NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 38
Pro Bowl Game


  • Section 1. Compensation

    Players on the teams in any AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game will receive the following amounts:

    (in $000’s)20202021202220232024202520262027202820292030
    (Winning Team)$74$80$84$88$92$96$100$104$108$112$116
    (Losing Team)$37$40$42$44$46$48$50$52$54$56$58

  • Section 2. Selection

    Players will be selected for any Pro Bowl game on the basis of ballots cast by fans, players and coaches, with the total votes cast by each such group weighted equally (33.33% each). Fan ballot results will be based on total votes received. Players’ and coaches’ ballots will be in accordance with the procedures currently in effect. The NFLPA player representative or his alternate will conduct the balloting of the players on each team in accordance with the same procedure used by the NFL for the coaches. The NFLPA will actively cooperate with the NFL to ensure participation in the game and prompt reporting by players selected. Any Pro Bowl incentive clauses in Player Contracts signed prior to the effective date of this Agreement shall be earned and paid in accordance with this selection process.

  • Section 3. Spouses

    Airplane, hotel and meal allowances will be provided for players’ spouses who attend any Pro Bowl game.

  • Section 4. Injury
    (a)

    In the event a player is injured in a Pro Bowl Game or practice (“Pro Bowl Injury”) and as a direct result of such injury the player is unable to perform in any regular season game in the immediately following NFL season, he shall be deemed an “Injured Player” for the purpose of this Article.

    (b)

    If at the time of his Pro Bowl Injury an Injured Player has an NFL Player Contract for the immediately following NFL season, the player will be paid by his Club the weekly installments of his salary covering the games missed.

    (c)

    If at the time of his Pro Bowl Injury an Injured Player does not have an NFL Player Contract for the immediately following NFL season and does not sign such a contract, the player will be paid for each regular season game missed (“Injury Compensation”). Injury Compensation shall equal one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the greater of: (i) one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary; or (ii) “Pro Bowl Starter’s Pay,” as that term is defined in Section 4(d) below.

    (d)

    For the purpose of this Article, the term “Pro Bowl Starter’s Pay” means one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the average of the prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salaries (e.g., 2020 Paragraph 5 Salaries for the Pro Bowl Game to be played in the 2020 League Year) for all NFL players who started eight or more games at the playing position at which the Injured Player was voted to or selected for the Pro Bowl Game except with respect to kickers, punters, and long snappers, whose equivalent Pro Bowl Starter’s Pay shall equal one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the average of the prior year’s 2020 Paragraph 5 Salaries for the players at those respective positions who were on the 48-player roster for the most games during the 2020 regular season with their respective Clubs. For return specialists and special teams players, “Pro Bowl Starter’s Pay” shall equal one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the average of the prior year’s 2020 Paragraph 5 Salaries for the players at those respective positions who were listed on the Position Guide by their respective Clubs for selection to the 2020 League Year Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl Starter’s Pay shall be calculated on an annual basis, as described in this Section 4(d).

    (e)

    Injury Compensation, as described in Section 4(c) above, shall be deemed a “Benefit” under Article 12, Section 2(a), subject to further terms and conditions set forth in Section 4(f) below.

    (f)

    If an Injured Player described in Section 4(c) above signs an NFL Player Contract for the immediately following NFL season, then: (i) all Injury Compensation paid to the player prior to signing such Player Contract shall be deemed a Benefit under Article 12, Section 2(a); (ii) if the Paragraph 5 Salary specified in the Player Contract is greater than or equal to the Injury Compensation to which the player would otherwise be entitled under Section 4(c) above, the player shall not be entitled to receive Injury Compensation. In such a case, the signing Club shall be responsible for paying the player’s weekly Paragraph 5 Salary for regular season games missed by the player, and such amounts shall not be deemed a Benefit under Article 12, Section 2(a), but shall be considered Salary and charged to the Club’s Team Salary; and (iii) if the Paragraph 5 Salary specified in the Player Contract is less than the Injury Compensation to which the player is entitled under Section 4(c) above, the signing Club shall be responsible for paying the player’s weekly Paragraph 5 Salary for regular season games missed by the player, and such amounts shall not be deemed a Benefit under Article 12, Section 2(a), but shall be considered Salary and charged to the Club’s Team Salary. In such a case, the player shall also receive the Injury Compensation to which he is entitled under Section 4(c) above, net of the weekly Paragraph 5 Salary paid to the player by the Club (“Adjusted Injury Compensation”) for games missed by the player. For any game missed by an Injured Player, under no circumstances shall such player receive, with respect to Paragraph 5 Salary, more than: (i) the stated amount of his weekly Paragraph 5 Salary, if such amount is greater than or equal to the Injury Compensation to which the player would otherwise be entitled for such game; or (ii) the stated amount of his weekly Paragraph 5 Salary plus Adjusted Injury Compensation, if the player’s weekly Paragraph 5 Salary is less than the Injury Compensation to which player is entitled for such game. The player’s Adjust Injury Compensation shall be deemed a Benefit under Article 12, Section 2(a).

