight battles" from January 26 through 29.[6]

ABC, ESPN, and Disney XD aired a television special on January 31 in place of the game—the Pro Bowl Celebration—which was presented by ESPN's NFL studio analysts, and featured segments and interviews honoring the Pro Bowl roster.[7][8][9]

Pro Bowl esports exhibition edit

The esports exhibition was played from their respective homes, in order, quarterback Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans), former wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, running back Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans), and rapper Snoop Dogg each played one quarter as the AFC team, while quarterback Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals), NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing), strong safety Jamal Adams (Seattle Seahawks), and former running back Marshawn Lynch each played one quarter as the NFC team.[10]

Esports box score edit

2021 Pro Bowl: AFC vs NFC
Period 1 2 34Total
AFC 6 0 6012
NFC 7 19 6032

at N/A (Madden NFL 21)

AFC roster edit

Offense edit

Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Quarterback 15 Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City
17 Josh Allen, Buffalo
4 Deshaun Watson, Houston
Running back 22 Derrick Henry, Tennessee 24 Nick Chubb, Cleveland
28 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas
Fullback 42 Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Wide receiver 10 Tyreek Hill, Kansas City
14 Stefon Diggs, Buffalo
13 Keenan Allen, LA Chargers
11 A. J. Brown, Tennessee
Tight end 87 Travis Kelce, Kansas City 83 Darren Waller, Las Vegas
Offensive tackle 72 Eric Fisher, Kansas City
78 Laremy Tunsil, Houston
78 Orlando Brown Jr., Baltimore
Offensive guard 75 Joel Bitonio, Cleveland
56 Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis
66 David DeCastro, Pittsburgh
Center 53 Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh 78 Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis

Defense edit

Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Defensive end 97 Joey Bosa, LA Chargers
95 Myles Garrett, Cleveland
55 Frank Clark, Kansas City
Defensive tackle 97 Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh
95 Chris Jones, Kansas City
93 Calais Campbell, Baltimore
Outside linebacker 55 Bradley Chubb, Denver
90 T. J. Watt, Pittsburgh
99 Matthew Judon, Baltimore
Inside linebacker 53 Darius Leonard, Indianapolis 49 Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo
Cornerback 25 Xavien Howard, Miami
27 Tre'Davious White, Buffalo
24 Stephon Gilmore, New England
44 Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore
Free safety 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh 31 Justin Simmons, Denver
Strong safety 32 Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City

Special teams edit

Position Starter(s)
Punter 7 Jake Bailey, New England
Placekicker 9 Justin Tucker, Baltimore
Return specialist 18 Andre Roberts, Buffalo
Special teams 18 Matthew Slater, New England
Long snapper 46 Morgan Cox, Baltimore

NFC roster edit

Offense edit

Position(s) Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Quarterback 12 Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay 3 Russell Wilson, Seattle
1 Kyler Murray, Arizona
Running back 33 Dalvin Cook, Minnesota 41 Alvin Kamara, New Orleans
33 Aaron Jones, Green Bay
Fullback 44 Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Wide receiver 17 Davante Adams, Green Bay
10 DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona
14 DK Metcalf, Seattle
18 Justin Jefferson, Minnesota
Tight end 88 T. J. Hockenson, Detroit 88 Evan Engram, NY Giants
Offensive tackle 69 David Bakhtiari, Green Bay
71 Trent Williams, San Francisco
72 Terron Armstead, New Orleans
Offensive guard 75 Brandon Scherff, Washington
74 Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay
75 Andrus Peat, New Orleans
Center 62 Jason Kelce, Philadelphia 77 Frank Ragnow, Detroit

Defense edit

Position Starter(s) Reserve(s)
Defensive end 94 Cameron Jordan, New Orleans
55 Brandon Graham, Philadelphia
99 Chase Young, Washington
Defensive tackle 99 Aaron Donald, LA Rams
91 Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia
97 Grady Jarrett, Atlanta
Outside linebacker 55 Za'Darius Smith, Green Bay
52 Khalil Mack, Chicago
90 Jason Pierre-Paul, Tampa Bay
Inside linebacker 54 Bobby Wagner, Seattle 54 Fred Warner, San Francisco
Cornerback 20 Jalen Ramsey, LA Rams
23 Jaire Alexander, Green Bay
23 Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans
24 James Bradberry, NY Giants
Free safety 37 Quandre Diggs, Seattle 33 Jamal Adams, Seattle
Strong safety 32 Budda Baker, Arizona

Special teams edit

Position Starter(s)
Punter 3 Jack Fox, Detroit
Placekicker 7 Younghoe Koo, Atlanta
Return specialist 84 Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago
Special teams 44 Nick Bellore, Seattle
Long snapper 69 Tyler Ott, Seattle

Number of selections per team edit

American Football Conference
Team Selections
Baltimore Ravens 7
Buffalo Bills 5
Cincinnati Bengals 0
Cleveland Browns 3
Denver Broncos 2
Houston Texans 2
Indianapolis Colts 3
Jacksonville Jaguars 0
Kansas City Chiefs 7
Los Angeles Chargers 2
Las Vegas Raiders 2
Miami Dolphins 1
New England Patriots 3
New York Jets 0
Pittsburgh Steelers 5
Tennessee Titans 2
National Football Conference
Team Selections
Arizona Cardinals 3
Atlanta Falcons 2
Carolina Panthers 0
Chicago Bears 2
Dallas Cowboys 0
Detroit Lions 3
Green Bay Packers 7
Los Angeles Rams 2
Minnesota Vikings 2
New Orleans Saints 5
New York Giants 2
Philadelphia Eagles 3
San Francisco 49ers 3
Seattle Seahawks 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1
Washington Football Team 2

References edit

  1. ^ Richard Bilbao. "Orlando Eyes Yet Another Year Of The Pro Bowl". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "NFL to reimagine 2021 Pro Bowl; '22 Pro Bowl awarded to Las Vegas". www.nfl.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Smith, Michael David (October 14, 2020). "Pro Bowl will not be played this season". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Rapp, Timothy. "NFL Announces Format, Schedule, Voting for Virtual Madden 21 Pro Bowl". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Around the NFL Staff. "NFL reveals complete AFC, NFC rosters for 2021 Pro Bowl". NFL.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "NFL teams up with Verzuz for first-ever "NFL Pro Bowl Verzuz presented by Verizon"". NFL.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "The "Pro Bowl Celebration" seems like it will mostly be highlights and interviews". Awful Announcing. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "The 2021 Pro Bowl Celebration presented by Verizon Premieres Sunday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and Disney XD". ESPN Press Room U.S. January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Nguyen, Kevin (November 17, 2020). "The NFL Pro Bowl will be hosted in Madden this season". The Verge. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Rothstein, Michael (January 25, 2021). "Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Jamal Adams, Derrick Henry playing virtual Pro Bowl using Madden NFL 21". ESPN. Retrieved January 28, 2021.

External links edit