2003 Pro Bowl

The 2003 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's (NFL) annual all-star game following the 2002 regular season, contested on February 2, 2003, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[1] The matchup pitted the American Football Conference (AFC) all-stars against the National Football Conference (NFC) all-stars, with the AFC securing a decisive 45–20 victory in a game attended by 50,125 fans and lasting 3 hours and 14 minutes.^[1][2] Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams earned Most Valuable Player honors for his standout performance, rushing for 56 yards on 11 carries and scoring two touchdowns.^[3] The rosters for the 2003 Pro Bowl were selected through a combination of fan, player, and coach voting, resulting in 43 players per conference, including notable stars like AFC quarterback Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders, who threw two touchdown passes, and NFC quarterback Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles.^[4] The game showcased the league's top talent from the 2002 season, which culminated in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, highlighting offensive fireworks and defensive plays such as New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown.^[1][5] The AFC's dominance was evident throughout, building a 28–6 halftime lead en route to their lopsided win, underscoring the conference's strength that year.^[1][6] This Pro Bowl served as a celebratory capstone to the NFL season, featuring skill competitions and festivities in Hawaii, a traditional host venue, while providing players an opportunity to represent their conferences in a relaxed, exhibition-style format.^[3] Key scoring plays included Williams' short-yardage touchdowns and field goals from both sides, with the NFC mounting a late rally but falling short against the AFC's balanced attack led by Gannon and tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs.^[1][7] The event highlighted emerging talents and veterans alike, contributing to the league's growing popularity in the early 2000s.^[4]

Background

Season Context

The 2002 NFL season marked the league's first campaign with 32 teams following the addition of the Houston Texans and a divisional realignment that restructured conferences into four divisions each. It featured high-scoring offenses, with a record 11,097 total points scored across all games and 1,270 touchdowns, reflecting an era of offensive innovation and defensive challenges. The season culminated in the playoffs, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by new head coach Jon Gruden, advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII after a dominant 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.^[8] In Super Bowl XXXVII, held on January 26, 2003, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, the Buccaneers decisively defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21, securing their first championship in franchise history.^[9] This victory highlighted Tampa Bay's elite defense, which intercepted Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon five times, including three returned for touchdowns, underscoring the team's preparation and strategic acquisitions during the offseason.^[10] The game's outcome not only capped a transformative season for the Buccaneers but also influenced Pro Bowl eligibility, as standout performers from the regular season and postseason playoffs were recognized for their contributions. The Pro Bowl serves as the NFL's annual all-star exhibition game, traditionally held in the weeks following the Super Bowl to honor the league's top performers from the preceding season.^[11] Selections emphasize excellence in regular-season play and postseason achievements, providing a platform to showcase skills across conferences without the intensity of playoff competition. For the 2003 edition, this context framed the event as a celebration of the 2002 season's highlights, bridging the professional accomplishments of teams like the Buccaneers and Raiders into an all-star format.

Event Format and Selection

The Pro Bowl is an annual all-star exhibition game featuring the top players from the American Football Conference (AFC) against those from the National Football Conference (NFC), serving as the NFL's showcase following the regular season. For the 2003 edition, which honored the 2002 season, the game adhered to standard NFL rules, including full-contact tackling, as modifications to reduce physicality—such as flag football elements—were not introduced until decades later.^[12][13] Player selection for the 2003 Pro Bowl combined input from fans, players, and coaches, with each group contributing equally—one-third of the total vote—to determine starters and alternates. Fans cast ballots online via NFL.com and at partner locations like RadioShack stores, focusing on position-specific choices, while players and coaches submitted votes separately. This balanced approach aimed to reflect both popularity and peer recognition, with alternates ranked through the same process to fill spots for injuries, declinations, or other absences.^[14][15][16] The selection timeline began with fan voting concluding on December 13, 2002, followed by player and coach balloting on December 16-17, culminating in the roster announcement on December 19 during an ESPN selection show. Replacements were handled in January 2003 as needed, ensuring full teams for the February 2 game at Aloha Stadium. A record 51,677,578 fan votes were recorded, highlighting the event's growing popularity.^[14][17]

