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For the first time since February’s Super Bowl, two NFL teams are lining up for all to see. Huzzahs are in order.
The NFL inches closer to its regular season with the annual Hall of Fame Game. Thursday’s preseason opener pairs the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, as new gold-jacketers Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly look on before their Pro Football Hall of Fame induction on Saturday. Here’s what to know and where to tune in.
How to watch Panthers vs. Cardinals in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game
- Venue: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — Canton, Ohio
- Date: Thursday, Aug. 6
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Fubo* (Stream Free Now)
* depending on local market
NBC is free over the air and streams with a Peacock subscription. This game is also available on mobile through NFL+.
What to know about this year’s Hall of Fame Game
Fitzgerald and Kuechly are going to be honored before kickoff, along with the other members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class. Quarterback Drew Brees, running back Roger Craig and kicker Adam Vinatieri round out this year’s inductees. Some of them will be interviewed during the pregame show or the game itself.
The Hall of Fame Game gets the NBC “Sunday Night Football” broadcast crew. Mike Tirico calls play-by-play, Cris Collinsworth is on analysis and Melissa Stark handles sideline updates and interviews.
The on-site “Football Night in America” pregame starts at 7 p.m. ET. It marks the studio introduction for longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. He joins Mike Florio, Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty and host Maria Taylor.
Few (if any) starters are suiting up Thursday night, but it’s still a meaningful look for players in pursuit of roster spots.
Arizona is the nominal home team in Canton. It’s the unofficial debut for first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, who leads the Cardinals after three seasons as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. LaFleur’s offense ranked No. 1 in both points and yards last year. He inherits a team in transition — former franchise quarterback Kyler Murray is now with the Minnesota Vikings, while rookie running back Jeremiyah Love arrives as the No. 3 pick in April’s draft.
How a ‘small scope’ will make Mike LaFleur successful in Arizona
Robert Mays
Fellow rookie Carson Beck will start under center. A third-round draft pick, Beck joins Arizona following a run to the College Football Playoff title game with Miami. He is third on the Cardinals’ preseason depth chart behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II.
Carolina counters with backup Kenny Pickett at QB in place of usual starter Bryce Young. Pickett went 20th overall in the 2022 draft and compiled a 14-10 record with the Steelers. He’s been a traveling backup for the past two seasons, spending 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles and 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dave Canales begins his third campaign as head coach of the Panthers. His team improved from 5-12 in 2024 to 8-9 and a division title last year. The Panthers hosted the Rams for a wild-card playoff thriller, which they lost 34-31 despite heroic efforts from Young and receiver Jalen Coker.
Hall of Fame Game history for Arizona and Carolina
Arizona is 1-3-1 in five previous Canton contests. It was a part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Game back in 1962, when the franchise was still based in St. Louis. That game ended as a 21-21 tie with the New York Giants.
The Cardinals were last here for the 2017 game. That year’s Hall of Fame class included Kurt Warner, who led Arizona to its lone Super Bowl appearance in the 2008 season.
Carolina is 1-0 in the Hall of Fame Game. The Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars played in the 1995 exhibition as brand-new franchises. Carolina won 20-14 thanks to an inspired goal-line stand in the final minutes. Future two-time Super Bowl champion Tyrone Poole also took an interception 85 yards to the house, which galvanized the sold-out crowd.
Cardinals and Panthers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly are two of the newest Hall of Fame inductees. (Bob Donnan / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)
These are the honorees who have contributed to each franchise — as players, coaches, team owners or executives. Names are sorted alphabetically.
Cardinals: 24
- Charles W. Bidwill Sr.
- Guy Chamberlin
- Jimmy Conzelman
- Don Coryell
- Dan Dierdorf
- John “Paddy” Driscoll
- Alan Faneca
- Larry Fitzgerald
- Edgerrin James
- Walt Kiesling
- Earl “Curly” Lambeau
- Dick “Night Train” Lane
- Ollie Matson
- Don Maynard
- Ernie Nevers
- Duke Slater
- Emmitt Smith
- Jackie Smith
- Jim Thorpe
- Charley Trippi
- Kurt Warner
- Roger Wehrli
- Aeneas Williams
- Larry Wilson
Panthers: 7
- Jared Allen
- Kevin Greene
- Luke Kuechly
- Sam Mills
- Julius Peppers
- Bill Polian
- Reggie White
Panthers vs. Cardinals updated odds
Courtesy of The Athletic‘s Katie Richcreek, deputing managing editor of sports betting:
These odds are within the range of what we would expect to see for the Hall of Fame Game.
The Cardinals and Panthers are only two weeks into training camp, and as is the case for the rest of the NFL preseason, starters will see limited playing time. That’s why Carolina is a modest moneyline favorite with around a 55 percent implied probability to win, and has only a 1.5-point edge on the spread. There hasn’t been a spread bigger than a field goal since 2015.
The over/under is higher than recent history; a Hall of Fame Game total hasn’t opened or closed above 35 points since 2019. Half of the last 10 Hall of Fame Game matchups went over.
The coin-flip nature of these odds reflect the coin-flop nature of this game — and why we’ll be staying away from betting it.
Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.
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