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Don’t forget about the Pro Bowl: The reasons for the bye week before the Super Bowl

The climax of the NFL season is immediately preceded by a week off for the Super Bowl participants, although it wasn’t always the case.

Vince Lombardi trophy 2019
Kevin C. Cox

Between the middle of August and the second week of February, NFL fans are in their element. After three weeks of preseason, the regular season runs for 18 weeks up until the first weekend in January, with the playoffs beginning immediately afterwards. The postseason flow continues for three weekends in succession, but just when the football action is about to reach a dramatic climax…the Pro Bowl cuts in front of the Super Bowl.

The pros and cons of the Pro Bowl (Games)

The Pro Bowl, or All-Star Game, it should be said, has long been a staple of the NFL calendar. In theory, it offers players recognition for an outstanding year and is a significant negotiation tool when signing a new contract.

In practice, however, it appears to have lost its magic, with 23 players pulling out of the 2025 event. For the last three years, the all-star format has changed to the Pro Bowl Games, made up of skills challenges and flag football. That doesn’t seem to have helped.

On top of that, if you’re selected for the Pro Bowl Games, it means your team hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl, which takes place the following Sunday.

Why isn’t today Super Bowl Sunday?

After 26 straight weeks of preseason, regular season and postseason action, it could be easy to get caught off guard. Especially as there was only a one-week break for a period up until 2003, after which an extra week was added having previously been scrapped.

There are a number of reasons why, which are all fairly logical, if frustrating for hardcore fans.

As far as the on-field action is concerned, the two qualified teams have more time to recover from their previously gruelling schedules, which can help the top stars be as close to 100% as they can be to put on the best show possible in the biggest game of all.

Off the field, making sure things go smoothly is the main objective. The extra week ensures the host stadium is spruced up as much as it should be, and gives fans time to arrange tickets, accommodation, travel and the rest as they flock across the country to see their team.

It also allows extra time to create anticipation and hype, as if it were needed, through marketing, promotion and media build-up.

Oh, and don’t forget about the Pro Bowl. It has to be played some time, right?

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