For the first time in NFL history, the 2014 Pro Bowl will not be played in the usual AFC vs NFC format. The two teams will be made up of players from different conferences and will be played on Jan. 26 in Hawaii.
The same number of players will participate in the game as in previous years, however, the two teams will be selected, in a draft format, by NFL Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice. The draft will take place on Jan. 22.
The coaches have been set for each team. Panthers coach Ron Rivera will coach Team Rice and Colts coach Chuck Pagano will coach Team Sanders, according to the NFL.
Rice and Sanders selected their team captains on Jan. 21, the day before the main draft. Jerry Rice selected Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Rams defensive end Robert Quinn as his captains while Deion Sanders selected Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles and Texans defensive end J.J. Watt to lead his team, according to ESPN.
The NFL is making these changes in an attempt to gain more interest to the all-star game. The game has been criticized in past years due to lack of effort by players and the league is hoping that this move will make the game more exciting for fans to watch.