Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

Stadium	Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Location	Canton, Ohio, U.S.
First played	1962
2023 season
New York Jets 16 Cleveland Browns 21
2024 season
Houston Texans 17 Chicago Bears 21

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is an annual National Football League (NFL) preseason exhibition game in Canton, Ohio, held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The game is played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, part of the Hall of Fame Village and located adjacent to the Hall of Fame building. ^[1] The first game was played in August 1962, the year when ground was broken for the Hall of Fame, and it was used as a fundraiser for the construction project. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The game is generally held early in August and is used to mark the opening of the NFL preseason. It is anticipated by fans as the first NFL contest since the prior season's Super Bowl, held nearly six months earlier.

Team selection

 Canton

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Location in the United States

 Canton

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Location in Ohio

The two teams that play in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game are typically selected by the league in advance of the remainder of the preseason schedule. The participants are usually announced around the time that the new Hall of Fame members are announced, which coincides with Super Bowl week. Often, when a particularly notable player will be entering the Hall of Fame that year, a team with which he had been strongly associated may be selected to play in the game to help maximize attendance and publicity of the game itself.

From 1971 to 2010, the opponents for each game usually included one AFC team and one NFC team. In 2009, as recognition of the 50th anniversary of the American Football League, the game paired two AFC teams who were part of the "original eight" franchises of the AFL (1960), the Tennessee Titans (dressed as their previous incarnation, the Houston Oilers) and the Buffalo Bills, whose owner, Ralph Wilson, was inducted into the Hall that year. An all-NFC matchup was scheduled for 2011, ^[5] but it was canceled by the lockout; the following year, another intra-conference matchup of two NFC teams took its place. From 2011 onward, each team selected to play in the game has had at least one prominent alumnus being inducted into the Hall that year.

Since the Hall of Fame Game and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony are scheduled for the weekend before the normal NFL preseason season starts, both teams end up playing an additional exhibition game compared to the remaining teams in the league (formerly four, three as of 2021).

The last four expansion teams added to the league all played in the Hall of Fame Game as their first game. In 1995, expansion clubs Jacksonville and Carolina played each other, and Houston appeared in 2002. When the new Cleveland Browns returned to the league in 1999 with a rebooted roster, they played in the Hall of Fame Game.

The Baltimore Ravens, officially established in 1996 as a result of the Browns' relocation, did not play in the Hall of Fame Game until 2018. With the Ravens' participation, all 32 current NFL teams have at least one appearance.

Scheduling

Prior to the AFL–NFL merger, the Hall of Fame Game was played in August or September, in some cases at the end of the preseason. In 1970, it was moved to the beginning of the preseason. Prior to 2001, it was not uncommon for the game to be played in July. Since 2001, when the league permanently moved the start of the season to the weekend after Labor Day, the game has always been played in early August. In 2002, the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony was moved from the steps of the museum to the football stadium. This created a tight schedule between the ceremony and the game.

The 2011 game was originally scheduled between the St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears, but the game was canceled by an ongoing labor dispute that had disrupted nearly all league activity during the 2011 offseason. The two clubs had set a deadline of July 22 to ratify a resolution in enough time to prepare for the game: the league and players did not ratify the agreement until July 25, forcing cancellation of the game.

The 2016 edition, which was scheduled to be played between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, was canceled at the last minute for unsafe playing conditions. Mike Silver of NFL.com reported that on the morning of the game, it was discovered that the logos at midfield and the end zones had been painted using paint which was not intended for use on the newly installed synthetic FieldTurf. Subsequently, the paint had not fully dried, and officials heated the field to speed up the drying process, causing its rubber infill to melt; the affected areas were described as being slick and "like cement," making it impossible to get decent footing. Stadium officials attempted to address this issue by applying paint thinner to the turf before a Packers employee alerted them to a label warning that the substance could result in burns when exposed to skin. In deciding to cancel the game, the league and the Players Association cited safety concerns. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Both teams were told at 6:40 p.m. EDT, eighty minutes before kickoff, that the game was going to be canceled. However, fans in the stadium only learned of the pending cancellation via social media, and no official announcement was made until just before the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff, which was greeted by boos and jeering. ^[9]

The next year, in 2017, the game was moved to Thursday night, making it the first event of the Hall of Fame weekend: ^{[10] [11]} the game was moved prior to the ceremony to prevent a repeat of the 2016 incident, and has been maintained since. Immediately following the game, the stage and seating area for the Hall of Fame ceremony are erected in the stadium.

