SAN FRANCISCO — For all that has been made of how the Pro Bowl has changed in recent years, going from a tackle football game to a flag football extravaganza, no one told Jerry Rice. The NFC coach ran a tight ship all week, herding his players from one practice drill to another, never letting them linger or cut up for too long. At one point, he and coaches discussed the possibility of conducting a walkthrough with the AFC squad, "to get better looks for what we want to do."

Rice and staff had a game to win, and that was his only focus, even using a tush push on the last drive of the game.

It paid off, with a 66-52 win for the NFC.

Garett Bolles, Broncos offensive tackle, of all people, made things difficult for the NFC all night, catching a pass for a touchdown, throwing a pass for a score, and running routes for 2-point conversions. There are no positions in the Pro Bowl Games, also evidenced by the fact Ja'Marr Chase played corner and picked off Jared Goff, returning it for a pick six.

"We even let Big Boy score two touchdowns on us, from Denver," laughed Horn after the win, slightly miffed that his defense allowed an offensive tackle to get open on them all night, but also too tickled to care.

"So yeah, it was fun though. Just guys being able to come out here and run around, play different positions and stuff like that is fun."

But the Pro Bowl is less about the score and more about pulling together some of the best in the game to congregate, test each other's skills, and forge relationships with each other in the offseason. So as soon as Rice released his players from practice and the games, it wasn't much of a surprise to find Horn with one of his best friends, Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon, showing no mercy as he, Sir Purr, and Freddie the Falcon put together a touch football game with Nixon's sons.

"They're my little dogs, man," said Horn, affection evident in his voice. "I've been knowing them since they were knee high. Keisean had little KJ when we was in college, and I had to show him a video yesterday on my phone.

"I'm like, 'You remember me?' He's like, 'No.' I said, 'Look at this video.' I showed him a video when he was like nine months old. He was like, 'Oh, maybe I do know you," laughed Horn, joking that now he's just the guy that won't give his friends kids any leeway in a touch football game.

After the intense grind that is the season, though, those in the Pro Bowl (Horn made his second straight this year) appreciate the three-day stretch for the time together just as much, if not more, than the honor that comes with calling oneself a Pro Bowler.

"It's cool, it's cool," remarked Horn, before having to start his answer over three different times thanks to multiple guys coming by to dap him up and say hello, reinforcing his point. "You know, one of the best parts of football, being on a football team is the locker room aspect and how many guys you get to know and know a lot about their life.

"So whenever you get to see guys from other teams and spend a week together, you may pick out some tips and you can ask questions, all that type of stuff. So it's fun."

Sanders excited to see Horn's progress

A different Horn from the Panthers was also on people's minds this week at the Pro Bowl. The late add quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, was asked about his college teammate Jimmy Horn Jr. during practice this week, particularly what the NFL needs to be on alert for from Horn.

In classic Shedeur Sanders fashion, the gregarious quarterback first walked around anything that could catch him in a bulletin board moment, joking, "I'm not here to know what the NFL knows or doesn't know. That's not what I'm here for."

But Sanders and Horn were teammates and close friends for two years, with Deion Sanders even claiming Horn as his favorite son. Horn, the Panthers' sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft, saw increased usage towards the end of the season, finishing with 19 touches for 177 yards from scrimmage, converting seven total first downs.

So while Sanders isn't going to pose what those in and fans of the league should know about Jimmy Horn, he is here to support his friend.

"I'm here to just be happy that Jimmy is in the league, and a lot of the receivers we did have just have the opportunity to get out there and have a chance to play and do everything."

Favorite moments from the Pro Bowl you may have missed on TV

The Pro Bowl Games are excellent television, but there are still things the cameras don't always catch. Here are some of our favorite moments from the Pro Bowl Games you may have missed.

—As a starter (received enough votes from fans, coaches, and players to be considered a first ballot), Jaycee Horn was the first corner on the field for the NFC defense. His assignment was Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. The two curled deep down the field (as deep as one can go on a 50-yard field when you're already past midfield), keeping each other locked up enough to ensure the ball didn't come that way.

Shedeur Sanders did indeed send the ball the other way, and as soon as Horn and Higgins realized it, the two circled back to each other, laughing at the coverage, and dapping each other up before jogging back to the line of scrimmage.

"We were just saying what's up to each other, talking about the money we was going to get, the winner was going to get from this game," ribbed Horn. And now, he gets to rub it in Higgins face for back-to-back years (the NFC also won last year).

"Oh yeah, back to back checks!"

—Around 10 mascots were on hand to keep fans entertained during commercial breaks, playing with kids and inciting general tomfoolery. During one such show, the groups of mascots split up to reenact some of their favorite big moments from film, and of course, no one embodies Rose from Titanic more than Sir Purr.

The Panthers' beloved mascot got to represent the fated starlet in the reenactment. Asked about the experience, he responded, "squeak squeakkk. Squeak squeak squeak."

—Brandon Aubrey has established himself as one of the best kickers in the NFL, routinely kicking a long of 60-plus each of his three seasons in the league, with a career long of 65-yards. But in the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, he took on an entirely new role: wide receiver.

Aubrey was quick to answer that, "definitely running routes," is harder. "I don't belong out there but just trying to earn my paycheck," he joked.

And the defender he drew? Well, Aubrey told reporters it was Jaycee Horn, but Horn laughed that was part of the game he did not recall taking part in.

"Oh yeah, I didn't match up with him, but yeah, that part of the game is crazy."