Let’s be honest.

The NFL Pro Bowl hasn’t met its full potential in years. Especially compared to the NBA and MLB’s All-star events. In fact, the 2022 Pro-Bowl had the lowest viewership since 2006 with 6.2 million viewers. Despite consistently having star-studded line ups that fans could only dream about; the NFL Pro Bowl has turned into a backyard football game nobody wants to watch.

And the NFL is finally realizing this.

According to Front Office Sports, the NFL is looking into ways to improve — and possibly eliminate — the Pro Bowl. These exact changes are expected to be determined by the end of the summer and will most likely go into effect during the 2022-2023 NFL season. Yet, despite the NFL’s effort, a primary reason why the Pro-Bowl doesn’t get viewership is the players unwillingness to play for real – or even try at all. Yet, NFL fans understand the importance of keeping players healthy, especially in a rough sport like football.

So, what more can the NFL do? Here are three cool alternatives that could make the Pro-Bowl into the All-star event it was always destined to be.

Bring in the stars

Imagine seeing Lebron James line up at Quarterback. Behind him is his small but feisty running back Kevin Hart and to his left is his partner in crime at Tight End – The Rock.

Who wouldn’t want to pay to see that?

Celebrities always bring out viewership and the NFL needs to realize that. So many celebrities love the game and would want to play against their friends. This addition to the Pro Bowl would be very similar to the NBA All-Star celebrity game which got nearly 2 million views last year. An NFL celebrities game, despite their not being rough tackles, is sure to be a success because of fans’ desire to see the most athletic celebrities play against each other.

Haven’t you ever wondered if Lebron James could translate his passing skills into football? Wouldn’t you want to see the Rock, a former college football player, catch a touchdown pass over Gronk?

Although this won’t change actual Pro Bowl matchup, it would provide a needed spark that fans need to see during this supposed eventful weekend.

Pick up football

What if the NFL makes the Pro Bowl like a pick-up basketball game?

In this version, once all Pro Bowl players have been selected, 6 QBs will draft a team 11 players creating a total of six teams. This is similar to how the NBA does its All-Star game selection.

Instead of playing a full-on game, the players would play a shortened version of football starting at the 25-yard line. In this college overtime-like game, the offense will only get four downs to score while the opposing team has to stop them.  Each touchdown is worth one point and the first team to score seven wins the game. Finally, instead of their being one game, this would be a tournament in which the prize money would be near the millions for the winning team - an amazing opportunity for young players to earn some more dough.

Yet, there is still no guarantee a multimillionaire like Aaron Rodgers would even want to try a pick-up football game. Unfortunately, this version of the event, like the current one, would be heavily dependent upon if players try. But since there are only 11 players on each team, the likeness that a few teams give it their all and perform at their highest level is much greater than today’s version.

NCAA x NFL

It is safe to millions of Americans love college football. In fact, ESPN averaged over 1 million viewers per college game. Not to even consider the whopping 22 million viewers the National Championship game gets every year.

So why not bring college kids into the Pro-Bowl?

This “rising stars” game would give the best college students a chance to make their mark on scouts and fans all over the world. More importantly though, unlike the NFL players, they will actually try because of their need to stand out. Although this game may not include the best college football players, it would still provide those projected to go later in the draft – or those who won’t get drafted at all - a chance to make their mark. In addition, if the NFL decides to create multiple teams of college players, NFL players could potentially coach these young athletes. Not only would this drive viewership but give the NFL players an opportunity to showcase their football genius.

Imagine a game where Tom Brady is coaching a team against Peyton Manning!

Despite some rule barriers, the collaboration of the NFL and NCAA is one that is long needed, in my opinion. It almost perfectly combines the current and next generations of football that the fans deserve to see.