when did the pro bowl start

The NFL’s all-star tradition that became the Pro Bowl began with the NFL All- Star Game played on January 15, 1939, but the first game officially called the “Pro Bowl” was played on January 14, 1951.

Quick Scoop: When did the Pro Bowl start?

• The Pro Bowl’s roots go back to the original NFL All-Star Game held on January 15, 1939, in Los Angeles, featuring the 1938 champion New York Giants vs. a team of NFL all‑stars.

• That all‑star format ran from 1939 to 1942, then stopped during World War II and did not return in that form through the rest of the 1940s.

• The first game officially named the “Pro Bowl” was played on January 14, 1951, in Los Angeles, with top players from the American/Eastern Conference facing those from the National/Western Conference.

So if you’re asking “when did the Pro Bowl start” in the sense of the modern, official Pro Bowl name and format, the answer is January 14, 1951.

In short:

• All-star concept: 1939.

• Official “Pro Bowl” game: 1951.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.