The NFL Pro Bowl was called off this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the league got a little creative with its workaround.
Instead of airing the traditional Pro Bowl, a virtual version of the game will be aired this weekend. Some current and former NFL players, along with celebrities, will be competing with Pro Bowl rosters in the "Madden NFL 21" video game.
"Even amidst unparalleled change across the sports industry, we are excited to transition many of the signature components of the Pro Bowl — which will go virtual in Madden NFL 21 — into a new innovative experience for our players and fans," NFL executive vice president of club business and events Peter O'Reilly said in a statement.
MORE: Why is there no Pro Bowl this year?
So how exactly does this work? We'll explain below what you can expect from the virtual Pro Bowl in 2021.
When is the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl?
- Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. EST
The virtual NFL Pro Bowl will be held in place of the game on Sunday, Jan. 5. The replacement "Madden NFL 21"
How to watch the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl
The 2021 NFL Pro Bowl will be available to watch in a number of ways. You can watch through the EA Madden NFL Twitch channel, embedded above, as well as the NFL's YouTube, Twitter and Facebook platforms. The game will also be streamed on NFL Network.
In addition, streamers Ninja, FaZe Swagg, AustinShow and AMP will have the game available on their respective Twitch channels as a watch party.
Charissa Thompson and Michael Strahan will be hosting the event.
How is the Pro Bowl going to work this year?
The 2021 NFL Pro Bowl will be virtual, with eight players and celebrities competing against one another using the video game "Madden 21." Four people will control the NFC while another four control the AFC, both being the full rosters as selected. Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray have been named as "Team Leads" as they are each Pro Bowl players this season. The players will be playing the game from their homes, and will play one five-minute quarter of the game.
In the first quarter it will be Deshaun Watson vs. Kyler Murray. In the second quarter it will be Keyshawn Johnson vs. Bubba Wallace. In the third quarter it will be Derrick Henry vs. Jamal Adams. In the fourth quarter it will be Snoop Dogg vs. Marshawn Lynch.
It's not clear if the teams will get everyone involved like in a traditional Pro Bowl, or if it will pretty much just be the starters playing. EA Sports has a feature in its preseason for franchise mode that automatically subs in backups, so it's certainly possible to apply that to the Pro Bowl.
AFC competitors
- Snoop Dogg
- Deshaun Watson
- Derrick Henry
- Keyshawn Johnson
NFC competitors
- Bubba Wallace
- Marshawn Lynch
- Kyler Murray
- Jamal Adams
AFC Pro Bowl roster
| Position | Player | Team |
| QB | Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs |
| QB | Josh Allen | Bills |
| QB | Deshaun Watson | Texans |
| RB | Derrick Henry | Titans |
| RB | Nick Chubb | Browns |
| RB | Josh Jacobs | Raiders |
| WR | Tyreek Hill | Chiefs |
| WR | Stefon Diggs | Bills |
| WR | Keenan Allen | Chargers |
| WR | A.J. Brown | Titans |
| TE | Travis Kelce | Chiefs |
| TE | Darren Waller | Raiders |
| FB | Patrick Ricard | Ravens |
| T | Laremy Tunsil | Texans |
| T | Eric Fisher | Chiefs |
| T | Orlando Brown | Ravens |
| G | Quenton Nelson | Colts |
| G | Joel Bitonio | Browns |
| G | David DeCastro | Steelers |
| C | Maurkice Pouncey | Steelers |
| C | Ryan Kelly | Colts |
| DE | Myles Garrett | Browns |
| DE | Joey Bosa | Chargers |
| DE | Frank Clark | Chiefs |
| DT | Chris Jones | Chiefs |
| DT | Cameron Heyward | Steelers |
| DT | Calais Campbell | Ravens |
| OLB | T.J. Watt | Steelers |
| OLB | Bradley Chubb | Broncos |
| OLB | Matt Judon | Ravens |
| ILB | Darius Leonard | Colts |
| ILB | Tremaine Edmunds | Bills |
| CB | Xavien Howard | Dolphins |
| CB | Tre'Davious White | Bills |
| CB | Marlon Humphrey | Ravens |
| CB | Stephon Gilmore | Patriots |
| FS | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Steelers |
| FS | Justin Simmons | Broncos |
| SS | Tyrann Mathieu | Chiefs |
| LS | Morgan Cox | Ravens |
| P | Jake Bailey | Patriots |
| K | Justin Tucker | Ravens |
| RS | Andre Roberts | Bills |
| ST | Matthew Slater | Patriots |
Bold: Starter
NFC Pro Bowl roster
| Position | Player | Team |
| QB | Aaron Rodgers | Packers |
| QB | Russell Wilson | Seahawks |
| QB | Kyler Murray | Cardinals |
| RB | Dalvin Cook | Vikings |
| RB | Alvin Kamara | Saints |
| RB | Aaron Jones | Packers |
| WR | Davante Adams | Packers |
| WR | DeAndre Hopkins | Cardinals |
| WR | DK Metcalf | Seahawks |
| WR | Justin Jefferson | Vikings |
| TE | T.J. Hockenson | Lions |
| TE | Evan Engram | Giants |
| FB | Kyle Juszczyk | 49ers |
| T | David Bakhtiari | Packers |
| T | Trent Williams | 49ers |
| T | Terron Armstead | Saints |
| G | Brandon Scherff | Washington |
| G | Elgton Jenkins | Packers |
| G | Andrus Peat | Saints |
| C | Jason Kelce | Eagles |
| C | Frank Ragnow | Lions |
| DE | Cameron Jordan | Saints |
| DE | Brandon Graham | Eagles |
| DE | Chase Young | Washington |
| DT | Aaron Donald | Rams |
| DT | Fletcher Cox | Eagles |
| DT | Grady Jarrett | Falcons |
| OLB | Khalil Mack | Bears |
| OLB | Za'Darius Smith | Packers |
| OLB | Jason Pierre-Paul | Buccaneers |
| ILB | Bobby Wagner | Seahawks |
| ILB | Fred Warner | 49ers |
| CB | Jalen Ramsey | Rams |
| CB | Jaire Alexander | Packers |
| CB | Marshon Lattimore | Saints |
| CB | James Bradberry | Giants |
| FS | Quandre Diggs | Seahawks |
| SS | Budda Baker | Cardinals |
| SS | Jamal Adams | Seahawks |
| LS | Tyler Ott | Seahawks |
| P | Jack Fox | Lions |
| K | Younghoe Koo | Falcons |
| RS | Cordarrelle Patterson | Bears |
| ST | Nick Bellore | Seahawks |