NFL to Keep Pro Bowl & Hold Game in Honolulu, Hawaii

After a promise from the players that the game will be more competitive compared to years past, the NFL will hold the Pro Bowl in Honolulu next Jan. 27, a week before the Super Bowl.

Commissioner Roger Goodell had made cancelling the Pro Bowl a real possibility following this year’s lack-luster 59-41 AFC victory.

It will be the 33^rd Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

''The players have made it clear through the NFL Players Association that they would like the opportunity to continue to play the Pro Bowl in Hawaii,'' said NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson. ''We will support the players on this initiative to improve the Pro Bowl. We have had many discussions with the players in recent years about the Pro Bowl and they recognize that the quality of the game has not been up to NFL standards. We look forward to working with the players toward the goal of improving the competitiveness of this season's game.''

The Pro Bowl was held in Hawaii from 1980-2009 before being move to the week before the Super Bowl in 2010. The game then returned back to Hawaii for the 2011-12 games but remained one week before the Super Bowl.

''The players believe that the Pro Bowl is an important tradition,'' NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth said. ''We worked hard with the league to make sure the best players in the NFL are honored for their achievements on the field.''