League Will Host Events Focused on Philanthropy and Engaging Youth Through Flag Football
NEW YORK — Jan. 18, 2024 — The 2024 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon will bring together the league’s best talent to showcase their skills on the field, while also highlighting the NFL family’s commitment to giving back off the field. In the return to Orlando for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon, the league will host events throughout the city aimed at leaving a positive philanthropic legacy in the community and engaging with youth through flag football.
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games features players competing in the Pro Bowl Skills contest, a multi-day AFC versus NFC competition that culminates in an action-packed flag football game. The Pro Bowl Games will have cumulative scoring starting with Skills competitions on Thursday, Feb. 1, leading up to the AFC versus NFC flag football game on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Camping World Stadium. The conference with the most collective points will be crowned the winner.
Celebrations for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games will begin with the Pro Bowl Welcome Press Conference and Legacy Project on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the Rock Lake Neighborhood Center in Orlando. Following the press conference, students will participate in NFL PLAY 60 football activities. Community volunteers and students who utilize the recreation center will plant low water use trees alongside the Pro Bowl team captains around the facility’s sports field and revitalize its learning garden. Bookshelves and books will be added to the computer room to provide increased reading opportunities.
Throughout the week, the NFL is once again partnering with TAPS to bring military families to Orlando for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games. TAPS is a nonprofit organization and an NFLSalute to Service partner that offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who passed away while serving in our Armed Forces or as a result of their service. Through its partnership with TAPS, the NFL honors families of those who sacrificed their lives for our country by hosting them at year-round NFL events and supporting programs that help heal through mentorship and counseling. The NFL and TAPS will bring military families to the NFC and AFC Pro Bowl practices, participate in a meet and greet with Pro Bowl players, and engage in NFL PLAY 60 activities. On Sunday, Feb. 4, TAPS families will join other community groups to watch the 2024 Pro Bowl Game.
During Pro Bowl Games Week, the NFL will also help grant a wish for Make-A-Wish kids Luca and Hudson. Make-A-Wish is a long-standing partner of the NFL and creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Luca is a 13-year-old from Illinois with a nervous system disorder. He is an avid football fan. His favorite player is Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears who he looks up to for his willingness to talk about his nervous system disorder. Hudson is an 11-year-old from Indiana with a respiratory condition. He has several favorite players scattered throughout the league, and the Pro Bowl presents an opportunity to see many of them take the field at the same time. As part of their experience, Luca, Hudson and their families will attend the Pro Bowl Skills Show on Thursday, Feb. 1, interact with Pro Bowl players at both the NFC and AFC practices and attend the 2024 Pro Bowl Game.
The NFL is also working with community groups across Orlando to invite them to the 2024 Pro Bowl Game. Invited groups include members of the LGBTQ community, veterans and their families, youth groups, groups that serve domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and more.
In addition to the community activities and engagement at the Pro Bowl Games events, flag football will be taking center stage throughout the week. 252 teams comprising over 3,600 players will take part in the largest flag football tournament at the NFL FLAG Championships at Pro Bowl Games. Tournament games will start Friday, Feb. 2, culminating in the championship game occurring during the pregame of the AFC versus NFC flag football Pro Bowl game on Sunday, Feb. 4.
A full list of Pro Bowl Games Week community and flag football events is below.
Salute to Service Screening of 100 Yards of Hope
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. ET, the NFL will host a special screening of 100 Yards of Hope at the Orlando Museum of Art. 100 Yards of Hope is the story of a partnership between the NFL, FORCE BLUE special ops military veterans, marine scientists, environmental agencies and Super Bowl Host Committees to restore a coral reef, and in the process, restore a sense of purpose and mission for highly skilled military veterans. This documentary has been shown to military audiences across the country and has inspired service members to repurpose their skills outside of the military, continue to make a difference in the world and serve their country in new ways. The screening will be followed by an interactive panel discussion between the NFL, FORCE Blue and one of the marine experts who helped implement this unique project.
Pro Bowl Welcome Press Conference and Legacy Project
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, the NFL will begin the Pro Bowl Games celebrations at Orlando’s Rock Lake Neighborhood Center with a kickoff press conference and a community project. Community volunteers and the 70 students who utilize the recreation center will plant low water use trees around the center’s sports field and revitalize the facility’s learning garden. Bookshelves and books will be added to the computer room to provide increased reading opportunities for the students. Following the press conference, the students will enjoy NFL PLAY 60 football activities. The event’s community service component will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and the press conference will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Truist Youth Financial Literacy and NFL PLAY 60 Event
On Thursday, Feb. 1, Truist and the NFL will visit a local youth organization to bring financial literacy education and NFL PLAY 60 activities to the community. Youth participating will have the opportunity to attend the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown later that evening.
NFL FLAG Championships at Pro Bowl Games Tournament
The NFL will host the largest flag football tournament to date through the NFL FLAG Championships at Pro Bowl Games. The tournament will feature 252 teams comprised of more than 3,600 players. Fourteen different countries will be represented, including Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. There will be an adult and youth competition, with participants in the latter featuring boys and girls aged 8-17. The four-day event will consist of pool play and a single elimination tournament. The games will start on Friday, Feb. 2 at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Rec Fields and will conclude with championship games played on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Camping World Stadium.
AYF Middle School All-Star Game
On Saturday, Feb. 3, American Youth Football’s (AYFs) top middle school football players will compete in an All-Star game to celebrate their immense contribution to their teams. About 100 players will participate in the game played at The Master’s Academy in Orlando.
NFL FLAG Championships at Pro Bowl Games – Championship Games
NFL FLAG Championships will be held at the Pro Bowl Games for the fourth consecutive year as part of the week-long celebration of football across all levels. 14U Boys & 17U Girls Championship games of the tournament will compete during the pre-game of the 2023 Pro Bowl Game on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Camping World Stadium. The 17U Girls Championship game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award
The Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award honors an exemplary football coach at the high school level who displays the integrity, achievement, and leadership demonstrated by Coach Shula. Coaches are nominated for the national award by all 32 NFL teams, and the winner is selected by a panel of judges including Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, Scott Pioli, and more. The two winners will be invited to the Pro Bowl Games with on-field access on Sunday, Feb. 4, and will be recognized throughout the week.
###
