Panthers vs Cardinals Hall of Fame Game

The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals meet Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the annual preseason opener that starts the NFL exhibition schedule. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with NBC carrying the game and Peacock streaming it. Arizona is the designated home team under first-year coach Mike LaFleur, while Carolina enters after an 8-9 season that still produced the NFC South title. The game also sits inside Hall of Fame weekend, with the Class of 2026 scheduled for enshrinement on Saturday in Canton. ### Why are these two teams in Canton this year? The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced in March that Arizona and Carolina would play the 2026 game on Thursday, Aug. 6, in Canton. The matchup ties directly to this year’s Hall class: Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly are both being inducted. (profootballhof.com) Jim Porter, the Hall’s president and chief executive, said when the game was announced that both teams were eager to come to Canton and celebrate players “who meant so much to their organizations.” The Hall says Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Drew Brees, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri will be recognized on the field during pregame activities. (nfl.com) ### Which quarterbacks are expected to start? CBS Sports reported Thursday that Carson Beck is expected to start at quarterback for Arizona. NFL.com and the Panthers said Kenny Pickett will get the start for Carolina as he competes to secure the backup role behind Bryce Young. Dave Canales said Monday that Pickett would start the Hall of Fame Game, with undrafted rookie Haynes King also expected to handle snaps. (nfl.com) CBS Sports reported that Arizona’s rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will not play after LaFleur confirmed that decision on Wednesday. ### What else is new with these teams? (cbssports.com) Mike LaFleur is making his preseason debut as Arizona’s head coach after replacing Jonathan Gannon, according to CBS Sports and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall’s game page lists Trey McBride and Budda Baker among Arizona’s key returning players, while CBS Sports described the Cardinals as a team beginning a new era. (panthers.com) Dave Canales is entering his third season as Carolina’s coach after leading the Panthers to the NFC South crown at 8-9 in 2025, the Hall said. The Hall also said Bryce Young threw for more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, with seven touchdown passes going to Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. (cbssports.com) ### How unusual is the Hall of Fame Game itself? The Pro Football Hall of Fame says this is the Cardinals’ sixth trip to the game and Carolina’s first since the Panthers’ 1995 debut season. Arizona’s franchise also played in the first Hall of Fame Game in 1962, when the then-St. Louis Cardinals tied the New York Giants 21-21. (profootballhof.com) Yahoo Sports described the game as the clearest sign that football has returned, because it is the first preseason game on the NFL calendar. The Hall says the 2026 contest opens the league’s 107th season. ### Who is being inducted this weekend? The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 includes Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. (profootballhof.com) The enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Cleveland.com reported that Hall of Fame week began with the game and leads into Saturday’s ceremony in Canton. (uk.sports.yahoo.com) The Hall says tickets for the enshrinement are on sale now. Saturday, Aug. 8, is the next major date in Canton, when Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Craig and Vinatieri are scheduled to be enshrined at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. (profootballhof.com) (cleveland.com)