Pregame Information

Date, Location, and Attendance

The 2003 Pro Bowl took place on February 2, 2003, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[18] Aloha Stadium, with a capacity of approximately 50,000 for football games, drew an attendance of 50,125 spectators for the all-star matchup.^[18] The game was broadcast nationally on the ABC network, attracting 9.1 million viewers and earning a Nielsen rating of 5.9 with an 11 share. This viewership represented a notable portion of the audience for the post-Super Bowl exhibition, aligning with the event's role in the NFL's Hawaii-based tradition.^[19]

Coaching Staff

The head coaches for the 2003 Pro Bowl were selected according to the NFL's longstanding tradition of appointing the coaches from the teams that lost their respective conference championship games in the previous season, a practice that began in 1983 and continued through the mid-2010s. For the AFC squad, Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher led the team; his Titans had finished the 2002 regular season with an 11-5 record, winning the AFC South division before falling to the Oakland Raiders 41-24 in the AFC Championship Game.^[20] Fisher, who had been the Titans' head coach since 1994, brought his experience from guiding the franchise to consistent playoff contention, including a Super Bowl appearance in 1999.^[21] For the NFC team, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid was at the helm, wearing casual Hawaiian attire; photos of which resurfaced and gained viral attention on social media around the event's 2025 anniversary.^[22] His Eagles compiled a 12-4 regular-season mark in 2002, capturing the NFC East title before losing 31-6 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game.^[23] Reid, in his fourth year leading Philadelphia, had transformed the Eagles into a perennial contender with his innovative West Coast offense, earning NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2002 for the team's dominant performance.^[24] Details on the full assistant coaching staffs were not widely documented for the event, but both head coaches typically brought key personnel from their teams, such as offensive and defensive coordinators, to assist in preparations and game management. The coaching selections honored the competitive efforts of the conference runners-up while providing an opportunity for staff to work with elite all-star talent in Honolulu.

Number of Selections per Team

The 2003 Pro Bowl showcased team representation based on standout performances from the 2002 NFL season, with the Kansas City Chiefs earning the most selections in the AFC at 9 and the Baltimore Ravens securing 8. In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers topped the list with 6 selections, followed by the St. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys with 5 each. These numbers underscore the dominance of teams with elite units on offense and defense, as determined by a combination of fan voting, player ballots, and coach input.^[25] The following table lists the number of selections for all 32 teams, reflecting both starters and reserves who participated in the all-star game held on February 2, 2003, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.^[25]

Game Summary

Final Score and MVP

The American Football Conference (AFC) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) by a final score of 45–20 in the 2003 Pro Bowl, marking a 25-point margin of victory.^[26][3] This win extended the AFC's dominance, securing their third consecutive Pro Bowl victory following triumphs in 2001 and 2002.^[2][27] Ricky Williams, running back for the Miami Dolphins, was named the game's Most Valuable Player for his standout performance in his Pro Bowl debut.^[26][3] Williams rushed 11 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching three passes for 18 yards and forcing a fumble on special teams, contributing significantly to the AFC's early lead and overall rout.^[26][28] His versatile playmaking earned him the honor, highlighting his impact in multiple facets of the game.^[29][30]

Scoring Summary

The 2003 Pro Bowl featured a dominant performance by the AFC, who scored 45 points through a combination of rushing touchdowns, passing touchdowns, a defensive interception return for a touchdown, and a field goal, while the NFC managed 20 points via two passing touchdowns and two field goals.^[1] The following table summarizes the scoring plays chronologically by quarter, including the time remaining, scoring team, scorer, and play type. Overall, the AFC accumulated their points as follows: two rushing touchdowns, three passing touchdowns, one interception return touchdown, and one field goal, totaling 45 points; the NFC scored two passing touchdowns and two field goals for 20 points.^[1]

