It’s no secret football fans have issues with the NFL Pro Bowl.  There isn’t much hard hitting and seemingly very little desire to be there or win by either the AFC or NFC stars.  But the NFL gets it; they listen to and take care of their fans.  More evidence of this came yesterday, as the league took a giant step towards making the Pro Bowl a more meaningful event by announcing they’ll allow players to Tweet from the sidelines of the Pro Bowl (with the hashtag #ProBowl).  Read about it here, thanks to our friends at ESPN.

We talk about the NFL a lot in this space because there’s so much brands can learn from them – whether it’s preparation and behavioral lessons for talent, or multi-platform and fan interaction examples for entertainment brands and talent.

At the center of the NFL’s brilliance and world domination is the league’s ability to consistently evolve and adapt to the times, without losing its core identity.

The NFL was ahead of the curve years ago with their now-epic deal with DirecTV, while not blowing up relationships with CBS, NBC and Fox.

The NFL was first to broadcast games online and on smartphones, understanding that watching football games shouldn’t be limited to a TV set.

The addition of an NFL Network (and now “Red Zone” channel) has given fans a 24/7 outlet for the sport they love.

The league has turned “Draft Day” into a legitimate television event watched by millions.

Going back a long-time, the NFL saw the importance of fan interaction, and took the experience to a whole new level at stadiums.

While those are just a few examples to consider, this latest Twitter move is another signal of the NFL’s commitment to embrace technology to further enhance the fan experience with the league and its stars.  The NFL and their moves have numerous applications for entertainment brands and talent.

How is your brand evolving with the times, embracing new technology, and giving fans more access and control?

If you’d like a copy of the recent “Hashtag Mania” piece we wrote, which cites examples for how your brand or show can better utilize Twitter (and Facebook), let us know.