After more than a decade of discussions regarding potential changes to the Pro Bowl format and the lack of intensity or general care from players, fans and the media alike, the NFL announced significant changes Monday morning, turning the Pro Bowl into a Pro Bowl skills competition, ending 71 years of the exhibition game that started in 1951.
For Pittsburgh Steelers captain and star defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who has made the trip to the Pro Bowl five straight years from 2017 to 2021, the changes aren’t surprising, and — in a sense — are needed as the league continues to evolve.