If you're looking for where is Pro Bowl 2025, you aren't alone. The NFL’s annual all-star celebration has changed a lot lately, shifting from a traditional (and sometimes sluggish) tackle game to what they now call "The Pro Bowl Games." Honestly, if you showed up expecting a hard-hitting grass-stain fest, you'd be pretty confused.
The 2025 Pro Bowl Games returned to Orlando, Florida. Most of the action centered around Camping World Stadium, a venue that has basically become the league's go-to home for this event. This wasn't just a one-day thing, though. The festivities were split across multiple locations in Central Florida, starting with a skills showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025, and wrapping up with the main event on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Why Orlando Still Holds the Crown
It’s no coincidence the NFL keeps heading back to the "City Beautiful." Orlando has hosted the Pro Bowl more than any other city in recent years—this was their sixth time since 2017.
The primary venue, Camping World Stadium, is located at 1 Citrus Bowl Place. It’s a massive outdoor spot that’s been renovated enough times to keep it feeling modern for the 88 best players in the league. But the NFL didn't stay inside those stadium walls the whole time. For the Thursday night skills challenges, the league actually took things over to the Nicholson Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Central Florida (UCF).
It makes sense. If you're going to have million-dollar athletes throwing dodgeballs and running relay races, you want a controlled environment like UCF’s indoor facility before moving to the big stadium for the flag football finale.
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The Schedule You Missed (or Need to Know)
Basically, the Pro Bowl is a two-part story now. You've got the televised skills show and then the Sunday "championship" day.
- Thursday, January 30: This was the kickoff. It wasn't about football in the traditional sense. It was about things like "Dodgeball" (presented by Bud Light) and "Passing the Test," where quarterbacks like Jared Goff and Joe Burrow tried to hit targets while being timed.
- Sunday, February 2: This was the big one at Camping World Stadium. From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET, the AFC and NFC stars faced off in a 7-on-7 flag football game.
The flag football game itself is played on a 50-yard field. It's fast, there’s no tackling, and it's actually pretty fun to watch because the players aren't worried about blowing out an ACL before the offseason.
The Weird and Wild Skills Events
What makes the Pro Bowl in Orlando unique are the specific challenges the NFL dreams up. They've moved far beyond just a "longest throw" contest. In 2025, we saw events like:
- Satisfying Catches: Receivers had to catch balls while wearing mascot hands or jumping onto mats.
- The Big Spike: A "Spike-o-Meter" measured the raw power of a player’s touchdown celebration.
- Tug-of-War: This was a fan favorite on Sunday. Imagine five massive linemen from each conference trying to pull the other team into a foam pit.
- The Great Football Race: A relay that included tire flips and long snappers trying to knock down bowling pins.
It’s sorta ridiculous, but that’s the point. It’s a vacation for the players and a chance for fans to see their personalities.
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Who Was Actually There?
Because the Pro Bowl is always the week before the Super Bowl, you never see players from the two teams heading to the championship. So, if you were looking for players from the Super Bowl LIX contenders, they weren't in Orlando.
Instead, the rosters were headlined by guys like Jared Goff (the NFC's Offensive MVP), Byron Murphy (the Defensive MVP), and other stars like Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase. The coaches were the Manning brothers—Peyton for the AFC and Eli for the NFC—which adds a layer of sibling rivalry that the cameras absolutely love.
Parking, Tailgating, and Logistics
If you actually went to the games in Orlando, you probably realized the NFL has some strict rules. For starters, tailgating was not allowed in the stadium parking lots for the 2025 event. That’s a bit of a bummer for football traditionalists, but the league replaced it with "Fan Activations" inside the stadium—DJs, live interviews, and giveaway booths.
Most people ended up parking in downtown Orlando and taking the free shuttle service to Camping World Stadium. The shuttles ran from Central Blvd (between Garland and Hughey) and dropped people off right at the stadium gates.
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Actionable Insights for Future Attendees
If you're planning for the next one or just want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should keep in mind about the Pro Bowl format:
- Book Early for Orlando: Since the city has hosted so often (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025), it’s a safe bet for future years. Hotels near International Drive fill up fast during Pro Bowl week.
- Watch the Skills Show: The Thursday night event is often more entertaining than the Sunday game. It’s purely about the players' personalities and specialized talents.
- Check the Bag Policy: Like all NFL events, the clear bag policy is strictly enforced. If your bag isn't clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and under 12" x 6" x 12", you aren't getting in.
- Follow the Manning Legacy: As long as Peyton and Eli are coaching, expect the "Pro Bowl Games" branding to stay focused on lighthearted competition rather than "real" football.
The Pro Bowl has definitely left its "tackle" era behind. By keeping the event in Orlando at Camping World Stadium, the NFL has leaned into the "family vacation" vibe of the city, turning a dying All-Star game into a multi-day festival of speed and skills.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official NFL website for the 2026 location announcement, which usually happens in the late summer or fall.
- Sign up for the NFL’s "On Location" emails if you want first dibs on tickets, as they often sell out to local Florida residents and season ticket holders quickly.
- Download the NFL+ app to watch replays of the 2025 skills challenges, specifically the dodgeball and quarterback accuracy segments.