Senior Bowl

File:A photo of Otto Graham.jpg coached in the 1967 game.]]

File:Jon gruden.jpg has coached in four games.]]

The 1950 Senior Bowl, the inaugural edition, was played at Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida; the game then moved to Mobile's Ladd–Peebles Stadium the next year, where it remained through the 2020 edition. Starting with the 2021 edition, the game is played at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama, also in Mobile.{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2020/03/senior-bowl-to-be-played-at-south-alabamas-hancock-whitney-stadium-beginning-in-2021.html |title=Senior Bowl to be played at South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium beginning in 2021 |first=Creg |last=Stephenson |website=AL.com |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2020}}

Historically, the Senior Bowl was the first chance its participants had to openly receive pay for participation in an athletic event. Players in the inaugural 1950 game each received $343 (if on the losing team) or $475 (if on the winning team);{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63075825/winners-get-475-losers-343-in-senior/ |title=Winners Get $475, Losers $343 In Senior Bowl Tilt |newspaper=The Miami News |page=1-D |date=January 8, 1950 |access-date=November 12, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} by 1975, the amounts had been increased to $1,250 and $1,500.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63499133/pro-scouts-flock-to-senior-bowl/ |title=Pro scouts flock to Senior Bowl |agency=AP |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |page=9-E |date=January 5, 1975 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} The 1988 edition was the last time players were paid ($1,500 and $1,750).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63499870/senior-bowl-to-stop-paying-players/ |title=Senior Bowl to stop paying players |newspaper=The Santa Fe New Mexican |page=16 |date=January 20, 1989 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} This was one reason that participation was limited to seniors whose eligibility for further participation in college football had expired. Athletes who wished to play spring collegiate sports, such as college baseball, or otherwise remain eligible for amateur sports, had to avoid participation in the Senior Bowl.

The game has consistently been played on a Saturday in January, with the exception of 1976, when it was held on a Sunday. The scheduling date within January has varied – the earliest playing has been January 3 (1953 and 1959), while the latest playing prior to the 2022 edition has been January 30 (2010 and 2016). Since 1967, it has been traditionally set for the week before the NFL's Super Bowl (which itself is now played in February). It is usually scheduled as the final game of the college football season, although for a period during the 1980s and 1990s, it was the next-to-the-last game, followed a week later by either the Hula Bowl or the Gridiron Classic. From 2007 through 2011, and also in 2013, the Senior Bowl was again the penultimate game, followed by the Texas vs The Nation game a week later. In 2020, the revived Hula Bowl was played the day after the Senior Bowl.

CBS acquired national television coverage rights to the 1952 through 1954 games,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63502324/cbs-to-tv-senior-bowl/ |title=CBS to TV Senior Bowl |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |page=17 |date=November 30, 1951 |access-date=November 18, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} though they never televised the games nationally under those rights. The first nationally televised Senior Bowl was in 1958 by NBC, and the games have been televised every year since.{{Cite news|last=Harwell|first=Hoyt|date=5 Jan 1958|title=Squad Members Arrive For Senior Bowl Game Saturday|work=The Salina Journal|publication-place=Salina, Kansas}}{{Cite web|last=Shuck|first=Barry|date=25 Jan 2021|title=Origins and importance of the Senior Bowl|url=https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2021/1/25/22246233/origins-and-importance-of-the-senior-bowl|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126143104/https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2021/1/25/22246233/origins-and-importance-of-the-senior-bowl|archive-date=26 January 2021|access-date=8 Mar 2021|website=Dawgs By Nature}}{{Cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game/frequently-asked-questions/|access-date=8 Mar 2021|website=Reese's Senior Bowl}} To commemorate the occasion and the publicity that the televising of the Senior Bowl would draw to the state of Alabama, Gov. James E. Folsom commissioned each player in the 1958 game as Honorary Admirals in the Alabama State Navy, as well as Senior Bowl founder Jimmy Pearre, North squad coach Joe Kuharich, South squad coach Paul Brown, and South squad past-coach Steve Owens; announcers for the televised event, Red Grange and Lindsey Nelson, were commissioned Honorary Colonels in the Alabama State Militia.{{Cite news|date=17 Jan 1958|title=Senior Bowl Players Are Admirals All|work=The Alexander City Outlook|publication-place=Alexander City, Alabama}} ESPN televised the game as early as 1982,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63499408/college-bowl-schedule/ |title=College Bowl Schedule |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |page=32 |date=January 1, 1982 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} continuing until the game moved to the NFL Network starting with the 2007 edition.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63502434/nfl-notes/ |title=NFL Notes |newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |page=9D |date=April 26, 2006 |access-date=November 18, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}