Key Plays

The 2003 Pro Bowl featured several standout offensive plays that propelled the AFC to victory, beginning with running back Ricky Williams' two touchdown runs, including a 1-yard score in the first quarter that set an early tone for the AFC's ground attack. Williams, earning MVP honors, rushed for 56 yards on 11 carries, showcasing his elusiveness in short-yardage situations against the NFC defense. Complementing the rushing success, quarterback Rich Gannon orchestrated key passing plays, including an 11-yard touchdown strike to tight end Tony Gonzalez early in the game, contributing to his 12-of-18 performance for 102 yards and two total touchdowns.^[1][31] Defensively, the AFC capitalized on NFC miscues with pivotal stops, highlighted by cornerback Ty Law's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, which extended the lead and involved a controversial lateral to defensive end Jason Taylor ruled as an illegal forward pass. The AFC defense forced seven turnovers from the NFC (six interceptions and one fumble), including multiple interceptions by players like Law and Rod Woodson, disrupting NFC momentum and preventing comebacks. These turnovers, combined with the AFC's overall edge in total yards (433 to 298), underscored the conference's dominance in ball control and opportunistic play.^[1][32] No major injuries or substitutions altered the game's flow significantly, allowing for a full showcase of all-star talent without notable controversies.^[1]

Rosters

AFC Offense

The AFC offense for the 2003 Pro Bowl featured a talented group of players selected based on their performances during the 2002 NFL season, with starters determined by fan, player, and coach voting, and reserves filling out the roster.^[33][34] Quarterbacks
The quarterback position was led by starter Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders, who had thrown for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns in the regular season, earning his fourth Pro Bowl selection. Reserves included Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, with 4,200 yards and 27 touchdowns in his third year as a Pro Bowler, and Drew Bledsoe of the Buffalo Bills, who posted 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns.^[34] Running Backs and Fullback
At running back, starters Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs rushed for 1,615 yards and 21 touchdowns but was sidelined by injury, leading to Travis Henry of the Buffalo Bills serving as a replacement after his 1,438-yard season; other reserves were Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins (1,853 yards, 16 touchdowns) and LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers (1,683 yards, 14 touchdowns). The fullback starter was Lorenzo Neal of the Cincinnati Bengals, known for his blocking prowess in his second Pro Bowl appearance.^[34][33] Wide Receivers
The wide receiver starters were Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts, who led the league with 143 receptions for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns in his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl, and Jerry Rice of the Oakland Raiders, with 92 receptions for 1,211 yards and 7 touchdowns in what would be his 13th and final Pro Bowl selection. Reserves included Eric Moulds of the Buffalo Bills (100 receptions, 1,287 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers (112 receptions, 1,329 yards, 12 touchdowns).^[34][33] Tight Ends
Starter Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs recorded 63 receptions for 773 yards and 7 touchdowns, marking his fourth Pro Bowl nod, while reserve Todd Heap of the Baltimore Ravens had 68 receptions for 836 yards and 6 touchdowns in his second selection.^[34][33] Offensive Line
The offensive line starters comprised tackles Jonathan Ogden of the Baltimore Ravens (sixth straight Pro Bowl) and Willie Roaf of the Kansas City Chiefs (eighth Pro Bowl), guards Alan Faneca of the Pittsburgh Steelers (second straight) and Will Shields of the Kansas City Chiefs (eighth selection), and center Kevin Mawae of the New York Jets (third straight). Reserves included tackles Lincoln Kennedy of the Oakland Raiders (third Pro Bowl) and Willie Anderson of the Cincinnati Bengals (replacement for Roaf if needed), guards Ruben Brown of the Buffalo Bills (seventh straight), and centers Tom Nalen of the Denver Broncos and Barret Robbins of the Oakland Raiders (first selection, but injured and replaced by Damien Woody of the New England Patriots).^[34][33]

AFC Defense

The AFC defensive roster for the 2003 Pro Bowl highlighted a balanced unit with exceptional pass-rushing talent and lockdown coverage, drawing from teams that excelled in the 2002 season. The defensive line featured starters Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins and Trevor Pryce of the Denver Broncos at end, both renowned for their speed and sack production—Taylor led the AFC with 11 sacks, disrupting offenses with his quick first step and relentless pursuit—alongside interior anchors Richard Seymour of the New England Patriots and Gary Walker of the Houston Texans. Reserves like John Abraham of the New York Jets and Tim Bowens of the Dolphins added depth, emphasizing the group's ability to pressure quarterbacks and control the line of scrimmage.^[35] Linebackers formed the emotional and tactical core of the defense, with starters Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens at inside linebacker—fresh off his 2002 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award for leading the league with 173 combined tackles—and Joey Porter of the Pittsburgh Steelers at outside linebacker, whose 9 sacks underscored the unit's blitzing threat. Veteran Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers served as a reserve outside linebacker, bringing leadership and sideline-to-sideline speed honed over a decade of Pro Bowl appearances, while Zach Thomas of the Dolphins and Al Wilson of the Broncos provided reserve inside linebacker versatility in run defense and coverage. This combination allowed the AFC linebackers to dictate tempo and force turnovers effectively.^[36] The secondary excelled in coverage, limiting big plays through a mix of man and zone schemes, with starters Patrick Surtain of the Miami Dolphins and Aaron Glenn of the Houston Texans at cornerback—Surtain's four interceptions in 2002 exemplified his ball skills—and Rod Woodson of the Oakland Raiders at free safety, a 37-year-old interceptor with three picks that season. Reserve cornerback Ty Law of the New England Patriots brought elite shutdown ability, allowing just a 50.8 opponent passer rating in 2002, while safeties like Lawyer Milloy of the Patriots and Brock Marion of the Dolphins bolstered run support and deep coverage. Overall, the AFC defense's strengths contributed to holding the NFC to 20 points in the 45-20 victory.^[37]

