The 2012 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2011 season. It took place at 2:00 pm local time on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The AFC defeated the NFC, 59–41.
The 59 points scored by the AFC team were a Pro Bowl record, and the combined 100 total points was third in the series' history, behind the 2004 Pro Bowl, and the 2024 Pro Bowl Games. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall was named the game's Most Valuable Player after catching four touchdown passes, breaking the record for touchdown receptions in a Pro Bowl which was set by Jimmy Smith in 2004.
The AFC team was coached by Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans while Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy led the NFC all-stars. The referee for the game was Walt Coleman.
Scoring summary Scoring Play Score 1st quarter NFC – Larry Fitzgerald 10 yd. pass from Aaron Rodgers (David Akers kick) NFC 7–0 NFC – Larry Fitzgerald 44 yd. pass from Aaron Rodgers (David Akers kick) NFC 14–0 AFC – A. J. Green 34 yd. pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Sebastian Janikowski kick) NFC 14–7 AFC – Brandon Marshall 74 yd. pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Sebastian Janikowski kick) Tied 14–14 2nd quarter NFC – Jimmy Graham 2 yd. pass from Drew Brees (David Akers kick) NFC 21–14 AFC – Brandon Marshall 29 yd. pass from Philip Rivers (Sebastian Janikowski kick) Tied 21–21 NFC – Greg Jennings 11 yd. pass from Drew Brees (David Akers kick) NFC 28–21 AFC – Antonio Gates 27 yd. pass from Philip Rivers (Sebastian Janikowski kick) Tied 28–28 3rd quarter AFC – Sebastian Janikowski 37 yd. Field Goal AFC 31–28 NFC – Steve Smith 55 yd. pass from Cam Newton (David Akers kick) NFC 35–31 AFC – Brandon Marshall 47 yd. pass from Andy Dalton (Sebastian Janikowski kick) AFC 38–35 4th quarter AFC – Vonta Leach 1 yd. run (Sebastian Janikowski kick) AFC 45–35 AFC – Brandon Marshall 3 yd. pass from Andy Dalton (Sebastian Janikowski kick) AFC 52–35 AFC – Derrick Johnson 60 yd. Interception Return (Sebastian Janikowski kick) AFC 59–35 NFC – Larry Fitzgerald 36 yd. pass from Cam Newton (kick short)Conversion attempt was a drop kick by Drew Brees. AFC 59–41
AFC roster The following players were selected to represent the AFC:
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Tom Brady, New England Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Philip Rivers, San Diego Andy Dalton, CincinnatiRunning back Ray Rice, Baltimore Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Arian Foster, Houston Willis McGahee, Denver Ryan Mathews, San DiegoFullback Vonta Leach, BaltimoreWide receiver Wes Welker, New England Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh A. J. Green, Cincinnati Brandon Marshall, Miami Vincent Jackson, San DiegoTight end Rob Gronkowski, New England Antonio Gates, San Diego Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Offensive tackle Joe Thomas, Cleveland Jake Long, Miami D'Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets Ryan Clady, DenverOffensive guard Logan Mankins, New England Brian Waters, New England Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Brandon Moore, N.Y. Jets Ben Grubbs, BaltimoreCenter Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets Chris Myers, Houston
Defense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Andre Carter, New England Elvis Dumervil, Denver Antonio Smith, HoustonDefensive tackle Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Vince Wilfork, New England Richard Seymour, Oakland Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Paul Soliai, MiamiOutside linebacker Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Von Miller, Denver Tamba Hali, Kansas City James Harrison, PittsburghInside linebacker Ray Lewis, Baltimore Derrick Johnson, Kansas CityCornerback Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets Champ Bailey, Denver Johnathan Joseph, HoustonFree safety Ed Reed, Baltimore Eric Weddle, San Diego Ryan Clark, PittsburghStrong safety Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Brian Dawkins, Denver
Special teams PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Punter Shane Lechler, OaklandPlacekicker Sebastian Janikowski, OaklandKick returner Antonio Brown, PittsburghSpecial teamer Matthew Slater, New England Montell Owens, JacksonvilleLong snapper Jon Condo, Oakland
NFC roster The following players were selected to represent the NFC:
Offense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Drew Brees, New Orleans Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants Cam Newton, CarolinaRunning back LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Matt Forte, Chicago Frank Gore, San Francisco Marshawn Lynch, SeattleFullback John Kuhn, Green Bay Michael Robinson, SeattleWide receiver Calvin Johnson, Detroit Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Steve Smith, Carolina Greg Jennings, Green Bay Roddy White, AtlantaTight end Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Tony Gonzalez, AtlantaOffensive tackle Jason Peters, Philadelphia Joe Staley, San Francisco Jermon Bushrod, New OrleansOffensive guard Jahri Evans, New Orleans Carl Nicks, New Orleans Davin Joseph, Tampa BayCenter Ryan Kalil, Carolina Scott Wells, Green Bay
