Getting ready for #ProBowl with @criscarter80 and John Randle pic.twitter.com/mqA39r2GYc
— Troy Vincent, Sr. (@TroyVincentSr) January 20, 2015
No Vikings will be playing in this year’s Pro Bowl, but two Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers with a combined 15 Pro Bowl appearances between them will partner up to lead one of the teams in this year’s game.
Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter, who went to eight straight Pro Bowls (1993-2000) was selected as an alumni captain for one of the teams. Carter selected a former teammate, defensive tackle John Randle, to serve as a co-captain of the defense.
John Randle is gearing up to coach the Pro Bowl with @criscarter80: http://t.co/48PGOpZ9F9 pic.twitter.com/ReotaQESzv
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 20, 2015
Randle also made six straight trips over many of those same seasons. The former Vikings defensive tackle – known for his intensity – told Vikings.com he plans to bring some of that same energy to the game as a coach.
“It’s a new way of looking at the Pro Bowl, so it’s almost like my first time at the Pro Bowl again,” Randle said. “I’m going to bring that non-stop hypeness to my guys so they know I’m going to be excited. They’re going to come out there and see me thrilled, as if I was a fan, a teammate. I’m going to be excited because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach in the Pro Bowl.”
Carter and Randle will be coaching against a team led by Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and his longtime teammate Darren Woodson.
Before last year’s Pro Bowl, the NFL changed the format for its annual all-star competition. Instead of the two teams divided by AFC and NFC, the teams are chosen in a draft from a pool of Pro Bowl players.
Randle said he and Carter have been working on their draft strategy.
“I know having Cris Carter on my side, I’m in good hands as always,” Randle said.
They selected their player-captains as Houston defensive end J.J. Watt and Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown.
The rest of the Pro Bowl rosters will be drafted on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be played on Sunday in Honolulu, Hawaii.
