Why are Pete Davidson, Snoop Dogg in the NFL Pro Bowl? Explaining entertainers' role in new rules format

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Pete Davidson-Snoop Dogg
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The NFL is hitting the reset button on its Pro Bowl, giving it a radical change in format amid waning interest in the league's all-star game.

One of those changes is the inclusion of former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and comedian Pete Davidson, as well as rapper Snoop Doog as captains of the NFC and AFC teams, respectively. Likewise, former Giants quarterback Eli Manning will coach Davidson and the NFC while brother Peyton Manning coaches Snoop and the AFC.

The NFL's inclusion of Davidson and Snoop in the Pro Bowl is more reminiscent of the NBA's All-Star Celebrity Game than the traditional format. People Magazine broke the news of the entertainers' involvement on Jan. 19, with Dogg having this to say about his AFC captaincy:

"I'm coming back to the NFL field, but this time, instead of performing, I'm going head-to-head with Pete and competing for the title of The Pro Bowl Games Champion," Snoop Dogg told People. "The competition is going to go off, but we all know that Peyton and our AFC squad are gonna do some big things. We'll end up on that podium."

MORE: NFL Pro Bowl schedule 2023-- Times, TV channels

Snoop of course was among the headliners at the Super Bowl 56 halftime show in Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.

Davidson was more forthcoming about his involvement in the revamped Pro Bowl games: "I'm doing this to impress my Uncle Mike," he told People.

It remains to be seen how Davidson and Snoop will feature in the games, but don't expect them to get under center or set up defensive formations. The league has abandoned the traditional all-star game format to instead focus on games where players "can showcase their football and non-football skills in unique competitions."

Those games competitions include:

MORE: NFL Pro Bowl flag football rules, explained: How scoring, clock, field will work for new 7-on-7 game

Thursday, Feb. 2

  • Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball
  • Lightning Round
  • Longest Drive
  • Precision Passing
  • Best Catch (First Round)

Sunday, Feb. 5

  • Best Catch (finale)
  • Gridiron Gauntlet
  • Move the Chains
  • Kick Tac Toe
  • Pro Bowl Flag Football Game

The crown jewel of the Pro Bowl games in 2023 is the flag football game, which will have the closest resemblance to the event's previous iteration. That said, the potential to see Snoop Dogg or Davidson ping an All-Pro player — or get hammered themselves — in a game of dodgeball should be worth the price of admission.

Which, of course, is probably why the NFL has included them in the first place.

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Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News.