Sponsors of the game have included Delchamps, a supermarket chain headquartered in Mobile; Food World, a supermarket chain headquartered in Birmingham; Under Armour; and Nike, Inc. Starting with the 2014 game, Reese's took over sponsorship.{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/senior-bowl-teams-up-with-reeses-brand |title=Senior Bowl Teams Up With Reese's Brand |website=seniorbowl.com |date=2013 |access-date=November 18, 2020}} In January 2018, Reese's announced that they were extending their sponsorship of the game through at least the 2020 edition.{{cite news |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2018/01/reeses_extends_title_sponsorsh.html |title=Reese's extends title sponsorship of Senior Bowl |first= Mark |last=Inabinett |website=AL.com |date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=November 18, 2020}}

In March 2020, the Senior Bowl registered "The draft starts in Mobile" as a service mark. {{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B_YXFn1DpQq/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/theseniorbowl/2294685551578485802 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Trademark APPROVED! |publisher=Senior Bowl |via=Instagram |date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=January 18, 2021}}{{cbignore}} In October 2020, Panini America entered a multi-year agreement to produce trading cards for Senior Bowl players.{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/panini-america-and-reeses-senior-bowl/ |title=Panini America and Reese's Senior Bowl Sign Exclusive Multi-Year Agreement |website=seniorbowl.com |date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2020}}

For most editions of the Senior Bowl, players have been rostered into North and South teams. In 1991, team names were changed to AFC and NFC,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62994337/louisvilles-nagle-to-play-in-senior/ |title=Louisville's Nagle to play in Senior |agency=AP |newspaper=The Anniston Star |location=Anniston, Alabama |page=4B |date=January 3, 1991 |access-date=November 11, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} to distinguish where their coaching staffs were from and to stress the professional nature of the game. This was somewhat confusing, as the Senior Bowl is played early in the calendar year, typically several months before players are selected by teams in the NFL draft. Additionally, both coaching staffs for the 1993 game came from AFC teams. In 1994, team designations were reverted to the North vs. South format. In 2021, the bowl moved to American and National team designations.{{cite web |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game/rosters/ |title=Rosters |website=seniorbowl.com |access-date=January 18, 2021}}

The two teams are coached by coaching staffs that are selected from two NFL teams. In recent years, the coaching staffs have come from teams who finished near the bottom of the league standings, but whose coaches were not subsequently terminated. Beginning with the 2022 edition, head coaches serve in more of an advisory capacity while promoting select assistants into leadership roles on the staff.{{cite web |title=Detroit Lions and New York Jets Named Coaching Staffs for 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/detroit-lions-and-new-york-jets-named-coaching-staffs-for-2022-reeses-senior-bowl/ |website=seniorbowl.com |publisher=Reese's Senior Bowl}}

Organizers stipulate a number of specific rules for the game, some of which are intended to reduce the chance of injury (e.g. "All blocks below the waist are prohibited"), and others that simplify what the teams need to practice and prepare for (e.g. "Only four rushers allowed, no 5-man pressures or blitzes from secondary permitted").{{cite web |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/the-game/game-rules/ |title=Game Rules |website=seniorbowl.com |access-date=December 29, 2019}} The game is also the players' first time competing under the slightly different professional rules (e.g. receivers must have both feet inbounds for a legal catch vs. just one foot inbounds in college football).

