East–West Shrine Bowl

History

20th century

For most of its history, the game was played in the San Francisco Bay Area, usually at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium or Stanford Stadium at Stanford University, with Pacific Bell Park/SBC Park (now Oracle Park) as a host in its final years in Northern California. For more than half of the games played in the Bay Area, entertainment was provided by the marching band from Santa Cruz High School.

In January 1942, the game was played in New Orleans, due to the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This one-year relocation was based upon fears that playing the game on the West Coast could make the contest and the stadium a potential target for an additional attack. The game, originally planned for January 1 in San Francisco, was played on January 3 at Tulane Stadium, two days after the 1942 Sugar Bowl was held there.

During this era, the game was not restricted to college seniors—for example, the January 1944 edition of the game featured Robert Hoernschemeyer, Dean Sensanbaugher, and Herman Wedemeyer, each then college freshmen.

A similar all-star game, the North–South Shrine Game, was played in Miami from 1948 to 1973, and a final time in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1976.

Logo

Prior to the 50th edition of the game, contested in December 1974, a player from the Boston College Eagles, running back Mike Esposito, was photographed at Shriners Hospitals for Children in San Fran­cisco holding the hand of a young patient while walking down a hallway—the photo was adapted as the Shrine Bowl logo. Esposito and the former patient, Nicole Urteaga, met again prior to the 100th edition of the game, played in January 2025.

21st century

In 2006, the game moved to Texas, leaving the San Francisco Bay area for the first time since 1942, and was played at the Alamodome in San Antonio. In 2007, the game relocated to Houston and was played at Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, to be closer to one of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children; Texas has two Shriner's hospitals, one in Houston and the other in Galveston. The 2008 and 2009 games were held at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston.

In 2010, the game moved to Florida, and was held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Television coverage moved from ESPN/ESPN2 to the NFL Network, starting with the 2011 game. After two years in Orlando, the 2012 game was held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg; it was the sixth different venue (in five cities and three states) in a span of eight contests.

Starting with the January 2017 game, the NFL supplies coaching staffs for the game, drawing from assistant coaches of teams who did not advance to the NFL postseason, and the game is now officiated by NFL officials. The game is played under NFL rules, with some restrictions, such as no motion or shifts by the offense, and no stunts or blitzes by the defense. Prior to the January 2020 playing, organizers renamed the game from East–West Shrine Game to East–West Shrine Bowl.

The 2021 edition of the game, which had been scheduled for January 23, was cancelled due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2021, it was announced that Allegiant Stadium would host the East–West Shrine Bowl on February 3, 2022; the game was scheduled as part of festivities for the 2022 Pro Bowl being held there the following Sunday.

The game moved to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, for its January 2024 playing. The 100th edition of the game, held in January 2025, was held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The January 2026 edition returned to Ford Center at The Star.

Game results

Through the January 2026 game (101 editions, 100 games played), the West leads all-time with 55 wins to the East's 40 wins, while 5 games have tied.

For the December 1925 game, NCAA records list a 7–0 final score,

MVP award

The game first named a Most Valuable Player for the January 1945 playing (Bob Waterfield, UCLA quarterback), and named a single MVP through the December 1952 game. Starting with the January 1954 game, two MVPs are selected for each game; they receive the William H. Coffman Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and the E. Jack Spaulding Award for Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Coffman was managing director of the game for 40 years, while Spaulding was one of the organizers of the inaugural playing of the game. MVPs starting with the January 2000 game are listed below.

Canadian football invitees

Although the game is an American football competition, a limited number of players of Canadian university football, contested under Canadian football rules, have participated since 1985. The first Canadian football participant was offensive lineman Tom Spoletini of the Calgary Dinos, who played in the January 1985 game.

Usually, Canadian players on the West team come from Canada West schools, while Canadian players on the East team are from the other three Canadian conferences (Ontario University Athletics, Atlantic University Sport, and Quebec Student Sport Federation). One exception was Sean McEwen of the Calgary Dinos (a Canada West school), who played on the East squad in the 2016 game. The only Canadian team that competed under American football rules is the now-defunct Simon Fraser Red Leafs; the only Simon Fraser player to be invited to the game was Ibrahim Khan, who played in 2004.

In 2024, the lone Canadian invitee was Qwan'tez Stiggers, an American who did not play college football but instead became a professional player for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Through the 2024 game, the Calgary Dinos had the most invitees, with 13. The 2025 and 2026 games have included Canada-born invitees from US-based college programs.

For the 2025 game, quarterback Kurtis Rourke was invited; a native of Ontario and a player for the Indiana Hoosiers, he was unable to participate due to injury.

