In recent days, as numerous players opt-out of the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, many media members have voiced their concerns about the diminishing honor associated with being named a Pro Bowler. Former Houston Texans star and CBS NFL analyst JJ Watt was among those expressing frustration, humorously suggesting on X that the event should now be referred to as the “Participation Bowl”.
When you get 5 alternates deep, just call it the Participation Bowl.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 28, 2025
Dan Patrick proposed a method to highlight those genuinely participating in the Pro Bowl Games based on their season achievements, as opposed to those added due to opt-outs. On Wednesday’s edition of The Dan Patrick Show, he recommended that the NFL mark the jerseys of alternates to differentiate them from players initially voted into the event. “It’s the scarlet letter,” Patrick explained. “I want to apply it to the NFL and it’s a big A. It’s the Pro Bowl alternate. JJ Watt mentioned that the award has become somewhat participatory—‘Hey, you made the Pro Bowl.’ Well, not really… You just get to play dodgeball. We should ensure this designation for alternates because they are merely looking for participants, and it shouldn’t count on your resume as it once did.”
Patrick further noted, “If three quarterbacks make the Pro Bowl in the AFC and NFC, or if you designate a First Team Pro Bowl quarterback, that should matter on your resume. Once we reach the sixth alternate—like Vince Young or Tyler Huntley—making the Pro Bowl as an alternate remains on your record, which can help secure a Hall of Fame spot. It’s essential to differentiate.”
DP suggests the #NFL should mark players who make the Pro Bowl as alternates with a visible distinction on their helmet or jersey—a “Scarlet Letter” of sorts. pic.twitter.com/PjccwgPCr0
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 29, 2025
Patrick’s argument is quite compelling. How often have you heard someone’s Pro Bowl appearances cited as a reason for their Hall of Fame candidacy? Perhaps, it’s time for everyone to reconsider how much weight we place on the traditional notion of what it means to be a Pro Bowler. However, having the distinction Patrick suggests could enable fans and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee to gauge the real significance of making a Pro Bowl.
