Senior Bowl


The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played each January in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd–Peebles Stadium the next year, where it would remain through the 2020 edition. From 2021 forward, the game will remain in Mobile, but will move to the University of South Alabama's new Hancock Whitney Stadium. Produced by the non-profit Mobile Arts & Sports Association, the game is also a charitable fund-raiser benefiting various local and regional organizations with over US$7.8 million in donations over its history.
In 2007, telecast of the game moved from ESPN to NFL Network. In 2013, Reese's took over sponsorship, starting with the 2014 game. In January 2018, Reese's announced that they were extending their sponsorship of the game; a specific duration was not given.

Background

Two teams, representing the North and the South, are coached by select coaching staff 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. Organizers stipulate a number of specific rules for the game, some of which are intended to reduce the chance of injury, and others that simplify what the teams need to practice and prepare for.
The week-long practice that precedes the game is attended by key NFL personnel, who oversee the players as possible prospects for pro football. At one point the Senior Bowl was the first chance its participants had to openly receive pay for participation in an athletic event. This was one reason that participation was limited to seniors whose eligibility for further participation in collegiate football had expired, and the game was also their first exposure to the slightly different professional rules. Players who wished to participate in collegiate spring sports had to avoid participation in the Senior Bowl. The significance of all of this has waned in recent years as there has been some lessening of the former strict separation of professional and amateur athletes. Athletes sometimes decline invitations to participate in the Senior Bowl, opting instead to prepare for the NFL scouting combine or their colleges' pro day. In 2013, two players 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. Dan Lynch of Washington State was the first player to appear in two Senior Bowls, having been granted an extra year of eligibility after the 1984 game.
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, while the latest playing has been January 30. Since 1967, it has been traditionally set for the week before the NFL's Super Bowl. 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 scheduled for the day after the Senior Bowl.
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 Southern California in 2008.

Game results

Players have traditionally been rostered into North and South teams for the Senior Bowl. From 1991 to 1993, the teams were designated AFC and NFC, to distinguish where their coaching staffs were from and to stress the professional nature of the game. This was confusing to some, as the game occurred well before players had been selected by teams in the NFL draft. In 1994, the designations were reverted to the traditional North vs. South format.
DateWinnerScore
North team coach
South team coach
Notes
January 7, 1950South22–13, Detroit Lions, New York Giants
January 6, 1951South19–18, Detroit Lions, New York Giants
January 5, 1952North20–6, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
January 3, 1953North28–13, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
January 9, 1954North20–14, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
January 8, 1955South12–6, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
January 7, 1956South12–2, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns
January 5, 1957South21–7, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns
January 11, 1958North15–13, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns
January 3, 1959South21–12, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns
January 9, 1960North26–7, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts
January 7, 1961South33–26, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts
January 6, 1962South42–7, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Colts
January 5, 1963South33–27, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Colts
January 4, 1964South28–21, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys
January 9, 1965Tie7–7, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys
January 8, 1966South27–18, Boston Patriots, New York Jets
January 7, 1967North35–13, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins
January 6, 1968South34–21, Boston Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs
January 11, 1969North27–16, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals
January 10, 1970Tie37–37, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Colts
January 9, 1971North31–13, Denver Broncos, New York Jets
January 8, 1972South26–21, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints
January 6, 1973South33–30, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
January 12, 1974North16–13, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions
January 11, 1975Tie17–17, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers
January 11, 1976North42–35, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears
January 8, 1977North27–24, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins
January 7, 1978North17–14, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons
January 13, 1979South41–21, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints
January 12, 1980North57–3, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants
January 17, 1981North23–10, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos
January 16, 1982South27–10, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers
January 22, 1983North14–6, Baltimore Colts, New Orleans Saints
January 14, 1984South21–20, Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers
January 12, 1985South23–7, St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers
January 18, 1986North31–17, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
January 17, 1987South42–38, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins
January 23, 1988North21–7, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints
January 21, 1989South13–12, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams
January 20, 1990North41–0, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles
January 19, 1991AFC38–28, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints
January 18, 1992AFC13–10, Los Angeles Raiders, Chicago Bears
January 16, 1993NFC21–6, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns
January 22, 1994South35–32, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins
January 21, 1995South14–7, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts
January 20, 1996North25–10, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears
January 18, 1997North35–14, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs
January 17, 1998South31–8, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins
January 23, 1999South31–21, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
January 22, 2000North24–21, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs
January 20, 2001South21–16, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers
January 26, 2002South41–26, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
January 18, 2003North17–0, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions
January 24, 2004South28–10, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers
January 29, 2005North23–13, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
January 28, 2006North31–14, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers
January 27, 2007North27–0, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ersnotes
January 26, 2008South17–16, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ersnotes
January 24, 2009South35–18, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguarsnotes
January 30, 2010North31–13, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphinsnotes
January 29, 2011South24–10, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Billsnotes
January 28, 2012North23–13, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskinsnotes
January 26, 2013South21–16, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lionsnotes
January 25, 2014South20–10, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguarsnotes
January 24, 2015North34–13, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguarsnotes
January 30, 2016South27–16, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguarsnotes
January 28, 2017South16–15, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Brownsnotes
January 27, 2018South45–16, Denver Broncos, Houston Texansnotes
January 26, 2019North34–24, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ersnotes
January 25, 2020North34–17, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengalsnotes

