NFL preseason officially kicks off next week, but the 2026-27 season is opening tonight as it always does, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.
On Saturday, Luke Kuechly and Larry Fitzgerald will be inducted into the Class of 2026, but first their respective former teams, the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, will face off in tonight’s preseason opener.
The matchup will mark the head coaching debut of Mike LaFleur, who was hired by the Cardinals in February after Jonathan Gannon was fired in January 2026.
2026 nfl hall of fame game: what to know
- Who: Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals
- When: Aug. 6, 8 p.m. ET
- Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio)
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
It’ll also be the NFL debut of Carson Beck, the former Miami Hurricanes QB who was picked up by Arizona in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Beck is making his first start at quarterback tonight.
Who is playing in the Hall of Fame Game?
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals are playing in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game.
What time is the Hall of Fame Game tonight?
The 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, Aug. 6.
How to watch the Hall of Fame Game for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Hall of Fame game for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes NBC as part of its 125+ channels.
You can also stream live NFL games with a subscription to Peacock, which costs $16.99/month after a seven-day free trial.
Who is in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame class?
This year’s Hall of Fame class includes modern-era inductees Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri, alongside senior inductee Roger Craig.
How to watch 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Induction
On Aug. 8 at 12 p.m. ET, ESPN and the NFL Network will present coverage of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. Both channels are among the networks offered in DIRECTV’s free trial.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
