What is the Senior Bowl? Who are some top NFL players who played in the game?
As we begin to inch closer to the NFL’s offseason, the 2023 NFL Draft begins to come into focus with the Senior Bowl kicking off this weekend.
Practices take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before the game itself kicks off on Saturday, February 4 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
More than 100 of the country’s top senior college footballers hope to showcase their talents to potential new employers at the All-Star Game.
Let’s take a look at what exactly the Senior Bowl is, who is invited to the game, and who are some of the best NFL players who have participated.
Senior Bowl explained
The Senior Bowl is college football’s primary postseason all-star game that serves as a national showcase for the NFL’s top prospects who have completed their college eligibility. Talents from across the country are split into “National” and “American” teams and participate in a week of practices leading up to the event where NFL coaches, scouts and more can monitor and evaluate them.
This year’s event is slightly different from previous editions due to a ‘coach up’ format which will be used for the first time to promote professional development. While in the past two NFL teams provided each Senior Bowl team with full coaching, training and video staff, this year assistant coaches and coordinators will be placed in higher or different roles than those they currently occupy with their clubs.
The 2023 Senior Bowl will be held at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The event will begin its second season at the new site after 50 years at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
The NFL’s Best Players at the Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl Hall of Fame, established in 1988, includes All-Pros such as Doak Walker, Ray Nitschke, Joe Namath, Mean Joe Green, Walter Payton, Franco Harris, Steve Largent, Kellen Winslow, Dan Marino, Bo Jackson, Derrick Thomas, Brett Favre and Terrell Owens.
Of the five players chosen into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 last year, Kevin Faulk, Von Miller, Dak Prescott and Patrick Willis were the final list of inductees.