In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League (NFL). Since the merger with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference (AFC) against those in the National Football Conference (NFC).

Unlike most other sports leagues, which hold their all-star games during (roughly) the halfway point of their respective regular seasons, the Pro Bowl is played at the end of the NFL season. The NFL's all-star game draws bigger television ratings than all other major sports all-star games. The 2012 Pro Bowl drew 13.5 million viewers. . However, the biggest concern of teams is to avoid injuries to the star players. The Associated Press wrote that players in the 2012 game were "hitting each other as though they were having a pillow fight."

The first "Pro All-Star Game," featuring the all-stars of the 1938 season (as well as three players from the Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Bulldogs, who were not members of the league), was played on January 15, 1939 at Los Angeles's Wrigley Field. The NFL All-Star Game was played again in Los Angeles in 1940 and then in New York and Philadelphia in 1941 and 1942 respectively. Although originally planned as an annual contest, the all-star game was discontinued after 1942 because of travel restrictions put in place during World War II. During the first five all-star games, an all-star team would face that year's league champion. The league champion won the first four games before the all-stars were victorious in the final game of this early series.

Nick Foles (born January 20, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Arizona, he was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

A three star recruit out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, Foles originally committed to Arizona State but decided to attend Michigan State instead.

After attending Michigan State for a year, Foles transferred to Arizona and had to redshirt the 2008 season.

After Willie Tuitama graduated, Foles entered a quarterback competition with expected successor Matt Scott. After spring practice Matt Scott was given the starting role when the coaches felt that being a dual threat quarterback would open up the offense. Despite victories against Central Michigan and Northern Arizona, Scott struggled against Iowa and the next week Foles was given the chance the start. In Corvallis, Foles led the Wildcats to a victory against Oregon State. Foles continued to start for the rest of the year, completing 260 of 409 pass attempts for 2486 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.

Kyle Rudolph (born November 9, 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American football tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

Rudolph attended Elder High School in Cincinnati. As a senior in 2008 he was a USA Today All-American after he had 37 receptions for 673 yards yards and 11 touchdowns. Rudolph was rated the best tight end and 20th best overall recruit in 2008 according to Rivals.com. Rudolph participated in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. He accepted a scholarship from Notre Dame over Michigan, Tennessee, and Ohio State.

As a freshman in 2008, Rudolph became the first tight end in Notre Dame history to start every game as a freshman. He ended the season with 29 receptions for 340 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2009 he played in only nine games, missing three due to a shoulder injury. He finished the season with 33 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior in 2010, he only played in only six games due to a hamstring injury. He finished the season with 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns. On January 4, 2011, he declared for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Edward G. Hochuli (born December 25, 1950) is an attorney for the firm of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. since 1983, and has been an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 1990 NFL season. His uniform number is 85. Prior to his officiating career, he played college football for four seasons at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Hochuli is one of the most respected officials in the NFL, having worked numerous playoff games, including two Super Bowls. He is also known for his athletic physique and explanations on the football field. In a poll conducted by ESPN in 2008, Hochuli tied referee Mike Carey for "best referee" votes among NFL head coaches with eight. Beginning his twenty-second season in the league and twentieth as referee (crew chief) with the 2011 NFL season, Hochuli's officiating crew consists of umpire Rich Hall, head linesman Mark Hittner, line judge Adrian Hill, field judge Craig Wrolstad, side judge Ronald Torbert and back judge Don Carey.

Andrew Christopher "Drew" Brees (pronounced /ˈbriːs/; born January 15, 1979) is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Brees has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times in his career – with the Chargers in 2004 and the Saints in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2004, the Offensive Player of the Year in 2008, and the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV. He was also selected by voters to appear on the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL 11.Sports Illustrated named him as its 2010 Sportsman of the Year.

Brees holds the single-season record for most passing yards in a single season, with 5,476 yards passing during the 2011 season.

Brees was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Mina (née Akins), an attorney, and Eugene Wilson Brees II, a medical malpractice attorney. He was named after Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson. His uncle, Marty Akins, was an All-American starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns college football team from 1975 to 1977. Chip Brees played basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team, and his grandfather, Ray Akins, had the third-most victories as a Texas high school football coach.