The 2025 Pro Bowl Games began Thursday night in Orlando, and New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers and nose tackle Dexter Lawrence participated in the skills competition.
Nabers got things started for the NFC All-Stars, who are coached by retired Giants legend Eli Manning. He was first up in the Relay Race and was promptly “shot out of a cannon.”
“Malik Nabers shot out of a cannon!” 💨
📺: Pro Bowl Games Skills Show on ESPN pic.twitter.com/54A2glJ6iM
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 31, 2025
Even if the AFC All-Stars hadn’t fumbled their relay, Nabers got so far out ahead that there was no catching up.
Things didn’t go quite as well for Lawrence, who was participating in The Big Spike. He fell just short of the eventual winner, New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
“That’s tragedy” 😂
📺: Pro Bowl Games Skills Show on ESPN pic.twitter.com/4Nf0dZdMnC
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 31, 2025
“That’s tragedy,” Lawrence said.
After the first night of competition, the NFC leads the AFC, 14-7.
“They want the three-peat,” Manning said, via NFL.com. “They’ve been talking about the Kansas City next week, the three-peat, really all eyes are on the Pro Bowl for the three-peat, NFC, right now.”
The Pro Bowl Games will wrap up on Sunday with four additional skills competitions and a flag football game.
Nabers will compete in the latter while Lawrence is expected to join teammates Leonard Williams, Nick Bosa, Vita Vea, and Rashan Gary in the tug-of-war.