AFC Special Teams

The AFC special teams unit for the 2003 Pro Bowl consisted of four players recognized for their excellence in kicking, punting, and return duties during the 2002 NFL season. These selections highlighted the conference's strength in field position management and explosive plays from returns.^[34] Adam Vinatieri earned his spot through his reliability in high-pressure situations, including clutch kicks that contributed to the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI victory the prior year, and his 2002 accuracy helped maintain offensive momentum.^[38] Chris Hanson, a rising punter, provided consistent net yardage to pin opponents deep, supporting Jacksonville's defensive efforts.^[34] Dante Hall, known as a dynamic threat, brought versatility as both kick and punt returner, using his speed to generate big plays and touchdowns that shifted field position advantages.^[34] Larry Izzo rounded out the group with his tackling and coverage on punts and kicks, earning acclaim for his role in New England's special teams dominance.^[38]

NFC Offense

The NFC offense for the 2003 Pro Bowl, selected based on performances from the 2002 NFL season, showcased a mix of veteran leaders and emerging stars, with several players earning starting nods through fan, player, and coach voting. Note that several selections were affected by injuries, including starter Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers (injured, did not play), who was voted as the starter after throwing for 3,778 yards and 27 touchdowns in the regular season, marking his ninth Pro Bowl selection; replacements included Brad Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Joining as reserves were Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings, who had a breakout year with 3,479 passing yards and 25 total touchdowns, and Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles, contributing to the team's league-leading selection count with multiple offensive representatives.^[25][39] At running back, starters Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints (1,388 yards, 13 touchdowns in his Pro Bowl debut) and Ahman Green of the Green Bay Packers (injured, did not play) anchored the position. Reserves included Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, a future Hall of Famer who added 1,006 rushing yards and 1,054 receiving yards to his resume despite injury challenges, highlighting his versatility as a dual-threat back; Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks; and Stephen Davis of the Carolina Panthers. Replacement for McAllister (injured) was Michael Bennett of the Minnesota Vikings.^[25] The wide receiver corps featured explosive talents, with starters Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers, after a dominant 2002 campaign that included 100 receptions for 1,300 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns, leading the NFC in scoring among non-kickers, and Joe Horn of the New Orleans Saints (88 receptions, 1,312 yards, 7 touchdowns). Reserves included Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings (injured; 1,347 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns in his fifth Pro Bowl appearance), Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams, Marty Booker of the Chicago Bears, and replacement Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers (70 receptions, 1,064 yards, 9 touchdowns).^[40][39] Tight end Bubba Franks of the Green Bay Packers was chosen as the starter, known for his reliable hands in the red zone (54 receptions, 442 yards, 7 touchdowns). Reserves included Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants, fresh off a rookie season with 45 catches for 619 yards and 2 touchdowns that earned him NFC Rookie of the Year honors (note: section had 74/894/2, but actual 2002 rookie stats are 45/619/2), adding a blocking and receiving dimension to the unit, and Alge Crumpler of the Atlanta Falcons (38 receptions, 426 yards, 4 touchdowns).^[25] The offensive line starters included left tackle Tra Thomas of the Philadelphia Eagles (second Pro Bowl) and right tackle Walter Jones of the Seattle Seahawks (third consecutive), guards Jermane Mayberry of the Eagles (first) and Marco Rivera of the Packers (first), and center Olin Kreutz of the Bears (second). Reserves comprised Orlando Pace of the St. Louis Rams (injured), Flozell Adams of the Dallas Cowboys, Larry Allen of the Cowboys (eighth Pro Bowl), Matt Birk of the Vikings, and Jeremy Newberry of the San Francisco 49ers, forming a formidable front that emphasized run-blocking and quarterback protection.^[25][33] Fullback Mike Alstott of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was selected as the starter, providing lead-blocking support for the backs.

