Dan Campbell leads the Detroit Lions into Canton, Ohio this Thursday as the NFL officially returns with the annual Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The matchup, scheduled for 8:00 PM ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, marks the league's first on-field action of the 2025 preseason schedule.
Fans have been waiting months for football to return, and this traditional curtain-raiser provides the first glimpse of both teams since their offseason changes. The game will be available exclusively on NFL+ streaming service, giving subscribers their first taste of live football action since February's Super Bowl.
"Detroit" and "Los Angeles" enter the matchup with different expectations for the upcoming season. The Lions, coming off their recent playoff success, will likely use this early opportunity to evaluate their depth chart, while the Chargers begin a new chapter under their coaching staff.
The Hall of Fame Game traditionally features limited playing time for starters, with coaches typically using the extra preseason game to evaluate rookies and players fighting for roster spots. Don't expect to see stars taking many snaps - this one's about the guys on the bubble.
Interestingly, this exhibition kicks off a weekend of festivities in Canton, culminating in the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The game serves as the appetizer before the main course of celebrating football legends.
Beyond the on-field action, Thursday also features a slate of MLB games for sports fans, including the Rays visiting the Yankees, the Braves taking on the Reds, and the Rangers facing the Mariners in Seattle.
Will either team show anything revolutionary in their schemes, or will this be a vanilla gameplan showcase? The real value is simply having NFL football back on our screens after the long offseason drought.
