Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The NFL will move the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, headlined by a flag football matchup, to the week of Super Bowl LX, commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday.
Goodell made the announcement at the league's annual fall owners meeting in New York. Pro Bowl events previously took place the Sunday before Super Bowl Sunday.
The next AFC-NFC flag football game will take place Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The event will air at 6:30 p.m. EST on ESPN, Disney XD and ESPN Deportes.
Super Bowl LX will be held Feb. 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The league cited the flag football game as a preview of the sport ahead of its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics, where NFL players will be permitted to compete for respective countries.
"Building on our strong partnerships with the Bay Area Host Committee and ESPN, we're thrilled to make the 2026 Pro Bowl Games presented by Verizon part of Super Bowl week, our biggest platform of the year, elevating flag football and our best players in a way that's never been done before," NFL executive vice president of events Peter O'Reilly said in a news release.
"The Pro Bowl Games will not only be an exciting showcase of our best talent, but also a taste of the elite athleticism and dynamic action we can expect to see on the Olympic stage."
ESPN will preview the Pro Bowl flag football game with a show highlighting rosters on Sunday, Feb. 1, with an 11 a.m. special on NFL Live and additional content at noon on ABC.
"We are dedicated to making the Pro Bowl Games a prime-time television event that will enhance Super Bowl week," ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said.
"Our shared vision focuses on using a production approach that spotlights the world's best players in a manner unique to the Pro Bowl Games format, while highlighting flag football and its emergence on the global sports landscape."
Pro Bowl voting will start Nov. 27.