Every football season has a quiet start before the noise begins. For me, that start is one special game played in early August.
The Hall of Fame game is the first preseason matchup of the NFL year, and it kicks off in Canton, Ohio. In one line, it is an annual exhibition game that opens the NFL preseason and leads directly into the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend.
I have followed this game for years, and I still look forward to it each summer. It marks the moment football finally returns after a long offseason.
This article will explain what the game is, why it happens in Canton, and which teams take part. You will also learn how it connects to the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony.
By the end, you will know exactly why this small game means so much to fans like me.
What is the Hall of Fame Game, and where is it played?
The Hall of Fame game is the first NFL game of the year. It is a preseason exhibition played in early August in Canton, Ohio, and it opens the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend.
I look forward to it every summer because it means football is finally back. The result does not count toward either team’s record. It is more of a warm-up than a real contest.
Two teams take the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which sits right next to the Hall of Fame museum. Coaches use the game to look at rookies, backups, and players fighting for a roster spot. For you as a fan, it is the first chance to watch live football after a long offseason.
Canton was chosen because it is the birthplace of the NFL. The league was founded there in 1920, in a car dealership where team owners first met. That history is the main reason the Hall of Fame and its game are based in the city.
The location ties the sport’s past and present together, making Canton a fitting home for this yearly event.
Why is the Hall of Fame Game Important to the NFL?
The Hall of Fame game is important because it officially opens the NFL preseason and signals that football is back. It serves as the lead-in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio.
It has been played since 1962, when the first edition doubled as a fundraiser for the construction of the Hall of Fame itself.
The game gives the league a way to honor its history while looking ahead to the new season, connecting current players and teams to the legends being inducted that same weekend.
One detail many fans miss: the result does not count toward either team’s preseason record. That is worth keeping in mind before you read anything into the final score.
It also holds value for the teams on the field. Coaches use it to evaluate rookies, backups, and roster hopefuls before final cuts. For the NFL, it brings early attention and excitement after months without games.
Beyond the action, the game supports the Hall of Fame itself by drawing fans and media to Canton, which helps celebrate the sport’s roots each year.
The History of the Hall of Fame Game
The first Hall of Fame game was played in 1962. The New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals met in Canton, and the game ended in a 21-21 tie. That first game was used to raise money for building the Hall of Fame itself.
The game moved to August in 1970, where it has stayed as the lead-in to the new season. From 1971 through 2010, it usually matched one AFC team against one NFC team.
Things changed in 2011. Since then, the NFL has typically picked teams with a star player headed to the Hall that same year.
This ties the game directly to the class being honored that weekend. The game has been canceled only a few times, including 2016 for poor field conditions and 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Teams Are Selected for the Hall of Fame Game
Team selection for the Hall of Fame game is based on a few key factors set by the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The choices often tie back to the players being honored that weekend.
Since 2011, every team chosen has had at least one prominent alumnus entering the Hall that year.
- Connection to Inductees: Teams linked to that year’s Hall of Fame class are often picked, especially if a star player spent his career with that franchise.
- League Scheduling: The NFL helps decide which two teams play, balancing fairness so the same teams are not chosen too often.
- Special Anniversaries: Franchises marking milestones, such as a major team anniversary, may get the nod to participate.
- Fan and Market Interest: Popular teams with large fan bases are sometimes selected to draw more viewers and ticket sales.
- Roster and Travel Logistics: Practical factors, such as training camp timing and travel distance to Canton, can also shape the final decision.
- Expansion debuts: The last four expansion teams added to the league each played the Hall of Fame Game as their very first game, which is a quiet piece of trivia most preview articles skip.
Hall of Fame Game Records and Notable Performances
Washington and the Raiders both own perfect records in their Hall of Fame Game appearances, while the Dolphins and Bills have yet to record a victory.
The Cowboys and Steelers are tied for the most appearances, with seven each.
| Distinction | Team(s) | Figure |
| Most appearances | Cowboys, Steelers | 7 each |
| Most wins | Bears, Washington | 5 each |
| Perfect record (multiple games) | Washington (5-0), Raiders (4-0) | 1 |
| Never Won | Dolphins (0-4), Bills (0-4) | 0 |
| Longest current drought | Carolina Panthers | Since 1995 |
One important reminder for anyone trying to use this game to predict the upcoming season: these records have little to no predictive value.
Starters usually play only a few snaps, if they play at all, making the game more of a roster evaluation tool than a true measure of team strength.
The best takeaway is often not the final score but the individual performances. Rookie development, position battles, and depth-chart competition typically provide far more useful insight than the outcome of the game itself.
Hall of Fame Week: Events Surrounding the Game
Hall of Fame week turns Canton into the center of the football world for several days. The energy builds steadily until it peaks with the main event everyone travels to see.
1. The Enshrinement Ceremony
This is the heart of the whole week. New members step on stage and give speeches about the people who shaped their careers.