The week-long practice that precedes the game is attended by key NFL personnel (including coaches, general managers and scouts), who oversee the players as possible prospects for professional football. Athletes sometimes decline invitations to participate in the Senior Bowl, opting instead to prepare for the NFL scouting combine or their college's pro day.{{cite news|last=Brugler|first=Dane|title=2015 NFL Draft: UCLA QB Brett Hundley declines Senior Bowl|date=January 14, 2015|work=CBSSports.com|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24962255/nfl-draft-ucla-qb-brett-hundley-declines-senior-bowl-invitation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129131854/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24962255/nfl-draft-ucla-qb-brett-hundley-declines-senior-bowl-invitation|archive-date=January 29, 2015|url-status=live}}

The single-season record for number of players sent to the Senior Bowl from one school is 10 by Alabama in 1987, followed by nine sent by Auburn in 1988 and USC in 2008.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Low |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?id=3207600 |title=Former Trojans happy to be reunited with Kiffin |website=ESPN.com |date=January 22, 2008}}

Dan Lynch of Washington State was the first (and to date only) player to appear in two Senior Bowls (1984 and 1985), having been granted an extra year of eligibility after the 1984 game.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41033974/cougars_set_to_add_to_hall_of_fame/ |title=Cougars set to add to Hall of Fame |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |page=30 |date=April 16, 2006 |access-date=December 24, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}} In 2013, two players (D. J. Fluker and Justin Pugh) with a year of college football eligibility remaining, but who had already graduated, became the first "fourth-year juniors" to be granted clearance to play in the Senior Bowl.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21583689/first-nonseniors-to-compete-in-senior-bowl|title=First non-seniors to compete in Senior Bowl|work=CBS Sports|date=January 19, 2013|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601054504/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21583689/first-nonseniors-to-compete-in-senior-bowl|archive-date=June 1, 2013}}

• All-time series, through the 2025 game (76 editions): South (35–30–3); AFC (2–1); National (4–1)
• The first game was played in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1950. All subsequent games have been played in Mobile, Alabama.

File:MartySchottenheimer8-15-2013.jpg won three of the four Senior Bowls he coached.]]

Seven people have served as head coach in four or more Senior Bowls.

File:Ted Marchibroda.jpg led the Baltimore Ravens staff in their only time coaching the Senior Bowl (1998).]]

Each of the current 32 NFL teams has coached in at least one Senior Bowl. Records include games played under a franchise's prior names (e.g. Boston Patriots appearances are included in the record of the New England Patriots). Updated through the 2025 game (76 editions, 152 appearances).

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Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/game-history-gamescores.php |title=Game Scores/MVPs |website=seniorbowl.com |access-date=January 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105807/https://www.seniorbowl.com/game-history-gamescores.php |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |via=Wayback Machine}}{{cite tweet |user=CregStephenson |number=1622008343429521408 |title=Fresno State QB Jake Haener is your 2023 Senior Bowl MVP. |date=February 4, 2023 |accessdate=February 4, 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/south-carolina-football/spencer-rattler-shines-with-senior-bowl-mvp-honors/ |title=Spencer Rattler shines with Senior Bowl MVP honors |first=Paul |last=Harvey |website=saturdaydownsouth.com |date=February 3, 2024 |accessdate=February 3, 2024}}

{{dagger}} denotes an MVP whose college team was not part of the top tier of college football (e.g. FBS, Division I-A, or historical predecessors) at the time they played in the Senior Bowl. There have been four such MVPs: Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech, 1969 College Division season), Bill Kollar (Montana State, 1973 Division II season), Neil Lomax (Portland State, 1980 Division I–AA season), and Kyle Lauletta (Richmond, 2017 FCS season).