Seven people have served as head coach in four or more Senior Bowls.
GamesHead coachWLTWin pct.
862–
752–
633–
431–
4211
422–
4121

Games coached by NFL teams

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. Updated through the 2020 game.
GamesNFL teamWLTWin pct.Most recent
12New York Giants57–1995
11Cleveland Browns92–2017
10Detroit Lions3612020
8Indianapolis Colts5211995
7Denver Broncos2322018
7Washington Redskins34–2012
6Kansas City Chiefs33–2000
6Oakland Raiders33–2019
6San Francisco 49ers2312019
5New Orleans Saints23–1991
5Dallas Cowboys1312016
4Jacksonville Jaguars31–2016
4Arizona Cardinals22–2002
4Miami Dolphins22–2010
4New York Jets22–1979
4Tampa Bay Buccaneers22–2007
4Chicago Bears04–2017
4Cincinnati Bengals04–2020
3Seattle Seahawks21–2002
3Atlanta Falcons12–2014
3Buffalo Bills12–2011
3New England Patriots12–1976
3Philadelphia Eagles12–1994
2Green Bay Packers20–2001
2Houston Texans20–2018
2Los Angeles Chargers20–2004
2Minnesota Vikings20–2012
2Tennessee Titans20–2015
2Los Angeles Rams11–1989
2Pittsburgh Steelers11–2001
1Carolina Panthers10–2000
1Baltimore Ravens01–1998

MVPs

YearNamePos.College team
1950Travis TidwellQBAuburn
1951Bucky CurtisWRVanderbilt
1952Al DorowQBMichigan State
1953Harry AgganisQBBoston University
1954Gene FilipskiRBVillanova
1955Bobby FreemanQBAuburn
1956Don GossDLSMU
1957Don BosselerFBMiami
1958Jim TaylorFBLSU
1959Theron Sapp
Norm Odyniec		FB
RB		Georgia
Notre Dame
1960Jacky LeeQBCincinnati
1961Dick NormanQBStanford
1962Earl Gros
Ronnie Bull		RB
RB		LSU
Baylor
1963Glynn GriffingQBOle Miss
1964Ode BurrellRBMississippi State
1965Steve DeLongDLTennessee
1966Howard TwilleyWRTulsa
1967Bubba SmithDTMichigan State
1968Kim HammondQBFlorida State
1969Jerry LeviasWRSMU
1970Terry BradshawQBLouisiana Tech
1971J. D. HillWRArizona State
1972Pat SullivanQBAuburn
1973Chuck ForemanRBMiami
1974Bill KollarDLMontana State
1975Steve BartkowskiQBCalifornia
1976Craig PenroseQBSan Diego State
1977Tommy KramerQBRice
1978James LoftonWRStanford
1979Willie JonesDLFlorida State
1980Marc WilsonQBBrigham Young
1981Neil LomaxQBPortland State
1982John Fourcade
Steve Clark		QB
DL		Ole Miss
Utah
1983Dan Marino
Terry Kinard		QB
DB		Pittsburgh
Clemson