    (g)

    In addition to the payments described in Sections 4(b) through 4(f) above, a player who sustains a Pro Bowl Injury may also qualify to receive a lump-sum payment in the amount of $1 million if the injury is among those listed in Category 1 ($1 Million Injuries) of Appendix T. In the alternative, the player may qualify to receive a lump-sum payment in the amount of $500,000 if the injury is among those listed in Category 2 ($500,000 Injuries) of Appendix T. In either case, the nature and extent of the injury must meet the criteria specified for such injury in the applicable category, and the player must undergo any specified repair, reconstructive surgery or other treatment within the time period stated in the applicable category (e.g., “Category 1 Injuries ($1 Million): 1) Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament – The tear must be high grade and require repair/reconstructive surgery or other treatment within fifty (50) days of the date of injury.”). An Injured Player may qualify to receive payment under Category 1 or Category 2 of Appendix T whether or not: (i) the player has an NFL Player Contract for the immediately following NFL season; or (ii) the player is unable to perform in any regular season game in the immediately following NFL season. Any payment made to an Injured Player under this Section 4(g) shall be deemed a Benefit under Article 12, Section 2(a).

    (h)

    Any Injured Player who is unable to participate in all or part of the Pro Bowl Game as the result of a Pro Bowl Injury shall nevertheless be paid the Winning Team Share or the Losing Team Share specified in Section 1 of this Article, as applicable.

  • Section 5. Payment

    Players will be paid for any Pro Bowl game within fifteen (15) days after the game is played.

  • Section 6. Applicability
    (a)

    The NFL shall, in its sole discretion, determine the time and location of any Pro Bowl game, provided that the NFL will consult with the NFLPA prior to making any such determination. If players competing in the Super Bowl cannot feasibly participate in the Pro Bowl because of the timing or location of the Pro Bowl game, they shall nevertheless be compensated in accordance with the following rules: (i) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, such players shall receive the applicable compensation provided for in this Article as if they had actually participated in the Pro Bowl game, provided that the player would have been physically able to participate in such game; (ii) with respect to such players whose NFL Player Contracts include player or Club contract rights that are conditioned, whether in whole or in part, upon the player’s participation in any Pro Bowl game, any such player who fails to participate in such game solely because his Club is participating in the Super Bowl shall be deemed to have participated in such Pro Bowl game for purposes of the player or Club contract rights provision set forth in the player’s contract; (iii) in the event a player is not physically able to participate in such Pro Bowl game, any question as to whether the conditions set forth in the relevant player or Club contract rights provision have been satisfied shall be resolved exclusively by the stated requirements of said contract provision, including, by way of example, but without limitation, any contract provision that requires the player’s participation “unless medically excused,” or words or conditions to that effect; (iv) nothing in this Article shall operate to add to, subtract from, or alter in any way any term or condition of any Pro Bowl-related player or Club contract right, as set forth in the player’s NFL Player Contract. By way of example, but without limitation, if the player’s contract contains a contract right that is conditioned upon the player’s election to such Pro Bowl “by first ballot and not as an alternate,” or words or conditions to that effect, said condition shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding anything in this Article; and (v) in any League Year in which the Pro Bowl game rosters are selected on a basis other than conference affiliation, with the result that the parties are unable to determine whether such players competing in the Super Bowl would be on the roster of the winning or losing Pro Bowl team, then each such player shall nevertheless be compensated in accordance with this Section subject to the following modification: each such player shall receive, pursuant to Section 1 above, the average of the winning and losing team amounts for that League Year, in lieu of the winning or losing amount specified therein. Any such compensation paid to any such player shall constitute a Player Benefit within the meaning of Article 12, Section 2(a). The foregoing Subsections 6(a)(i)-(iv) amend and supersede the NFLNFLPA letter agreements dated January 28, 2011 and January 21, 2014, which are of no further force or effect.

    (b)

    In any League Year, the NFL may elect, in its sole discretion, not to hold a Pro Bowl game. In such a case, the NFL shall replace the Pro Bowl game with another event (e.g., without limitation, an honors ceremony or NFL press release) that recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding NFL players, provided that the NFL will consult with the NFLPA prior to making its determination. Participation by a player in such a replacement event shall be voluntary. Players who are selected for recognition in such a replacement event, in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in Section 2 above, shall be paid the Pro Bowl incentive bonus, if any, in their Player Contract, for such selection. Selection to any replacement event under this Subsection shall be deemed the equivalent of selection to the Pro Bowl on the original ballot for purposes of Article 7, Section 4 (Proven Performance Escalator) and Article 7, Section 7 (Fifth-Year Option for First Round Selections) of this Agreement.