NFL Pro Bowl Games 2025: Rules and Format for Skills Challenge, Flag Football

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 04: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals walks onto the field prior to the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 04, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The best and brightest stars of the NFL (not competing in Super Bowl LIX) head to Camping World Stadium in Orlando beginning Thursday, January 30 for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

This year's games include new and returning skill challenges culminating on Sunday, February 2 with a flag football game featuring the best of the National Football Conference squaring off with the best of the American Football Conference.

Who makes up this year's roster, what challenges does the league have on tap for the participants, and what are the rules for the concluding game?

Find out with this preview.

NFL Pro Bowl Schedule and Viewing Information

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: Eli Manning and Peyton Manning attend "The Buddy Way" New York Screening at The Paley Museum on January 23, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Skills Showdown

Date: Thursday, January 30

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN+, NFL+

Pro Bowl Games Championship

Date: Sunday, February 2

Time: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST

TV: ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN Deportes

Streaming: ESPN+, NFL+

NFC Starting Roster

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 18: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions takes the field prior to an NFL Football game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff (Detroit Lions*), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings)

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles*), Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions), Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons, replaced Barkley)

Fullback

Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers

Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings*), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions*), CeeDee Lamb, (Dallas Cowboys), Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders), Malik Nabers (New York Giants), Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Tight End

George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers*), Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals)

Offensive Tackle

Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles*), Penei Sewell (Detroit Lions*), Tristan Wirfs (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Brian O'Neill (Minnesota Vikings, replacing Johnson), Taylor Decker (Detroit Lions, replaces Sewell)

Offensive Guard

Landon Dickerson (Philadelphia Eagles*), Tyler Smith (Dallas Cowboys), Chris Lindstrom (Atlanta Falcons), Robert Hunter (Carolina Panthers, replacing Dickerson)

Center

Frank Ragnow (Detroit Lions*), Cam Jurgens (Philadelphia Eagles), Erik McCoy (New Orleans Saints, replacing Jurgens)

Defensive End

Nick Bosa (San Francisco 49ers*), Micah Parsons (Dallas Cowboys*), Rashon Gary (Green Bay Packers)

Interior Linemen

Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles*), Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants*), Vita Vea (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Leonard Williams (Seattle Seahawks, replacing Carter)

Outside Linebacker

Jonathan Greenard (Minnesota Vikings*), Andrew Van Ginkel (Minnesota Vikings*), Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams)

Inside/Middle Linebacker

Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers*), Zach Baun (Philadelphia Eagles), Bobby Wagner (Washington Commanders, replacing Baun)

Cornerback

Jaylon Johnson (Chicago Bears*), Byron Murphy (Minnesota Vikings*), Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers), Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks)

Free Safety

Xavier McKinney (Minnesota Vikings*)

Strong Safety

Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals*), Brian Branch (Detroit Lions)

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola (Minnesota Vikings*)

Punter

Jack Fox (Detroit Lions*)

Placekicker

Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys*)

Return Specialist

KaVontae Turpin (Dallas Cowboys*)

Special Teamer

KhaDarel Hodge (Atlanta Falcons)

* - denotes starter

AFC Starting Roster

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 19: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills*), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Running Backs

Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens*), Joe Mixon (Houston Texans), Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)

Fullback

Patrick Ricard (Baltimore Ravens*)

Wide Receivers

Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals*), Jerry Jeudy (Cleveland Browns*), Nico Collins (Houston Texans), Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens), Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars, replacing Flowers)

Tight Ends

Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders*), Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), Jonnu Smith (Miami Dolphins)

Offensive Tackle

Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills*), Laremy Tunstil (Houston Texans*), Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), Ronnie Staley (Baltimore Ravens, replacing Tunstil)

Offensive Guard

Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts*), Joe Thuney (Kansas City Chiefs), Trey Smith (Kansas City Chiefs), Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns, replacing Thuney)

Center

Creed Humphrey (Kansas City Chiefs*), Tyler Linderbaum (Baltimore Ravens)

Defensive End

Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns*), Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals*), Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders), Danielle Hunter (Houston Texans, replacing Crosby)

Interior Linemen

Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers*), Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs*), Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens), Quinnen Williams (New York Jets, replacing Jones)

Outside Linebackers

Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos*), TJ Watt (Pittsburgh Steeler*), Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers), Kyle Van Noy (Baltimore Ravens, replacing Watt), Joey Bosa (Los Angeles Chargers, replacing Mack)

Inside/Middle Linebacker

Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens*), Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis Colts)

Cornerback

Derek Stingley Jr. (Houston Texans*), Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos*), Marlon Humphrey (Baltimore Ravens), Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns)

Free Safety

Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Steelers*)

Strong Safety

Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore Ravens*), Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers)

Long Snapper

Ross Matiscik (Jacksonville Jaguars*)

Punter

Logan Cooke (Jacksonville Jaguars*)

Placekicker

Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers*)

Return Specialist

Marvin Mims Jr. (Denver Broncos*)

Special Teamer

Brendan Schooler (New England Patriots), Miles Killebrew (Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing Schooler)

Skill Challenge Lineup

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 02: A general view of Pro Bowl Games banners during the Pro Bowl Games skills events on February 02, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

This year, the NFL's top stars will compete in competitions designed to highlight their on-field football and non-football skills.

Those skill challenges will take place over two days and are designed to create a fun and competitive environment for the players and fans. The schedule for the challenges, per NFL.com, is as follows:

Thursday, January 30

Passing the Test: quarterbacks test their ability to hit targets all over the field for 40 seconds. For every correct answer their selected teammate gives about them, the QB will receive an additional 10 seconds.
Satisfying Catches: wide receivers, tight ends, and defensive backs will compete in an obstacle course in which they complete catches from a jugs machine and the teammates with the lowest combined time will be declared the winners.
Relay Race: four players from each conference compete in a three-round, simultaneous relay. The fastest team wins.
Helmet Harmony: players compete in a game show setting, answering questions about their fellow teammates. The team most knowledgeable about itself wins.
Dodgeball: six teams of five players compete in a three-round dodgeball tournament.

Sunday, February 2

Punt Perfect: one punter and one non-punter kick from the 35-yard line, with the goal being to place as many balls in the six buckets in the end zone as possible. Each bucket is worth a point and every fifth punt is worth three points. The team with the most points wins.
The Great Football Race: six players from each conference compete in a relay race full of different obstacles and concluding with a sled push. The first team to cross the finish line is the winner.
Tug-of-War: a best-of-three competition with the winners being the team that pulls their opponents into a foam pit.

Flag Football Rules

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 04: Pat Surtain II #2 of the Denver Broncos and AFC celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown during the first half of the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 04, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The NFL has yet to officially announce the rules for the 2025 Pro Bowl flag football game but they are unlikely to deviate much, if at all, from the 2024 rules.

Those were as follows:

There is one game, with 7-on-7 rules, played on a 50-yard field.
12 minute quarters with a two-minute warning at the end of each half.
Drives begin at their own five-yard line. Each team has four downs to reach midfield for a first down and four more to find the end zone.
Touchdowns are still valued at six points. Teams have the opportunity to compete for one or two extra points by scoring from the five or 10 yard line, respectively.

The team with the most points wins.

Last season, the NFC bested their AFC counterparts, winning the flag football game 64-59. It was the highest scoring Pro Bowl game ever, though the shape of that game has changed significantly since the previous record holder in 2004.