1971 Pro Bowl

{{Short description|National Football League all-star game}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox Pro Bowl

|type=pb

|name=1971

|image=LA Coliseum gate.jpg

|image_size = 230px

|caption = The front of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum

|visitor=AFC

|home=NFC

|visitor_qtr1=0

|home_qtr1=0

|visitor_qtr2=3

|home_qtr2=3

|visitor_qtr3=3

|home_qtr3=10

|visitor_qtr4=0

|home_qtr4=14

|date=January 24, 1971

|stadium=Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

|city=Los Angeles, California

|visitor_coach=John Madden

|visitor_coach_team=Oakland Raiders

|home_coach=Dick Nolan

|home_coach_team=San Francisco 49ers

|MVP=Fred Carr

|MVPteam=Green Bay Packers, LB

|MVP2=Mel Renfro

|MVP2team=Dallas Cowboys, CB

|odds=NFC {{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fOVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2026%2C4257383 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=NFC favored in annual Pro Bowl battle |date=January 24, 1971 |page=1B}}

|anthem=

|coin_toss=

|halftime=

|referee=Fred Silva

|attendance=48,222

|network=CBS

|announcers=Jack Whitaker, Frank Gifford, Bruce Roberts

}}

The 1971 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 21st annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1970 season. The game was played on January 24, 1971, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y9IbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5636%2C3325428 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=UPI |title=American stars vs. National in new look Pro Bowl game |date=January 24, 1971 |page=3, section 4}} The final score was NFC 27, AFC 6.{{cite news|title=Renfro's runs pace Nationals' 27–6 win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=831IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DG0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6922%2C1470920 |access-date=January 18, 2012 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=January 25, 1971 |agency=AP |page=20}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zNIbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4309%2C4257719 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=UPI |title=Renfro, NFC settle a score |date=January 25, 1971 |page=26}}

Defensive back Mel Renfro of the Dallas Cowboys was named the game's offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his two punt return touchdowns (82 and 56 yards) on special teams,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=feVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828%2C4636893 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Renfro's long returns highlight NFC Pro Bowl victory |date=January 25, 1971 |page=3B}} and linebacker Fred Carr of the Green Bay Packers was selected as the defensive MVP.{{cite web |title=The 1971 Pro Bowl |url=http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/The_1971_Pro_Bowl.htm |publisher=Bolding Sports Research |access-date=January 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430061728/http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/The_1971_Pro_Bowl.htm |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}

Attendance at the game was 48,222.{{cite web|title=NFL Pro Bowl history |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10540742 |publisher=CBSSports.com |access-date=January 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810235233/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10540742 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }} John Madden of the Oakland Raiders coached the AFC, while the NFC was led by the San Francisco 49ers' Dick Nolan. The referee for the contest was Fred Silva.{{cite web|title=1971 Pro Bowl game book |url=http://www.nflgsis.com/1970/Post/04/55150/Gamebook.pdf |work=NFL Game Statistics & Information |publisher=National Football League |format=PDF |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202133612/http://www.nflgsis.com/1970/Post/04/55150/Gamebook.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live }}

Both teams had 41 players; the winners earned $2,000 each and losers received $1,500. The game was played a week after Super Bowl V, held in Miami.

This was the first Pro Bowl to feature the AFC vs. the NFC format, which was used through 2013, then resumed in 2017.