NFL Pro Bowl coaches 2023: Why Peyton, Eli Manning are coaching AFC, NFC teams

Kevin Skiver

NFL Pro Bowl coaches 2023: Why Peyton, Eli Manning are coaching AFC, NFC teams image

The Super Bowl will feature brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. 

The Pro Bowl will not only feature the NFL's best players, but brothers Peyton and Eli Manning.

Sick of the Mannings yet? The NFL doesn't believe it.

The hosts of the popular Manning simulcast of "Monday Night Football" (and arguably the reasons simulcasts are now a must on every big game) will be back in the NFL eye during the Pro Bowl on Sunday, this time as coaches of the AFC and NFC.

Unsurprisingly, given where they spent their careers, Peyton will coach the AFC and Eli will coach the NFC.

Brothers are already dominating the football news cycle with Jason and Travis Kelce facing off in the Super Bowl, so Peyton and Eli are sure to get plenty of face-time as the coaches of their respective teams.

MORE: NFL Pro Bowl schedule 2023-- Times, TV channels, lineups for skills competition & flag football game

Why are Peyton and Eli Manning coaching the Pro Bowl?

The Manning brothers are coaching the AFC and NFC for two primary reasons:

  • They've made "Monday Night Football" fun for a lot of people, and the Pro Bowl is trying to brand itself as fun.
  • ESPN, home of the Manningcast, also owns the rights to the Pro Bowl.

Really, it's convenience to a degree, and to use an overwrought term, brand synergy.

It makes sense for the Mannings to jump over to coaching.

What will the Mannings' responsibilities be?

The Mannings will coach the seven-on-seven flag football game that will round out the Pro Bowl, but their responsibilities do go beyond that.

Peyton and Eli are also going to determine who participates in what skills competitions to accrue points over the course of the weekend leading up to the Pro Bowl.

Peyton in particular was a strong proponent of the Pro Bowl during his playing days, speaking out on its value in 2013.

"Don't tell me there's not great value in that conversation," Manning said then, per NFL.com. "If they cancel this, then I think the NFL will lose that. Is there monetary value in that conversation? I would argue yes. I would argue that's helping keep the NFL as great as it is. So I'd hate for it to be canceled."

Now, Manning gets to be part of it once again. His role is just going to be very different.

Peyton and Eli Manning coaching staffs

Both Peyton and Eli won't be doing this alone. They'll have defensive and offensive coordinators as well.

AFC coaches

Name Position
Peyton Manning Head Coach
Diane Flores Offensive Coordinator
Ray Lewis Defensive Coordinator

NFC coaches

Name Position
Eli Manning Head Coach
Vanita Krouch Offensive Coordinator
DeMarcus Ware Defensive Coordinator

Flores and Crouch are the quarterbacks for the Mexico and United States women's flag football teams, respectively, hence their roles. 

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.