The Pro Bowl is the NFL's all-star game, which features the best players from the league showing their skills in an exhibition game in Hawaii. The Pro Bowl pits the the top stars from the American Football Conference against those from the National Football Conference.
Early History
Before the official founding of the Pro Bowl, the NFL held an all-star game in January 1939. This game featured various teams from within the league and outside of it, and was discontinued in 1943.
Revival
The NFL all-star game was revived in January 1951 and featured two other configurations before the AFC-NFC setup was introduced in 1971 and the game become known as the Pro Bowl.
1970s
The NFC and AFC were evenly matched during the 1970s, as the NFC won five Pro Bowls, including the first in 1971, and the AFC won four. After the first two Pro Bowls were held in Los Angeles, the location of the game changed every year.
1980s
In 1980, the Pro Bowl moved to Honolulu, where it would stay until 2010. The AFC had a slight edge over the NFC during this decade, winning six games to four. The winners and losers shares rose from $5,000 and $2,500 to $10,000 and $5,000 in 1983.
1990s
The 1990s saw two increases in the winner's and loser's shares, with 1994 bringing $20,000 and $10,000, and 1998 increasing the totals to $25,000 and $12,500 each. Again, the AFC had more wins through the decade, with six to the NFC's four.
2000s
The 2000s found the AFC and NFC evenly matched, with each team winning five Pro Bowls, although the AFC won three in a row, in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The payouts increased three times this decade, up to $30,000 for the winner and $15,000 for the loser in 2001, then to $35,000 and $17,500 and finally to $40,000 and $20,000 in 2006.
2010
In the year 2010, the NFL moved the Pro Bowl from Honolulu to Miami. The game was also scheduled before the Super Bowl. The two changes were made in hopes of producing more excitement for the Pro Bowl, as most other major sports leagues, such as the NHL, NBA and MLB have all-star games during the season. The AFC won, 41-34.
2011
The 2011 Pro Bowl will be played in the traditional Honolulu location. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Jan. 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium.
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