The 2006 Pro Bowl was the National Football League’s (NFL) all‑star game for the 2005 season. It was the 56th edition of the Pro Bowl and was contested between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).
Date and venue
- Date: Sunday, February 12 2006
- Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
- Attendance: 50,514 spectators
Teams and score
- AFC: 38
- NFC: 30
The AFC secured victory by a margin of eight points.
Most Valuable Player
- Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts, AFC) – completed 15 of 21 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, earning the game's MVP award.
Coaching staff
- AFC head coach: Bill Cowher (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- NFC head coach: Andy Reid (Philadelphia Eagles)
Selection of participants
Players were selected through a combination of votes from fans, NFL coaches, and peers. The voting process, conducted throughout the 2005 regular season, determined the roster of first‑team and second‑team representatives for each conference. Injured players or those declining to participate were replaced by alternates.
Notable participants
The rosters featured numerous Hall of Fame–bound athletes, including:
- AFC: Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ed Reed, Marvin Young, Dwight Freeman
- NFC: Michael Irvin (coach/guest), Brian Urlacher, Deion Branch, Reggie White, Tony Romano
Game summary
The AFC seized an early lead, scoring 17 points in the first half. The NFC responded with 14 points in the second quarter, narrowing the gap. In the third quarter, the AFC added 14 more points, while the NFC managed 9. The final quarter saw the NFC score 13 points, but the AFC’s 7‑point fourth‑quarter tally preserved the lead.
Broadcast
The game was televised nationally on ESPN, with a concurrent radio broadcast on the Westwood One network.
Historical context
The Pro Bowl had been staged at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu since 1980, making the 2006 contest part of a longstanding tradition of hosting the NFL’s showcase event in Hawaii. The AFC’s victory continued a period of dominance for the conference; it was the AFC’s fourth consecutive win in the series (2003–2006).
Aftermath
The 2006 Pro Bowl was the final all‑star game played before the NFL announced plans to relocate future Pro Bowls to mainland venues, a transition that began with the 2010 edition in Miami.
References
- National Football League. “2006 Pro Bowl Game Summary.” NFL.com.
- ESPN. “AFC Beats NFC 38‑30 in 2006 Pro Bowl.” February 13 2006.
- ProFootballReference.com. “2006 Pro Bowl Statistics.”
This article reflects information publicly available from reputable NFL and sports media sources.