Each speech feels personal, full of real stories instead of scripted lines. Some run long, but nobody seems to mind.
The ceremony usually lands a day or two before the Hall of Fame game, so the weekend flows from honoring legends to watching the next group of players take the field.
2. The Gold Jacket Dinner
Picture a room full of football royalty in matching gold jackets. That image alone tells you how special this dinner is. Each new inductee receives the jacket that marks them as a Hall of Famer for life.
Past legends return every year to welcome them, making the night feel like a reunion. The speeches here are shorter and warmer than the main ceremony.
It is less about the crowd and more about the bond between players across different eras of the game.
3. The Canton Grand Parade
Saturday morning belongs to the streets. The Grand Parade rolls through downtown Canton with floats, marching bands, and the new Hall of Fame class riding along.
My friend went last summer and said families lined the sidewalks hours early to grab a good spot. Kids reach out for high-fives as players pass by.
The parade is free and open to everyone, which makes it one of the most welcoming parts of the week.
Tip for visitors: Arrive early and bring chairs. Popular viewing spots near the start of the route fill up fast.
4. Fan Festivals and Museum Exhibits
Throughout the week, the Pro Football Hall of Fame museum stays busy from open to close. Visitors walk through exhibits that trace the sport from 1920 to today.
There are autograph sessions, interactive displays, and hands-on games for younger fans. Each room holds jerseys, trophies, and old photos that bring the past to life.
Families spend hours here without checking the clock. The museum ties the whole week together by reminding everyone why Canton holds this honor in the first place.
5. Concerts and Community Events
The fun spills well beyond the stadium and museum. Local venues host live music, food vendors, and neighborhood gatherings that run late into the evening.
These events give the week a relaxed, small-town feel that big sporting events often lack. Fans mix with locals, and the whole city seems to share one mood.
It is the kind of atmosphere that makes people book the same trip again the next year, long before the Hall of Fame game kicks off.
Hall of Fame Game vs. Other NFL Preseason Games
The Hall of Fame game looks like a normal preseason game, but a few things set it apart. It is the only one that airs nationwide rather than on local stations, and the teams that play it end up with one extra exhibition game compared to the rest of the league.
The biggest differences are timing and meaning, since this game arrives a full week before the regular preseason slate and is meant to anchor the enshrinement weekend.
| Feature | Hall of Fame Game | Typical Preseason Game |
| When it happens | Played in late July or early August as the NFL’s first game of the year. | After the Hall of Fame Game. |
| Why it matters | Serves as the symbolic kickoff to the new NFL season. | Helps teams test players, lineups, and game plans. |
| Broadcast | Usually shown nationally on NBC and partner networks. | Often shown on local or regional stations. |
| Record impact | Does not count toward the regular-season record. | Also, it does not count; it is an exhibition game. |
| Special event tie-in | Opens Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio. | No major ceremony tie-in. |
Common Criticisms and Challenges
The Hall of Fame game is not without its downsides, and fans, coaches, and players have raised valid concerns over the years. These challenges shape how the league and teams approach the event.
- Injury Risk: Starters and rookies can get hurt in a game that does not count, which worries coaches and front offices.
- Limited Star Playing Time: Top players often sit out or play only a few snaps, leaving fans paying for a game without big names.
- Low Stakes: Since the score does not matter, some viewers find the game less exciting than regular-season football.
- Extra Week of Work: The two chosen teams start training camp earlier, resulting in a longer, more demanding preseason.
- Weather and Field Concerns: Early August games in Canton can bring heat or poor field conditions that affect player safety.
- Scheduling Pressure: The selected teams lose preparation time, which some coaches feel puts them at a slight disadvantage.
Final Thoughts
The Hall of Fame game is more than just the first snap of the preseason. It is the moment football fans wait for all summer, tied to the players and history that make the sport special.
Now you know what the game is, where it is played, and why Canton holds such a meaningful place in NFL history.
If you watch from the stands in Ohio or from your couch at home, the game marks the start of something fans look forward to every year. It blends past legends with the next wave of players in one weekend.
So the next time August rolls around, you will know exactly why this game matters.
Have you ever been to the Hall of Fame game or watched it from home? Share your experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has a Team Ever Made its NFL Debut in The Hall of Fame Game?
Yes. Carolina debuted in the NFL in 1995 against fellow expansion franchise Jacksonville, winning 20-14 after holding the Jaguars out of the end zone from the 3-yard line in the final seconds.
How Much Do Tickets to The Hall of Fame Game Cost?
Prices Vary by Seat and Year, but They Often Start Higher than Regular Preseason Games Because of The Special Weekend Tied to It.
What was the Largest Crowd at a Hall of Fame Game?
The 1995 Panthers-Jaguars game drew a crowd of 24,625, one of the largest in the game’s history, at Fawcett Stadium, the predecessor of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
