Earlier this week, the NFL made the long-overdue decision to eliminate the Pro Bowl games. While the league will still issue recognition by naming a Pro Bowl team each year, ensuring players still get their accolades and potential incentives tied to their contracts, there will no longer be an actual game played between the sport’s top players.
Yet, as many would agree, the NFL has long been inching toward moving away from the Pro Bowl. Some would even say it should have been done years ago.
Kevin Mawae Offers Honest Take on The End of NFL Pro Bowl Games
One person who’s opened up about his feelings on the NFL’s elimination of the Pro Bowl Game is Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection played 16 seasons from 1994 to 2009, but he believes no one really takes the game seriously anyway.
Mawae took to FS1’s “First Things First” to state his case.
“I think the last 10 years or so, it’s been a joke anyway,” Mawae said. “You’ve got the fifth alternate that gets to go to the Pro Bowl, and now he’s declaring himself as a Pro Bowl player. Nobody takes it seriously. It’s all a game.
“It’s like a battle of the superstars is what it’s turned into. Unlike the games back when I played. The third quarter came around, and you’re down by two scores, and you realize you have the hotel bill to pay. You could go all out. Guys were breaking rules and blitzing, and stunting and all that kind of stuff.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Mawae adds that he’s seen the Pro Bowl “going downhill for a long time,” so it’s not like it’s just some recent trend or blip on the radar.
“This thing’s been going downhill for a long time,” Mawae added. “Since it left Hawai’i. I played my last Pro Bowl, my last season, we were down in Miami, prior to the Super Bowl, and even then at that point, guys weren’t taking the game as seriously. So it’s not a surprise to me.
“Not too many fans are gonna be disappointed that they’re not gonna watch touch football and the All-Star games.”
8-Time Pro Bowl selection Kevin Mawae reacts to the Pro Bowl ending:
“Nobody takes it seriously… Unlike the games back when I played… This thing’s been going downhill for a long time… Not a surprise to me. Not too many fans are gonna be disappointed.” pic.twitter.com/ImGs9BuYj1
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 28, 2026
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
Most would agree with Mawae’s take. Fans aren’t necessarily going to miss the fact that they can’t watch meaningless football at the end of the season.
Still, it’s fun to see which players do earn recognition for the Pro Bowl. The same is true with the All-Pro selections, and it’s not like they have a separate game for the All-Pros, so why did the NFL need one for Pro Bowlers? Now, they won’t.