NFC Defense

The NFC defensive roster for the 2003 Pro Bowl featured a strong contingent of players from top-performing teams, emphasizing pass rushers and coverage specialists who had excelled in the 2002 NFL season. Selected through fan, player, and coach voting, the unit highlighted the conference's defensive depth, with notable representation from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles.^[25] Starters included a formidable defensive line anchored by Michael Strahan at left defensive end for the New York Giants, who recorded 18.5 sacks during the regular season, and Simeon Rice at right defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 15.0 sacks. On the interior, Kris Jenkins of the Carolina Panthers started at left defensive tackle, while La'Roi Glover of the Dallas Cowboys handled right defensive tackle duties. The linebacker corps was led by LaVar Arrington of the Washington Redskins at left linebacker and Derrick Brooks of the Buccaneers at right linebacker, both contributing significantly to run defense and coverage. In the secondary, Champ Bailey of the Washington Redskins started at left cornerback, Troy Vincent of the Philadelphia Eagles at right cornerback, Roy Williams of the Cowboys at free safety, and John Lynch of the Buccaneers at strong safety.^[25] Reserves bolstered the depth, with Leonard Little of the St. Louis Rams as the backup left defensive end and Mike Rucker of the Panthers at right defensive end. Corey Simon of the Philadelphia Eagles served as the reserve left defensive tackle, adding interior pressure with 7.5 sacks. Linebackers Julian Peterson of the San Francisco 49ers and Dexter Coakley of the Cowboys provided versatile backups. The secondary reserves included Dre' Bly of the Detroit Lions at right cornerback, Aeneas Williams of the Rams at free safety, bringing veteran experience and interception prowess to the group, and Corey Chavous of the Minnesota Vikings at strong safety. The Eagles' representation, through Simon and Vincent, underscored their defensive resurgence under coordinator Jim Johnson. Note: Jerry Azumah of the Chicago Bears was selected for special teams, not defense.^[25]

NFC Special Teams

The NFC special teams unit for the 2003 Pro Bowl featured players recognized for their excellence in kicking, punting, and return duties during the 2002 NFL season. This group was pivotal in providing field position advantages and contributing to the all-star game's dynamics, though the NFC ultimately fell to the AFC 45-20. Note: Jerry Azumah was also selected as an additional special teamer/return specialist from the Chicago Bears.^[39] Kicker: David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles
David Akers served as the NFC's placekicker, selected for his accuracy and productivity in the 2002 season, where he converted 30 of 34 field goal attempts and scored 133 points overall. His selection highlighted his role in the Eagles' strong special teams performance, including key long-range kicks that aided Philadelphia's NFC East championship run.^[39] Punter: Todd Sauerbrun, Carolina Panthers
Todd Sauerbrun was chosen as the punter, earning his spot with an impressive average of 45.5 yards per punt in 2002, which helped the Panthers control field position effectively. As a veteran specialist, Sauerbrun's booming kicks were instrumental in Carolina's defensive-oriented strategy during their breakout season.^[39] Return Specialist: Michael Lewis, New Orleans Saints
Michael Lewis represented the NFC as the primary return specialist, noted for his versatility in both kick and punt returns, averaging 25.8 yards per kick return and 14.2 yards per punt return in 2002. His explosive speed and reliability made him a standout, contributing to the Saints' improved field position throughout the year.^[39] Special Teamer: Fred McAfee, New Orleans Saints
Fred McAfee rounded out the unit as the special teamer, marking his first Pro Bowl appearance for his coverage and blocking prowess on returns and kicks in 2002. McAfee's multifaceted contributions, including tackles and fumble recoveries on special teams, were vital to New Orleans' efforts in maintaining momentum on the Saints' roster.^[39]