The reason why the NFL decided to move Pro Bowl Games to Super Bowl week

The NFL’s annual all-star showcase is getting a major scheduling shake-up. The league announced that the 2026 Pro Bowl Games will now take place during Super Bowl week, positioning the event as part of football’s biggest celebration rather than a separate afterthought.

The decision marks the latest phase in the NFL’s ongoing effort to “reimagine” the Pro Bowl, which has struggled for years to capture fan interest. Since 2022, the traditional tackle format has been replaced by flag football and skills competitions, which have received a warmer reception from players and viewers alike.

When are the Pro Bowl games?

By moving the event to Super Bowl week in the Bay Area, the league aims to tie its showcase of elite athletes directly into its biggest media moment. According to NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly, integrating the Pro Bowl into Super Bowl festivities will “elevate flag football and our best players in a way that’s never been done before.”

The 2026 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon will take place at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, transformed into a vibrant flag football arena for television. Coverage begins Tuesday, February 3, on ESPN, Disney XD and ESPN Deportes, with the 7-on-7 AFC vs NFC game airing at 8 p.m. ET.

The revamped format also reinforces the league’s growing commitment to flag football, a sport that now boasts more than 20 million players across 100 countries and will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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