1971 Pro Bowl

1971 NFL Pro Bowl
DateJanuary 24, 1971
StadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Co-MVPsFred Carr (Green Bay Packers, LB), Mel Renfro (Dallas Cowboys, CB)
FavoriteNFC [1]
RefereeFred Silva
Attendance48,222
TV in the United States
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersJack Whitaker, Frank Gifford, Bruce Roberts

The 1971 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 21st annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1970 season. The game was played on January 24, 1971, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.[1][2] The final score was NFC 27, AFC 6.[3][4]

Defensive back Mel Renfro of the Dallas Cowboys was named the game's offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his two punt return touchdowns (82 and 56 yards) on special teams,[5] and linebacker Fred Carr of the Green Bay Packers was selected as the defensive MVP.[6][better source needed]

Attendance at the game was 48,222.[7] John Madden of the Oakland Raiders coached the AFC, while the NFC was led by the San Francisco 49ers' Dick Nolan.[2][6] The referee for the contest was Fred Silva.[8]

Both teams had 41 players; the winners earned $2,000 each and losers received $1,500.[2] The game was played a week after Super Bowl V, held in Miami.

This was the first Pro Bowl to feature the AFC vs. the NFC format, which was used through 2013, then resumed in 2017.

References

  1. ^ a b "NFC favored in annual Pro Bowl battle". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 24, 1971. p. 1B.
  2. ^ a b c "American stars vs. National in new look Pro Bowl game". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 24, 1971. p. 3, section 4.
  3. ^ "Renfro's runs pace Nationals' 27–6 win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. January 25, 1971. p. 20. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "Renfro, NFC settle a score". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 25, 1971. p. 26.
  5. ^ "Renfro's long returns highlight NFC Pro Bowl victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 25, 1971. p. 3B.
  6. ^ a b "The 1971 Pro Bowl". Bolding Sports Research. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  7. ^ "NFL Pro Bowl history". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  8. ^ "1971 Pro Bowl game book" (PDF). NFL Game Statistics & Information. National Football League. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2012.