NFL ProBowl featuring flag football
The National Football League announced a transformation of the Pro Bowl, renaming it "The Pro Bowl Games," to take place in Las Vegas in 2023. The Pro Bowl Games, presented by Verizon, was a week-long celebration of player skills that spotlighted Flag football. The multi-day AFC vs NFC competition culminated in an action-packed flag game featuring Pro Bowl players at Allegiant Stadium and aired on ESPN and ABC on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.
Throughout the week, The Pro Bowl Games also integrated new challenges where players showcased their football and non-football skills in unique competitions. The revamped programming allowed the top stars to show off their skills and celebrate their accomplishments in a fun, memorable way, surrounded by their families and fans.
The NFL worked with some of the biggest names in football, including Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions company, to program the week-long event. Manning, a 14-time Pro Bowl player, provided a unique perspective on the importance of the event to players and fans and was a vital part of the coaching staff for the AFC vs NFC Flag football game.
"We received invaluable feedback from players, teams, and fans about reimagining the Pro Bowl, and as a result, we were thrilled to use The Pro Bowl Games as a platform to spotlight Flag football as an integral part of the sport's future while also introducing fun, new forms of competition and entertainment that brought our players, their families, and fans closer than ever before," said Peter O'Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business and League Events. "Building on the success of the 2022 Pro Bowl and 2022 Draft, as well as our strong partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Las Vegas Raiders, we looked forward to bringing The 2023 Pro Bowl Games to the capital of world-class sports and entertainment."
Flag football was critical to the NFL's participation and development strategy due to its highly accessible and inclusive qualities. The Pro Bowl Games integrated Flag throughout the week, including the Play Football Opening Night and NFL FLAG Championships presented by Subway, created in partnership with RCX Sports and featuring the top girls' and boys' youth Flag teams from across the country and around the world. The league had celebrated a significant milestone for the global growth and popularity of the football format, partnering with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to bring Flag football to The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.
Eli Manning and the NFC were the 2023 Pro Bowl Games champions. The younger Manning led his team to victory over Peyton and the AFC by two wins in the flag football round of competition, netting 12 points in the overall match. Kirk Cousins, who had led several last-minute, game-winning drives for the Vikings in 2022, had one more comeback in him as he went 15 of 19 for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the third and decisive flag football game, as the NFC pulled out a 35-33 win.
Ljubljana Frogs are playing five-on-five flag football with a little bit different rules from IFAF, where you can rush only from 7 yards, QB has 7 seconds to throw the ball, the play clock is 25 seconds, we play 2x20 minutes halves and our field in 70 yards x 25 yards, everything else is the same.
