Downtown San Francisco turned into a football festival Tuesday night as the 2026 Pro Bowl Games brought the league’s biggest names-and some of its most iconic legends-together for a high-energy flag football showdown. And if you’re a 49ers fan, this one hit differently.
Held at Moscone Center during Super Bowl week for the first time, the event was part all-star game, part reunion, and all spectacle. Team NFC pulled off an electric second-half comeback to top Team AFC, 66-52, in a game that was as entertaining as it was competitive.
The NFC found themselves in an early hole, trailing by 18 in the second quarter and heading into halftime down 44-36. But after the break, they flipped the script-outscoring the AFC 30-8 and turning what looked like a runaway into a statement win.
The 49ers were everywhere-on the field, on the sidelines, and all over the storyline. Franchise legends Jerry Rice and Steve Young were back in action, but this time with clipboards instead of helmets.
Rice led the NFC as head coach, while Young guided the AFC. It was a fitting twist for two of the most iconic figures in 49ers history, and when the final whistle blew, it was Rice’s squad that came out on top-yet another win in his storied football legacy.
On the field, San Francisco’s current stars made sure the red and gold were well represented. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, running back Christian McCaffrey, tackle Trent Williams, linebacker Luke Gifford (special teams), and long snapper Jon Weeks all suited up for the flag football showcase. Tight end George Kittle was also named to the Pro Bowl but sat out due to injury.
McCaffrey, as he so often does, delivered some of the game’s most memorable moments. He was all over the field-converting a two-point attempt in the second quarter, then snagging another from Jalen Hurts later on.
Just before halftime, Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a touchdown, then found McCaffrey over the middle for a quick conversion that kept the NFC within striking distance. It was classic McCaffrey-versatile, clutch, and always in the right spot.
“It was a blast,” McCaffrey said after the game. “Such a great week, great way to cap it off. Everybody was kind of feeling it out in the first quarter, and you love when you get the competitive juices going.”
For Juszczyk, the night marked a milestone-his 10th straight Pro Bowl selection and ninth as a 49er, extending his NFL record for the most Pro Bowl nods by a fullback. It’s a remarkable run of consistency and recognition at a position that rarely gets the spotlight.
Williams added another accolade to his Hall of Fame-worthy resume with his 12th Pro Bowl selection, putting him among the most decorated offensive linemen in league history. Meanwhile, Gifford earned his first Pro Bowl honor after a standout season on special teams-proof that hard work in the less glamorous phases of the game doesn’t go unnoticed. And Weeks, in his 16th NFL season, picked up his second Pro Bowl nod, continuing to be a model of steady excellence at one of the league’s most overlooked positions.
From Rice and Young reliving their glory days on the sidelines to the current crop of 49ers showing out on the field, the Pro Bowl Games felt like more than just an exhibition. It was a celebration of San Francisco’s past, present, and the enduring legacy the franchise continues to carve into NFL history.