Hall of Fame

A hall of fame was established in 2002, with additional inductees typically named in the weeks leading up to each annual playing. Through the January 2026 edition, 67 players have been named to the hall of fame.

Inductees range from having played in game No. 10 (January 1935) to game No. 81 (January 2006), with game No. 48 (December 1972) having the most players honored, five.

Pat Tillman Award

Game organizers initiated a Pat Tillman Award in 2005, the year that Tillman was posthumously inducted to the game's hall of fame, to recognize "a player who best exemplifies character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service."

All-Century Team

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the East–West Shrine Bowl announced its All-Century Team. Listed in alphabetical order: B — Herb Adderley, Michigan State

OT/G — Larry Allen, Sonoma State

DL — Jared Allen, Idaho State

DB — Steve Atwater, Arkansas

E — Raymond Berry, SMU

QB — Tom Brady, Michigan

LB — Robert Brazile, Jackson State

OLB — Willie Brown, Temple

DE — Tedy Bruschi, Arizona

DL — Nick Buoniconti, Notre Dame

C — Dick Butkus, Illinois

DB — Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech

Q — Earl "Dutch" Clark, Colorado College

T — George Connor, Notre Dame

B — Larry Csonka, Syracuse

DT — Curley Culp, Arizona State

QB — Randall Cunningham, UNLV

LB — Fred Dean, Louisiana Tech

OT — Joe DeLamielleure, Michigan State

T — Dan Dierdorf, Michigan

E — Mike Ditka, Pittsburgh

DL — Chris Doleman, Pittsburgh

B — Bill Dudley, Virginia

Q — Tony Dungy, Minnesota

T — Albert Glen "Turk" Edwards, Washington State

T — Carl Eller, Minnesota

Q — John Elway, Stanford

OB — Brett Favre, Southern Mississippi

E — Tom Fears, UCLA

B — Jim Finks, Tulsa

G — Dan Fortmann, Colgate

RB — Eddie George, Ohio State

B — Frank Gifford, UCLA

DT — La’Roi Glover, San Diego State

DT — Joe Greene, North Texas

T — Forrest Gregg, SMU

OL — Russ Grimm, Pittsburgh

B — John Hadl, Kansas

LB — Jack Ham, Penn State

DB — Mike Haynes, Arizona State

E — Bill Hewitt, Michigan

B — Clarke Hinkle, Bucknell

B — Paul Hornung, Notre Dame

LB — Rickey Jackson, Pittsburgh

H — Jimmy Johnson, Santa Clara

G — Jerry Kramer, Idaho

B — Paul Krause, Iowa

T — Bob Lilly, TCU

G — Tom Mack, Michigan

E — John Mackey, Syracuse

OL — Logan Mankins, Fresno State

G — Gino Marchetti, USF

B — Ollie Matson, USF

B — George McAfee, Duke

T — Mike McCormack, Kansas

OL — Randall McDaniel, Arizona State

B — Hugh McElhenny, Washington

WR — Art Monk, Syracuse

B — Lenny Moore, Penn State

T — Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota

FB — Lorenzo Neal, Fresno State

T — Merlin Olsen, Utah State

DE — Alan Page, Notre Dame

H — Ace Parker, Duke

G — Jim Parker, Ohio State

RB — Walter Payton, Jackson State

E — Pete Pihos, Indiana

G — Les Richter, UC Berkeley

WR — Andre Rison, Michigan State

OT — Willie Roaf, Louisiana Tech

OC — Jeff Saturday, North Carolina

B — Gale Sayers, Kansas

WR — Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina

WR — Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State

OG — Will Shields, Nebraska

WR — Steve Smith, Utah

G — Dick Stanfel, San Francisco

B — Roger Staubach, Navy

TE — Ernie Stautner, Boston College

C — Dwight Stephenson, Alabama

T — Joe Stydahar, West Virginia

B — Charley Taylor, Arizona State

LB — Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina

MLB — Zach Thomas, Texas Tech

OLB — Pat Tillman, Arizona State

C — Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, Hardin–Simmons

CB/DB — Troy Vincent, Wisconsin

DE — Mike Vrabel, Ohio State

B — Doak Walker, SMU

B — Paul Warfield, Ohio State

— Bob Waterfield, UCLA

C — Mike Webster, Wisconsin

T — Arnie Weinmeister, Washington

WR — Wes Welker, Texas Tech

DT — Randy White, Maryland

OL — Andrew Whitworth, LSU

Q — Doug Williams, Grambling State

B — Larry Wilson, Utah

TE — Kellen Winslow, Missouri

C — Alex Wojciechowicz, Fordham

Notes

References

References

1. "Team Selection".
2. Brown, Susan D.. (January 13, 2005). "Dedicated to the band". [[Santa Cruz Sentinel]].
3. (January 16, 1941). "New Orleans Will Get Shrine Game, Kerr Announces". [[The Fresno Bee]].
4. (January 2, 1944). "Freshmen are Heroes as East, West Tie, 13-13". [[Chicago Tribune]].
