The PA announcer at Camping World Stadium highlighted, ‘A Seahawks receiver throwing to a young Broncos fan,’ after Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba tossed the ball into the crowd following a touchdown at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
‘That’s what this is all about,’ he continued.
The statement encapsulated the spirit of the venue, as the NFL’s finest players gathered in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend.
Culminating with the AFC vs. NFC flag football game on Sunday, central Florida’s sunny conditions provided an ideal setting for a vibrant convention of fans across the league.
The stands showcased a mosaic of team colors to celebrate the NFL’s 105th season before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles star in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.
In the end, the NFC dominantly secured Pro Bowl supremacy for the third straight year, 76-63. Byron Murphy was named the defensive MVP and Jared Goff the most valuable offensive weapon for Eli Manning’s side.
Detroit’s Jared Goff was named the offensive MVP as NFC won their third straight Pro Bowl
Eli Manning’s side dominated their AFC counterparts, 76-63, during Sunday’s games
American football’s All-Star weekend, in its third year in Orlando, provided an environment for the league’s best to take the spotlight in several competitions highlighting different aspects of the game.
A moment of silence opened Sunday’s lineup to honor the victims of tragic plane crashes in Washington DC and Philadelphia, both NFL cities, that took over headlines in the buildup to the game.
For a minute, 54,313 fans muted in unison before the Star-Spangled Banner blasted across the stadium, accompanied by a flyover as the United States flag waved across the field. From there, the audience’s oohs and aahs took over.
Players that may only be seen together in fantasy teams gave fans a glimpse of hypothetical assemblies on the field.
For some, such as first-time Pro Bowler Sam Darnold of the Vikings, the event was a quick pitstop between the season and the reality that awaits him in free agency.
After signing a one-year deal with Minnesota, the 27-year-old bounced back from his worst NFL season to have a career-high campaign to lead the Vikings to the playoffs with a 14-3 record.
Speaking to DailyMail.com ahead during Saturday’s practice, Darnold alluded to his work ethic while addressing his future. However, he also emphasized enjoying the Pro Bowl with six teammates.
‘I think, for me, the biggest thing is to figure that out with my agent when the time’s right,’ the quarterback said.
‘But right now, I’m just gonna worry about enjoying this moment with these guys and all my teammates who made it here as well.’
The NFC’s stars proved superior in the flag football game at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium
Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson celebrates after scoring a touchdown for the NFC
Giants star Malik Nabers flips into the foam pit after scoring a touchdown for the NFC
Come Sunday, Darnold became essential to the NFC’s dominant performance as he spearheaded the conference alongside Detroit’s Goff, Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson, and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield.
While fans in attendance seemed to enjoy the festivities, the television ratings continue to cause concerns that the games have lost their appeal.
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games had 5.75 million viewers, which was a decrease of almost 8 per cent from the previous year. The 2023 Pro Bowl had 6.2 million viewers, a step down from the 6.7 million in 2022.
Furthermore, The 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Show averaged 1.13 million viewers, down a hair from last year’s edition (1.14M) to rank as the second-most watched since 2018. Thursday’s broadcast increased seven per cent in the key P18-34 demographic and peaked at 1.4 million viewers during the 8.15-8.30pm ET window, per Sports Media Watch.
Nonetheless, the players relished the opportunity to partake in the showcase. San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk insisted that the games remain ‘special’ despite the fall in viewership.
Fans seemed disappointed with the Pro Bowl as viewership numbers continue to decline
‘It was incredible,’ Juszczyk told DailyMail.com. ‘I’ve done a number of these but each one is special in its own right. I feel like there’s kind of a new wave of young star athletes in this league now and it’s cool to get to know some of them.’
Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson added that, ‘Pro Bowl will always be amazing.’
‘Just to be teaming up with the best in the league, guys that we go up against, to really game plan against. So it’s really good to see these guys, talk to them, bond with them, and just compete. Just always love.’
The AFC-NFC showdown competition was not the only flag football action the NFL brought to O-Town this week.
On Friday, Toyota hosted an HBCU flag football tournament at the University of Central Florida’s campus.
Toyota, the official automotive Partner of the NFL, extended its long-standing support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and celebrated its role in growing the sport by powering the first-ever HBCU flag football tournament at this year’s Pro Bowl Games.
‘The HBCU tournament is the first of its kind and Toyota has stepped in to support and grow the brand,’ Jade Strawberry, Chief of Staff at RCX, operator of NFL FLAG shared.
‘Just being here, seeing it for the first year is awesome,’ Strawberry added. ‘Of course, it’s exciting to think about what the event could look like for the HBCU athletes.’
The NFC have won the Pro Bowl flag football game over the AFC for the last three years
NFC coach Eli Manning celebrates with Giants star Malik Nabers after securing the victory
With flag football being added as an event for the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the HBCU teams have been a beacon in growing the sport. According to Toyota’s vice president of marketing and communications, Dedra DeLilli, the growth is what they hope to highlight and expand with the tournament.
‘Our aim with the tournament is to shine a light on the critical role HBCUs have played in the explosive growth of flag football and to provide the opportunity for these phenomenal athletes to showcase their skills and connect with a broader audience through this first-of-its-kind platform,’ DeLilli shared.
‘The NFL FLAG HBCU Tournament Presented by Toyota not only highlights the legacies of these athletes and their schools, but it also creates a platform for future athletes to shine and share their stories on a national stage.’
As the Pro Bowl Games enter the rearview, the focus falls on the Super Bowl in New Orleans. As the Chiefs prepare to shoot for a three-peat, the Eagles hope to carry the momentum of the NFC and spoil the party for Patrick Mahomes and Co.
Philadelphia and Kansas City will battle for NFL supremacy from the Caesar’s Superdome at 6.30pm ET on Sunday.