Defense PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Defensive end Jared Allen, Minnesota Jason Babin, Philadelphia Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants Julius Peppers, ChicagoDefensive tackle Justin Smith, San Francisco Jay Ratliff, Dallas B. J. Raji, Green BayOutside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Clay Matthews, Green Bay Lance Briggs, Chicago Chad Greenway, MinnesotaInside linebacker Patrick Willis, San Francisco Brian Urlacher, Chicago London Fletcher, WashingtonCornerback Charles Woodson, Green Bay Carlos Rogers, San Francisco Charles Tillman, Chicago Brandon Browner, SeattleFree safety Earl Thomas, Seattle Dashon Goldson, San Francisco Kam Chancellor, SeattleStrong safety Adrian Wilson, Arizona
Special teams PositionStarter(s)Reserve(s)Alternate(s)Punter Andy Lee, San FranciscoPlacekicker David Akers, San FranciscoKick returner Patrick Peterson, ArizonaSpecial teamer Corey Graham, ChicagoLong snapper Brian Jennings, San Francisco
Notes: bold player who participated in game Replacement selection due to injury or vacancy Injured player; selected but will not play Replacement starter; selected as reserve "Need player"; named by coach Selected but did not play because his team advanced to Super Bowl XLVI
Number of selections per team
+ American Football Conference Team Selections New England Patriots 9 Baltimore Ravens 8 Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Denver Broncos 6 San Diego Chargers 5 Houston Texans 4 New York Jets 4 Oakland Raiders 4 Cincinnati Bengals 4 Miami Dolphins 3 Indianapolis Colts 2 Jacksonville Jaguars 2 Kansas City Chiefs 2 Cleveland Browns 1 Buffalo Bills 0 Tennessee Titans 0+ National Football Conference Team Selections San Francisco 49ers 9 Green Bay Packers 7 Chicago Bears 6 New Orleans Saints 5 Seattle Seahawks 5 Arizona Cardinals 3 Carolina Panthers 3 Philadelphia Eagles 3 Atlanta Falcons 2 Dallas Cowboys 2 Minnesota Vikings 2 New York Giants 2 Detroit Lions 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 Washington Redskins 1 St. Louis Rams 0
Broadcasting The game was televised nationally by NBC. The telecast of the game garnered a Nielsen rating of 7.9 nationally. While this represented an eight percent drop over the 2011 Pro Bowl ratings, the game was still the second most watched Pro Bowl of the past twelve years. The game drew more viewers than the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. NBC also broadcast the 2013 game as Super Bowl broadcaster CBS had declined to carry it.
Social media The NFL loosened its rules which forbid players from communicating via social media during games, by setting up a computer on each sideline to allow players to use Twitter. Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher used the occasion to propose a contest among his Twitter followers to predict the game's final score and MVP. However, the NFL had him rescind the offer and he instead gave away a signed jersey instead of cash, presumably on anti-gambling grounds.
Entertainment The pop band Hot Chelle Rae played during the pregame ceremonies for the game. United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Richard Vazquez sang the national anthem before the kickoff. Several representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces participated in the coin toss ceremony: Major General Rodger Mathews, U.S. Army Pacific deputy commander; Lieutenant General Thomas L. Conant, U.S. Marine Corps Pacific command deputy commander and USAF Major General Darryll Wong, adjutant general of the Hawaii Air National Guard. The halftime show, "NFL Salute to Service," was a tribute to the United States Armed Forces featuring the U.S. Army Silent Drill Team along with over a thousand service members stationed at bases in Hawaii.
Reactions Simon Samano of NFL.com wrote about the game, "Players love the trip to Hawaii but don't care for the game itself. They have no desire to risk injury in a 'meaningless' game, which is why they don't play hard, which is how you end up with 59–41 as the final score. It's that lack of effort that caused fans to boo during portions of this year's game." Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stated on his radio show, "I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn’t want to play or when they were in there didn't put any effort into it." The Pro Bowl has different rules than a regular season NFL game. Blitzing is not allowed and the 4–3 formation must always be used in defensive formations.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking a week after the game, stated that the 2012 Pro Bowl wasn't "the kind of football we want to be demonstrating to our fans, and you heard it from the fans, the fans were actively booing in the stands. ... We are going to either have to improve the quality of what we are doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes, or even consider eliminating the game if that is the kind of quality of game we are going to provide."
Philip Rivers also questioned some of the players efforts in the Pro Bowl game. Rivers discussed with Bill Williamson during an interview “In general, maybe the whole week should be up for discussion, but I know there are guys in the game whose contracts may be up and they don’t want to get hurt and things like that. Still, we have to think of the fans and try to stay true to the game and not make a joke or a mockery out of the game."
References
External links Official Pro Bowl website at NFL.com