CANTON, OH – AUGUST 03: The Hall of Fame logo at midfield of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium prior … More
NFL preseason action kicks off Thursday night as the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers play in the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
The game, which will be held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, begins the NFL’s 106th season. NBC Sports will air the game on NBC and Peacock starting at 8 p.m. ET. Play by play caller Mike Tirico will be joined by analyst Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Melissa Stark and rules analyst Terry McAulay.
The Lions, who won the NFC North in 2024 with a 15-2 record and are coached by Dan Campbell, will be the home team. Meanwhile, the Chargers, who finished last year with an 11-6 record, will be the away team. The Chargers are led by coach Jim Harbaugh, who was hired by the NFL franchise in 2024.
The Lions, who most recently played in the Hall of Fame Game in 1991, will make their fourth trip to Canton. The team holds a 1-2 record. The Chargers, who have a 0-1-1 mark in the annual preseason game, last appeared in 1994.
The first Hall of Fame Game was played in 1962 as the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals tied 21-21.
As part of this year’s festivities, four players will also be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, including Chargers legendary tight end Antonio Gates. The Detroit native spent his entire 16-year career with the Chargers where he had 955 receptions for 11,841 yards. He scored 116 touchdowns.
Other class members include cornerback Eric Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection who recorded 54 interceptions and scored eight touchdowns during his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, as well as defensive end Jared Allen, who recorded 136 sacks in a 12-year career. Allen, a Dallas native and five-time Pro Bowler, played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.
Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, who played his entire seven-year career with the Green Bay Packers, rounds out the 2025 Class, which will be inducted following the Hall of Fame Game. Sharpe had 595 receptions for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. His career was unfortunately cut short due to a neck injury.