The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday – a result that made a change to the NFC’s running backs for the Pro Bowl Games.

With running back Christian McCaffrey advancing with the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, he won’t participate in the Pro Bowl Games on Sunday.

To fill McCaffrey’s roster spot, the NFL has chosen Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs becomes the second rookie from Alabama appointed to the Pro Bowl Games rosters since the original teams were announced. Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson replaced Maxx Crosby on the AFC roster when the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end withdrew after having knee surgery.

With Gibbs and Anderson, eight rookies from Alabama have received Pro Bowl recognition as rookies, following Derrick Thomas in 1989, Eddie Lacy in 2013, C.J. Mosley in 2014, Amari Cooper in 2015 and Najee Harris and Mac Jones in 2021. In addition, Joe Namath went to the AFL All-Star Game after his rookie season in 1965.

The 12th player picked in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs ran for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries and caught 52 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games.

Gibbs became the 11th player in NFL history to run for more than 900 yards and catch at least 52 passes as a rookie, with former Alabama standout Najee Harris and former Sulligent High School and Auburn standout Joe Cribbs also among those who accomplished the feat.

As the Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in team history, Gibbs ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries and caught 11 passes for 94 yards. He scored one touchdown in each of Detroit’s postseason games this month.

Nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges were originally selected as Pro Bowl Games all-stars for the NFL’s 2023 season:

· Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville)

· Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama)

· Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama)

· Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)

· New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama)

Cooper has withdrawn because of an injury.

In addition to Anderson and Gibbs, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Auburn) was added as an injury replacement.

Last season, the NFL eliminated the Pro Bowl game and replaced it with the Pro Bowl Games, a skills competition and flag-football contest for the selected players.

The 7-on-7 flag football game featuring the Pro Bowl players will be held on Sunday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, as the culmination of a multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition in which all-stars will demonstrate their football and non-football skills in a variety of events.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.