In the below tables, a player's induction to the College Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Hall of Fame is indicated the HOF column with a C or P, respectively.

The following team was selected by fan voting before the 1999 game:{{cite web |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/game-history-alltimeteam.php |title=All-Time Senior Bowl Team |website=seniorbowl.com |access-date=May 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104031125/http://www.seniorbowl.com/game-history-alltimeteam.php |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |via=Wayback Machine}}

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The following team was announced in November 2023, after selection via a combination of fan voting, a poll of NFL general managers, and "consideration from the Senior Bowl's selection committee."{{cite news |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/75th-anniversary-team/ |title=Senior Bowl Announces 75th Anniversary Team |website=seniorbowl.com |date=November 14, 2023 |accessdate=February 2, 2024}}

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File:Doak Walker practicing (8679147364) (2) (cropped).jpg, the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner, played in the inaugural Senior Bowl in 1950.]]

The following players who won the Heisman Trophy also played in the Senior Bowl.{{cite tweet |user=CregStephenson |number=1351178084117049346 |title=Best I can tell, DeVonta Smith will be the 10th Heisman winner to participate in the @seniorbowl. |date=January 18, 2021 |accessdate=January 18, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67995947/senior-bowl-survives-without-ward/ |title=Senior Bowl survives without Ward, other Heisman winners |newspaper=Pensacola News Journal |location=Pensacola, Florida |page=5D |date=January 13, 1994 |access-date=January 19, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} To date, the only Heisman Trophy winner to be named Senior Bowl MVP was Pat Sullivan in 1972.

2020 winner DeVonta Smith accepted an invitation to the 2021 edition,{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/alabama-e2-80-99s-devonta-smith-accepts-senior-bowl-invitation/ar-BB1cRhjc |title=Alabama's DeVonta Smith accepts Senior Bowl invitation |first=Mark |last=Heim |website=MSN.com |date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=January 19, 2021}} but did not play.

File:Mean Joe Greene 1975.JPG, one of the 1988 inaugural inductees]]

File:Nitschke packers.jpg]]

File:Kevin-Mawae-TitansvsPackers-Nov-2-08.jpg]]

Established in 1987, the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame seeks to pay tribute to the many outstanding former Senior Bowl players who have made lasting contributions to the game of football. The Senior Bowl Hall of Fame also allows enshrinement to former coaches, administrators and other individuals whose efforts helped the Senior Bowl.

