The NFL has announced that the Pro Bowl is returning to Orlando for the third year in a row, which is good news for Walt Disney World and ESPN Wide World of Sports as the Pro Bowl Week activities will primarily be held at Disney in 2019.
The sports complex at Walt Disney World will again be football headquarters during the NFL’s All-Star game week, serving at the host site for AFC and NFC team practices, the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, the NFL Flag Championships powered by USA Football, and more.
Pro Bowl practices will involve 88 of the NFL’s All-Stars – 44 from the AFC and 44 from the NFC – as determined by a consensus of votes by fans, players and coaches. Both teams will once again be led by offensive and defensive NFL Legends who will serve as captains representing each conference.
In 2018, the AFC Legends captains were Pro Football Hall of Famers Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson who combined for 11 Pro Bowls during their playing days. The NFC Legends captains were Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Derrick Brooks and three-time Pro Bowl RB Warrick Dunn. The 2019 NFL Legends captains will be announced later this year.
One of NFL Pro Bowl Week’s most interesting and most anticipated events is the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown – a series of unique competitions where AFC All-Stars and their NFC counterparts compete against each other. Key Pro Bowl Skills Showdown competitions include Dodge Ball, Kick, Tac Toe, best hands challenge, precision passing and the drone drop – a bonus event where one player from each team will attempt to catch footballs dropped from drones from increasing heights above the field. The player who records the highest catch total wins money for the charity of his choice.
Another popular event during NFL Pro Bowl Week is the NFL Flag Championships powered by USA Football. For the second straight year, sixty-four teams – eight regional champions in four divisions plus 32 at-large teams – will compete in the tournament. NFL Pro Bowl Legends will serve as guest coaches, encouraging the teams as they compete for the national championship.
The 13-14 Boys Championship Game will be aired on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 27 as part of the network’s broadcast of the Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Divisions include 9-10 coed, 11-12 coed, 13-14 boys and 13-14 girls.
Other NFL Pro Bowl Week activities include the NFL Pro Bowl Experience, the Special Olympics Flag Football game, Punt, Pass and Kick National Championship, the EA Sports Madden Bowl Challenge and more.
NFL Pro Bowl Week activities at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex are free and open to the public. That makes it a great opportunity for you to explore Disney World’s unofficial 5th gate if you’ve never been there before.
NFL Pro Bowl Week culminates January 27 with the NFL Pro Bowl game televised live on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.