The game in 2020, which was scheduled to be played between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as all other preseason games, was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The matchup was held over for the 2021 game. ^{[12] [13]}

Television and radio

Unlike the majority of NFL preseason games, which air on local television stations, the Hall of Fame Game airs nationwide. From 1999 to 2005, the game was held on Monday night, televised as part of ABC's Monday Night Football package. It had previously been held typically on Saturday afternoons, except from 1963 to 1965 on Sunday afternoons, televised as part of ABC's Wide World of Sports package (still using the MNF crew). In 1998, the game was put in the MNF package, and played on a Saturday night, which served as a test run for the move to Monday night.

Since 2006, the game has largely aired on NBC as part of the Sunday Night Football package (which replaced MNF as the NFL's flagship primetime broadcast that season), except in 2007 (when NBC planned to air the China Bowl preseason game in Beijing, which was postponed and ultimately canceled) and in all Summer Olympics years (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024, 2028, and 2032) due to NBC's broadcast rights to the Games. In these years, the game is sold to one of the NFL's other media partners, such as NFL Network (under Thursday Night Football ), ESPN (under the current iteration of Monday Night Football), and Fox. ^[14] The 2024 game, which will be broadcast by ESPN due to the 2024 Summer Olympics, will be simulcast by ABC. ^[15]

2010s

• 2010 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Andrea Kramer
• 2012 (NFL Network) Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Stacey Dales
• 2013 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
• 2014 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
• 2015 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Paul Burmeister
• 2017 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Dungy (4th quarter only), Michele Tafoya
• 2018 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
• 2019 (NBC) Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Dungy (2nd half only), Michele Tafoya

2020s

• 2021 (Fox) Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, and Tom Rinaldi
• 2022 (NBC) Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark
• 2023 (NBC) Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark
• 2024 (ABC/ESPN) Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge

Game history

Date	Away team	Away score	Home team	Home score	Recap
August 11, 1962	New York Giants	21	St. Louis Cardinals	21	Recap [3]
September 8, 1963	Cleveland Browns	7	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	Recap
September 6, 1964	Baltimore Colts	48	Pittsburgh Steelers	17	Recap
September 12, 1965	Detroit Lions	3	Washington Redskins	20	Recap
August 5, 1967	Cleveland Browns	13	Philadelphia Eagles	28	Recap
August 3, 1968	Dallas Cowboys	24	Chicago Bears	30	Recap
September 13, 1969	Green Bay Packers	38	Atlanta Falcons	24	Recap
August 8, 1970	New Orleans Saints	14	Minnesota Vikings	13	Recap
July 31, 1971	Houston Oilers	6	Los Angeles Rams	17	Recap
July 29, 1972	Kansas City Chiefs	23	New York Giants	17	Recap
July 28, 1973	San Francisco 49ers	20	New England Patriots	7	Recap
July 27, 1974	Buffalo Bills	13	St. Louis Cardinals	21	Recap
August 2, 1975	Washington Redskins	17	Cincinnati Bengals	9	Recap
July 24, 1976	Denver Broncos	10	Detroit Lions	7	Recap
July 30, 1977	Chicago Bears	20	New York Jets	6	Recap
July 29, 1978	Miami Dolphins	3	Philadelphia Eagles	17	Recap
July 28, 1979	Dallas Cowboys	13	Oakland Raiders	20	Recap
August 2, 1980	San Diego Chargers	0	Green Bay Packers	0	Recap [n 1]
August 1, 1981	Atlanta Falcons	10	Cleveland Browns	24	Recap
August 7, 1982	Baltimore Colts	14	Minnesota Vikings	30	Recap
July 30, 1983	New Orleans Saints	14	Pittsburgh Steelers	27	Recap
July 28, 1984	Seattle Seahawks	38	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0	Recap
August 3, 1985	New York Giants	21	Houston Oilers	20	Recap
August 2, 1986	New England Patriots	21	St. Louis Cardinals	16	Recap
August 8, 1987	San Francisco 49ers	20	Kansas City Chiefs	7	Recap
July 30, 1988	Cincinnati Bengals	14	Los Angeles Rams	7	Recap
August 5, 1989	Washington Redskins	31	Buffalo Bills	6	Recap
August 4, 1990	Cleveland Browns	0	Chicago Bears	13	Recap
July 27, 1991	Detroit Lions	14	Denver Broncos	3	Recap
August 1, 1992	New York Jets	41	Philadelphia Eagles	14	Recap
July 31, 1993	Green Bay Packers	3	Los Angeles Raiders	19	Recap
July 30, 1994	San Diego Chargers	17	Atlanta Falcons	21	Recap
July 29, 1995	Carolina Panthers	20	Jacksonville Jaguars	14	Recap
July 27, 1996	Indianapolis Colts	10	New Orleans Saints	3	Recap
July 26, 1997	Minnesota Vikings	28	Seattle Seahawks	26	Recap
August 1, 1998	Pittsburgh Steelers	6	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	30	Recap
August 9, 1999	Dallas Cowboys	17	Cleveland Browns	20	Recap
July 31, 2000	New England Patriots	20	San Francisco 49ers	0	Recap
August 6, 2001	St. Louis Rams	17	Miami Dolphins	10	Recap
August 5, 2002	Houston Texans	17	New York Giants	34	Recap
August 4, 2003	Green Bay Packers	0	Kansas City Chiefs	9	Recap [ dead link ‍] [n 2]
August 9, 2004	Denver Broncos	17	Washington Redskins	20	Recap
August 8, 2005	Chicago Bears	27	Miami Dolphins	24	Recap
August 6, 2006	Oakland Raiders	16	Philadelphia Eagles	10	Recap
August 5, 2007	New Orleans Saints	7	Pittsburgh Steelers	20	Recap
August 3, 2008	Indianapolis Colts	16	Washington Redskins	30	Recap
August 9, 2009	Buffalo Bills	18	Tennessee Titans	21	Recap
August 8, 2010	Dallas Cowboys	16	Cincinnati Bengals	7	Recap
August 7, 2011	Canceled due to NFL lockout				Ref. [n 3]
August 5, 2012	Arizona Cardinals	10	New Orleans Saints	17	Recap
August 4, 2013	Miami Dolphins	20	Dallas Cowboys	24	Recap
August 3, 2014	New York Giants	17	Buffalo Bills	13	Recap
August 9, 2015	Pittsburgh Steelers	3	Minnesota Vikings	14	Recap
August 7, 2016	Canceled due to poor field conditions				Ref. [n 4]
August 3, 2017	Arizona Cardinals	18	Dallas Cowboys	20	Recap
August 2, 2018	Chicago Bears	16	Baltimore Ravens	17	Recap
August 1, 2019	Denver Broncos	14	Atlanta Falcons	10	Recap
August 6, 2020	Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic				Ref. [n 5]
August 5, 2021	Dallas Cowboys	3	Pittsburgh Steelers	16	Recap
August 4, 2022	Jacksonville Jaguars	11	Las Vegas Raiders	27	Recap
August 3, 2023	New York Jets	16	Cleveland Browns	21	Recap
August 1, 2024	Houston Texans	17	Chicago Bears	21	Recap [n 6]

Notes

1. The 1980 game was called with 5:29 remaining in the fourth quarter due to lightning.
2. The 2003 game was called with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter due to lightning.
3. The 2011 game was scheduled to be between the St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears, but was canceled due to the NFL lockout.
4. The 2016 game was scheduled to be between the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, but was canceled due to poor field conditions.
5. The 2020 game was scheduled to be between the Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. The 2024 game was called with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter due to lightning and torrential rain.