• 1988 – Joe Greene, Lee Roy Jordan, Steve Largent, Joe Namath, Walter Payton, Pat Sullivan, Jim Taylor, Travis Tidwell
• 1989 – Ed Jones, Ozzie Newsome, John Stallworth, Gene Upshaw, Jack Youngblood
• 1990 – Paul Brown, Tucker Frederickson, Jerry Kramer, Neil Lomax, Wellington Mara, Finley McRae, Jack Pardee, Rea Scheussler
• 1991 – Morten Andersen, James Brooks, Dave Butz, Weeb Ewbank, Doug Williams
• 1992 – Franco Harris, Mike Holovak, Sam Huff, Dan Marino, Don Shula, Pat Swilling
• 1993 – Cornelius Bennett, Bear Bryant, Ralph Jordan, Tom Landry, Marty Schottenheimer, Lynn Swann
• 1994 – Robert Brazile, Rickey Jackson, Mark Rypien, Jim Simpson
• 1995 – Bob Baumhower, Pat Dye, Bo Jackson, Gene Washington
• 1996 – James Lofton, Dick Steinberg, Kellen Winslow
• 1997 – Bob Hayes, Sterling Sharpe, Doak Walker
• 1998 – Jim McMahon, Ray Nitschke, Thurman Thomas
• 1999 – Tom Banks, Dale Carter, Paul Krause, Albert Lewis, Randall McDaniel, Art Monk, E. B. Peebles, Jr., Derrick Thomas, Roger Wehrli
• 2000 – Hanford Dixon, Brett Favre, Chuck Howley
• 2001 – William Andrews, Ron Jaworski, Eddie Robinson
• 2002 – Todd Christensen, Bert Jones, Steve McNair
• 2003 – Terry Beasley, Jeremiah Castille, Ted Hendricks
• 2004 – Derrick Brooks, Christian Okoye, Richard Todd
• 2005 – Larry Allen, Al Del Greco, Ray Perkins
• 2006 – Curtis Martin, Tony Nathan, Michael Strahan
• 2007 – E. J. Junior, Jake Plummer, Hines Ward
• 2008 – Dean Kleinschmidt, Kevin Mawae, Brian Urlacher
• 2009 – Jason Taylor, Shaun Alexander
• 2010 – Larry Johnson, Terrell Owens
• 2011 – None, due to NFL lockout
• 2012 – Keith Brooking, Donovan McNabb, Dan Reeves
• 2013 – John Abraham, Sylvester Croom, Aeneas Williams
• 2014 – Bill Kollar, Torry Holt, DeMarcus Ware{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/kollar-holt-and-ware-join-hof/ |title=Kollar, Holt and Ware Join HOF |website=seniorbowl.com |date=2014 |accessdate=February 4, 2023}}
• 2015 – Woodrow Lowe, Tony Richardson, Kyle Williams
• 2016 – Steve Hutchinson, Bill Curry, Tamba Hali
• 2017 – Blaine Bishop, Lance Briggs, Jim Harbaugh
• 2018 – Al Wilson, Phil Villapiano, Jay Novacek{{cite news |url=https://www.wkrg.com/sports/nfl/senior-bowl-to-add-3-to-hall-of-fame-honor-jalyn-armour-davis/1021866064 |title=Senior Bowl to add 3 to Hall of Fame, Honor Jalyn Armour-Davis |website=WKRG |date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=September 9, 2018}}
• 2019 – Rodney Hudson, DeMarco McNeil, Billy Neighbors{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/hudson-mcneil-neighbors-to-be-inducted-into-hof/ |title=Hudson, McNeil, Neighbors to be inducted into HOF |website=seniorbowl.com |date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2023}}
• 2020 – None, due to COVID-19 pandemic
• 2021 – Cameron Jordan, Joe Staley, Patrick Surtain, Fred Taylor, Reggie Wayne{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/2021-senior-bowl-hall-of-fame-1/ |title=2021 Senior Bowl Hall of Fame |website=seniorbowl.com |date=2021 |access-date=February 4, 2023}}
• 2022 – Kevin Faulk, Von Miller, Dak Prescott, Philip Rivers, Patrick Willis{{cite press release |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/senior-bowl-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022/ |title=Senior Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2022 |website=seniorbowl.com |date=April 21, 2022 |access-date=February 4, 2023}}
• 2023 – Chris Johnson, Lane Johnson, Clay Matthews III, Brian Westbrook, Marshal Yanda[https://www.seniorbowl.com/senior-bowl-announces-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023/ "Senior Bowl Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023," SeniorBowl.com, Sunday, June 25, 2023.] Retrieved June 26, 2023.

Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.seniorbowl.com/_new/the-game/hall-of-fame |title=Hall of Fame Members |website=seniorbowl.com |access-date=February 3, 2024}}

• Cactus Bowl (Division II)
• List of college bowl games

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• {{cite news|title=Senior Bowl Players Drill in Cold Weather|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19580108&id=xuMKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hk8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4161,272343|access-date=December 16, 2016|work=Prescott Evening Courier|agency=Associated Press|date=January 8, 1958|page=5}}

• {{Official website|http://www.seniorbowl.com}}
• [https://www.nfl.com/senior-bowl/ Senior Bowl at NFL.com]

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Category:College football all-star games

Category:Sports competitions in Mobile, Alabama

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1950