YearNamePos.College team
1984Walter Lewis
Doug Smith		QB
DL		Alabama
Auburn
1985Paul Ott CarruthRBAlabama
1986Napoleon McCallumRBNavy
1987Don SmithQBMississippi State
1988Thurman ThomasRBOklahoma State
1989Cleveland GaryRBMiami
1990Blair ThomasRBPenn State
1991Alvin HarperWRTennessee
1992Tony SmithRBSouthern Miss
1993Eric HunterQBPurdue
1994Stan WhiteQBAuburn
1995Derrick BrooksLBFlorida State
1996Bobby HoyingQBOhio State
1997Pat BarnesQBCalifornia
1998Dameyune CraigQBAuburn
1999Cade McNownQBUCLA
2000Chad PenningtonQBMarshall
2001LaDainian TomlinsonRBTCU
2002Antwaan Randle ElWRIndiana
2003Larry JohnsonRBPenn State
2004Philip RiversQBNC State
2005Charlie FryeQBAkron
2006Sinorice MossWRMiami
2007Tony HuntRBPenn State
2008Matt ForteRBTulane
2009Pat WhiteQBWest Virginia
2010Brandon GrahamDLMichigan
2011Christian PonderQBFlorida State
2012Isaiah PeadRBCincinnati
2013EJ ManuelQBFlorida State
2014Dee FordDLAuburn
2015Ameer AbdullahRBNebraska
2016Dak PrescottQBMississippi State
2017Davis WebbQBCalifornia
2018Kyle LaulettaQBRichmond
2019Daniel JonesQBDuke
2020Justin HerbertQBOregon

Source:
denotes an MVP whose college team was not part of the top tier of college football at the time they played in the Senior Bowl. There have been four such MVPs: Terry Bradshaw, Bill Kollar, Neil Lomax, and Kyle Lauletta.

50th Anniversary Senior Bowl All-Time Team

The following team was selected by fan voting before the 1999 game:
;Offense
Pos.NameCollegeYearHOF
QBJoe NamathAlabama1965– P
RBWalter PaytonJackson State1975C P
RBBo JacksonAuburn1986C –
RBFranco HarrisPenn State1972– P
WRSteve LargentTulsa1976– P
WRLynn SwannUSC1974C P
WRArt MonkSyracuse1980C P
TEOzzie NewsomeAlabama1978C P
OLGene UpshawTexas A&I1967– P
OLJerry KramerIdaho1958– P
OLMike WebsterWisconsin1973– P
OLRandall McDanielArizona State1988C P
OLTom BanksAuburn1970– –
PKMorten AndersenMichigan State1982– P

; Defense
Pos.NameCollegeYearHOF
DLJoe GreeneNorth Texas State1969C P
DLEd JonesTennessee State1974– –
DLBubba SmithMichigan State1967C –
DLJack YoungbloodFlorida1971C P
LBLee Roy JordanAlabama1963C –
LBRay NitschkeIllinois1958– P
LBDerrick ThomasAlabama1989C P
LBTed HendricksMiami 1969C P
DBPaul KrauseIowa1964– P
DBDale CarterTennessee1992– –
DBAlbert LewisGrambling1983– –
DBRoger WehrliMissouri1969C P

HOF: C=College, P=Pro

Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

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.