Steve Young is making a return to the Pro Bowl - just not in the way fans might remember.
The Hall of Fame quarterback, who earned seven Pro Bowl selections during his storied career with the San Francisco 49ers, is headed back to the NFL’s all-star showcase. This time, though, he won’t be slinging touchdown passes. Instead, he’ll be calling the shots from the sideline.
On Monday, the NFL announced that Young and his longtime 49ers teammate, the legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, will serve as coaches for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games. Young will lead the AFC squad, while Rice will take the reins for the NFC.
Yes, you read that right - the two icons who helped define a generation of 49ers football are now set to square off as rival coaches in this year’s Pro Bowl, which will take place in San Francisco.
For Young, coaching isn’t entirely new territory. He’s got some hands-on experience from coaching his daughters’ varsity flag football team - a nod to the format the NFL has embraced for the Pro Bowl Games in recent years. And while that’s a far cry from game-planning against NFL talent, it’s safe to say Young knows a thing or two about leadership, game management, and rising to the occasion.
Of course, any time Young and Rice are mentioned in the same breath, it’s hard not to think back to their dominant run in the '90s - especially that unforgettable Super Bowl win in 1995. In that 49-26 rout of the San Diego Chargers, Young threw a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes.
Three of those went to Rice. It was a performance that silenced any lingering doubts about Young’s ability to carry the torch from Joe Montana.
That night, he didn’t just win a ring - he cemented his legacy.
Now, the two will be reunited once again - not as quarterback and receiver, but as coaching counterparts in a Pro Bowl that’s taking on a new look and feel.
This year’s Pro Bowl Games will mark a few firsts. Most notably, the event is moving to Super Bowl week and will be held in the same city as the big game - San Francisco. That shift brings the Pro Bowl closer to the heart of the NFL’s biggest celebration, and it’s fitting that two of the Bay Area’s most iconic football figures will be front and center.
The 2026 Pro Bowl will be held at the Moscone Center South Building in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The festivities begin with coverage starting at 4:30 p.m.
MT, and the flag football game itself kicks off at 6 p.m. MT.
Fans can catch the action on ESPN, Disney XD, and ESPN Deportes.
This coaching duo follows in the footsteps of another pair of football greats - Peyton and Eli Manning - who coached the AFC and NFC squads in last year’s Pro Bowl. Now, it’s Young and Rice’s turn to bring their Hall of Fame pedigree to the sidelines.
And while the Pro Bowl may no longer be the hard-hitting exhibition it once was, the presence of legends like Young and Rice adds a layer of nostalgia and excitement that fans - especially in San Francisco - are sure to appreciate.