The 2024 installment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is set for Thursday, Aug. 1 when the Chicago Bears take on the Houston Texans to begin Enshrinement Week in Canton, OH. and formally kickoff the NFL preseason.
While NFL fans are familiar with the annual game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, many do not know the history behind the event.
Here's everything fans need to know about the Hall of Fame Game and the fun tradition that welcomes football back into the fold for the fall.
When Was the First Hall of Fame Game?
The first Hall of Fame Game was held on Aug. 11, 1962 when the New York Giants played against the St. Louis Cardinals. The game was held to commemorate the groundbreaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. The teams played to a 21-21 tie.
The game was so popular that a new tradition was born, and the game has been held annually ever since to kick off the preseason.
Has the Hall of Fame Game Always Been Played in August?
It actually has not. In fact, in the early days of the Hall of Fame Game, the matchup would take place not only in August, but even in July or September. The last non-August edition of the Hall of Fame Game was on July 31, 2000 when the New England Patriots defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-0.
Has There Ever Been a Hall of Fame Game Cancellation?
The game has been cancelled, or simply not held, on four different occasions since the game's inception. There was no Hall of Fame Game in 1966 due to the AFL-NFL merger. In 2011, the game was not played thanks to the labor dispute between the owners and the NFL Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The third occurrence, and perhaps most controversial, was in 2016 when the game was formally cancelled just over an hour before kickoff due to subpar field conditions. The paint that was used for the logos on the field and in the end zones had a reaction to the newly installed turf at Tom Benson Field, leading to a slick playing surface that was determined to be unsafe for the players. Stadium personnel tried to remedy the issue on the morning of kickoff, but could not get the field ready in time, leading to a late cancellation a disaster for the NFL.
The fourth and final time that the game has not been held since its inception in 1962 was in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers was carried forward to the 2021 Hall of Fame Game.
A New Tradition Was Born in 2011
Historically, the teams picked to play in the Hall of Fame Game were selected by the NFL in advance of the announcement of the full preseason schedule. Typically, the announcement of the franchises competing in the Hall of Fame Game is delivered when the individuals selected for the Hall of Fame are formally announced.
Beginning in 2011, the league started a new tradition of selecting teams for the Hall of Fame Game that had prominent players in franchise history being inducted into Canton that year. In 2024, Bears star return man Devin Hester and Texans star receiver Andre Johnson are both being enshrined, which is why these two teams were selected to play in the latest installment of the Hall of Fame Game.
How Many Current NFL Franchises Have Played in the Hall of Fame Game?
All 32 current NFL franchises have participated in the Hall of Fame Game. The Baltimore Ravens (formerly of Cleveland) were the last team remaining out of the 32 teams that had not played in a Hall of Fame Game before participating in the 2018 matchup against the Bears.
Which Teams Have Played in the Most Hall of Fame Games?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys have each appeared in the Hall of Fame Game seven times. The teams last played in the Hall of Fame Game in 2021, against each other. The Steelers beat the Cowboys 16-3 in that matchup, which was the first Hall of Fame Game since '19 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which Team Has Won the Most Hall of Fame Games?
Washington has won five Hall of Fame games, which is the most all-time. Their last win came in 2008 against the Indianapolis Colts, 30-16.
The Steelers, Bears and Raiders have each won four Hall of Fame games, and the Bears have a chance to pull into a tie with Washington for first in Hall of Fame Game wins with a victory over the Texans on Aug. 1.
Full List of Hall of Fame Game Matchups and Results
Here is the full list of Hall of Fame Game Matchups and Results:
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Hall of Fame Game History & Full List of Winners.