5. "Story Behind the Logo".
6. "00th East-West Shrine Bowl Reunites Iconic Pair".
7. Marden, Andrew. (February 9, 2025). "The story behind the Shrine Bowl logo: Nicole Urteaga and Mike Esposito reunite for 100th annual game".
8. (January 21, 2008). "Utah State's Robinson shines in Shrine Game". Visalia Times-Delta.
9. Duncan, Chris. (January 19, 2009). "Shrine game a 'job interview' for aspiring pros". [[The News Journal]].
10. (December 6, 2010). "Future NFL Stars on Display as 86th Annual East-West Shrine Game Debuts on NFL Network in 2011".
11. (January 1, 2017). "League Partners with East-West Shrine Game for Development". [[Montgomery Advertiser]].
12. (January 20, 2018). "NCAAF 2017 East West Shrine Game".
13. (September 12, 2019). "East-West Shrine football announces name change".
14. (October 27, 2020). "2021 East-West Shrine Bowl cancelled due to coronavirus concerns".
15. "East-West Shrine Bowl heads to Las Vegas in 2022".
16. (June 2023). "Historic East-West Shrine Bowl Moves to Ford Center in Frisco in 2024".
17. (September 3, 2024). "Tickets On Sale for Iconic 100th East-West Shrine Bowl at AT&T Stadium".
18. (October 14, 2025). "Tickets On Sale Now as East-West Shrine Bowl Set to Return to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco".
19. "East-West Shrine Classic Games". College Football Data Warehouse.
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21. (February 1, 2024). "FINAL. 11 EAST 26 WEST".
22. (December 27, 1925). "West Triumphs Over East in Benefit Gridiron Struggle". [[Daily Press (Virginia).
23. (January 26, 2016). "West's Adams, Caputo named Most Outstanding Players".
24. "MVP Award Recipients".
25. Ambrose, Dominic. (January 27, 2024). "Player spotlight: Qwan'tez Stiggers unorthodox journey to the Shrine Bowl". Fansided.
26. Murray, Jack. (January 27, 2024). "Qwan'tez Stiggers: Being NFL Draftee Without CFB Reps Wouldn't be a 'Fairy Tale'". Bleacher Report.
27. (December 5, 2024). "Canadian QB Kurtis Rourke accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invitation".
28. (December 26, 2025). "Canadian offensive lineman Logan Taylor invited to East-West Shrine Bowl".
29. (2017). "Hall of Fame Inductees".
30. (January 19, 2010). "Groh '46 Set For Hall of Fame Induction".
31. Erickson, Nicholas. (August 2015). "Groh passed on chance at football fame for career in medicine".
32. (January 27, 2010). "Colgate alum inducted into Shrine Game Hall of Fame". Observer-Dispatch.
33. "Brett Favre, Willie Roaf and Gary Huff Selected to 2018 East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame".
34. (December 21, 2018). "Troy Vincent Sr. and Barry Smith selected to 2019 East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame".
35. (December 19, 2019). "Will Shields and Dan Pastorini selected to 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame".
36. (January 24, 2023). "Nate Burleson, Co-Host of CBS Mornings and The NFL Today, Inducted Into East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame".
37. (January 22, 2024). "Steve Sarkisian, Steve Smith, Sr. Selected to East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame".
38. (January 14, 2025). "Eddie George, Andrew Whitworth Selected to East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame".
39. Preisendorf, Matilda. (January 16, 2026). "Cowboys Legend Daryl Johnston Reflects On Shrine Bowl Legacy And Frisco Return".
40. "Pat Tillman Award".
41. (January 17, 2020). "Congratulations to @FIUFootball James Morgan (@Jmoneyyy12) for being named the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award".
42. (February 2, 2022). "Jack Coan. East-West Shrine Bowl Pat Tillman Award.".
43. (February 1, 2023). "Congratulations Derek Parish of @UHCougarFB, winner of the 2023 #ShrineBowl Pat Tillman Award".
44. (January 31, 2024). "Trey Taylor named East-West Shrine Bowl Pat Tillman Award winner".
45. "All-Century Team".
46. (January 14, 1996). "Frazier's passing helps West defeat East". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
47. (2025). "All-Time Owls in the Pros". Temple Owl Athletics.
48. "1941 NFL Draft Listing".
49. (June 7, 1945). "Former Football Star Dies In German Fighting". [[The Fresno Bee]].
50. "Santa Clara Athletic Hall of Fame".