The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers have competed in the National Football League (NFL) since 1921, two years after their original founding by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun.[1] They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) and play their home games at Lambeau Field in central Wisconsin.[2][3]
Starting with the 1938 NFL season, the NFL instituted an All-Star Game that pitted the league's championship team against a team made-up of the best players from the remaining teams.[4] Five of these exhibition games were played, with the last occurring after the 1942 NFL season before the NFL reduced the number of teams and games in the season due to players serving in World War II.[5][6] The first official Pro Bowl occurred in 1951 following the 1950 NFL season.[7] From the 1950 season until the 1969 season, the exhibition game was played between teams representing the Eastern and Western Conferences of the NFL.[8] After the American Football League (AFL) merged with the NFL in 1970, the game was played between teams representing the NFC and the American Football Conference (AFC). The conference team format remained until 2014 when the NFL shifted to a fantasy football format with teams selected by captains from the full pool of Pro Bowl selectees. This format only lasted for three seasons before it reverted back to the conference team format from the 2016 to 2021 NFL seasons;[7] this period included the cancellation of the 2021 Pro Bowl due to the COVID-19 pandemic (teams were still selected and players were still recognized as Pro Bowl selectees).[9] Starting with the 2023 Pro Bowl after the 2022 NFL season, the NFL again changed the format; instead of playing an exhibition game, the Pro Bowl was converted to series of skill competitions that culminated in a non-contact flag football game.[10]
Pro Bowl selections are made by a cumulative vote by three groups that hold equal weight: coaches, players and fans.[7] Based on the results of the vote, each team is filled out based on generic positions on offense, defense and special teams.[11] Prior to the institution of the Pro Bowl Games in 2023, the players with the most votes were named starters, while the remainder of the selectees were reserves.[12] In the event that a Pro Bowl selectee is unable to participate in the Pro Bowl, either due to health reasons or the fact they are playing in the Super Bowl right after the Pro Bowl, alternates are named in the players' place. These players are still considered official Pro Bowl selectees.[13] The coaching staffs for each team have been selected in various ways, with the common option being the coaching staffs of the team with the best record in each conference who were not going to the Super Bowl given the honors.[14] With the onset of the Pro Bowl Games, the NFL now selects the coaching staffs for the flag football game.[15] Players for each team are paid for their participation, with a higher sum going to the winning team.[16] Throughout the life of the Pro Bowl, awards have been given out to recognize the best player or players of the game. From 2016 to 2022, an award was given to an offensive and defensive most valuable player (MVP).[17]
The Packers have had representatives at the Pro Bowl every year since 1950 except for nine seasons. The Packers' first selections in the inaugural Pro Bowl in 1951 were running back Billy Grimes and defensive tackle Ed Neal. The 1963 Pro Bowl and 1968 Pro Bowl each included nine Packers, the most that the team has ever sent to the Pro Bowl. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds the team record for most Pro Bowl selections with 10, while Forrest Gregg (nine selections), Brett Favre (nine selections) and Willie Wood (eight selections) round out the top four.[18] Four Packers have been given a Pro Bowl MVP award.[17] The most recent Pro Bowl selectee for the Packers was Kenny Clark for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.[18]
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