Appearances

Team	Games	W	L	T	PCT	Last appearance
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	4	3	0	.571	2021
Dallas Cowboys	7	3	4	0	.429	2021
Chicago Bears	6	5	1	0	.833	2024
Cleveland Browns	6	3	3	0	.500	2023
Washington Redskins/Commanders	5	5	0	0	1.000	2008
New York Giants	5	3	1	1	.700	2014
New Orleans Saints	5	2	3	0	.400	2012
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals	5	1	3	1	.300	2017
Atlanta Falcons	5	1	4	0	.200	2019
Denver Broncos	5	3	2	0	.600	2019
Minnesota Vikings	4	3	1	0	.750	2015
Philadelphia Eagles	4	2	2	0	.500	2006
Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts	4	2	2	0	.500	2008
Green Bay Packers	4	1	2	1	.375	2003
Miami Dolphins	4	0	4	0	.000	2013
Buffalo Bills	4	0	4	0	.000	2014
Las Vegas/Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders	4	4	0	0	1.000	2022
New England Patriots	3	2	1	0	.667	2000
San Francisco 49ers	3	2	1	0	.667	2000
Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams	3	2	1	0	.667	2001
Kansas City Chiefs	3	2	1	0	.667	2003
Detroit Lions	3	1	2	0	.333	1991
Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers	3	1	2	0	.333	2009
Cincinnati Bengals	3	1	2	0	.333	2010
New York Jets	3	1	2	0	.333	2023
Seattle Seahawks	2	1	1	0	.500	1997
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2	1	1	0	.500	1998
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers	2	0	1	1	.250	1994
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	0	2	0	.000	2022
Houston Texans	2	0	2	0	.000	2024
Carolina Panthers	1	1	0	0	1.000	1995
Baltimore Ravens	1	1	0	0	1.000	2018

• Most appearances

• 7 – Dallas Cowboys (1968, 1979, 1999, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021)
• 7 – Pittsburgh Steelers (1963, 1964, 1983, 1998, 2007, 2015, 2021)

• Fewest appearances

• 1 – Baltimore Ravens (2018)
• 1 – Carolina Panthers (1995)

• Most wins

• 5 – Chicago Bears (1968, 1977, 1990, 2005, 2024)
• 5 – Washington Redskins/Commanders (1965, 1975, 1989, 2004, 2008)

• Longest active streak without Hall of Fame Game appearance

• 32 seasons – Detroit Lions (last appearance in 1991)
• 29 seasons – San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (1994)
• 28 seasons – Carolina Panthers (1995)

References

1. "Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company Announces New Brand and Identity for Its Sports & Entertainment Destination Resort" (Press release). July 2, 2020.
2. "Hall of Fame ceremonies held at Canton". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. August 11, 1962. p. 8.
3. "Cards tie Giants, 21-21, in Hall of Fame Game". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. August 12, 1962. p. 6.
4. Robinson, Jacob; Russini, Dianna. "Scoop City: What you should know before the Hall of Fame Game". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 2, 2024.
5. "Individual Tickets & Festival Fan Packages". Profootballhof.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
6. Silver, Mike (August 4, 2016). "Hall of Fame Game cancellation: NFL made the right decision". NFL.com.
7. Demovsky, Rob (August 7, 2016). "Field conditions force cancellation of preseason Hall of Fame Game". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
8. "Hall of Fame Game fiasco: How the wrong paint, melted rubber, and caustic paint thinner nixed Packers-Colts". Acme Packing Company (SBNation). Vox Media. August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
9. Doyel, Gregg (August 7, 2016). "Doyel: NFL fans deserve better". The Indianapolis Star.
10. "Hall of Fame game moved to Thursday night to start preseason". ESPN.com. December 28, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
11. "What we learned from Broncos-Falcons in HOF Game". NFL.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
12. Smith, Michael David (June 25, 2020). "Hall of Fame Game canceled". ProFootballTalk.
13. Kilgore, Adam (January 3, 2021). "After 256 games and a few close calls, the NFL's pandemic regular season comes to an end". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved January 5, 2021.
14. Staff, S. V. G. (August 13, 2021). "Ratings Roundup: NBC Receives Least Watched Olympics in Primetime; NFL Hall of Fame Game Becomes Most-Watched Preseason Bout in Four Years". Sports Video Group. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
15. "ESPN/ABC to broadcast 2024 Hall of Fame Game featuring Bears, Texans on Aug. 1 | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved May 17, 2024.

• 2006 NFL Record and Fact Book . July 25, 2006. p.  401. ISBN   1-933405-32-5.
• "AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 4, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2006.

External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame American Football League Legacy Game
• All-time Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Results

40°49′12″N81°23′53″W / 40.820°N 81.398°W / 40.820; -81.398