Cardinals and Panthers Kick Off the 2026 NFL Pre Season
The NFL officially opens the 2026 season with the annual Hall of Fame Game, as the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers take center stage to honor franchise legends Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Kuechly.
The wait is over as the 2026 NFL season officially gets underway with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, featuring the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
While the game's result carries little competitive significance, the event is one of the NFL's most cherished traditions, celebrating the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame while giving teams their first opportunity to evaluate young talent ahead of the regular season.
The Cardinals were selected because legendary wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald headlines the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Fitzgerald spent all 17 seasons of his career with Arizona, recording more than 1,400 receptions, over 17,000 receiving yards, and 121 touchdowns, cementing his place among the greatest receivers in league history.
Carolina's representative is linebacker Luke Kuechly, one of the most dominant defensive players of the last decade. A Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and seven-time Pro Bowler, Kuechly became the heart of the Panthers' defense and helped lead the franchise to Super Bowl 50.
Joining Fitzgerald and Kuechly in this year's Hall of Fame class are quarterback Drew Brees, running back Roger Craig, and legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Beyond the ceremony, the Hall of Fame Game provides coaches with their first extended look at rookies, undrafted free agents, and players battling for roster spots. Established veterans typically see limited action, making the spotlight shine on football's next generation.
Arizona enters the contest under new head coach Mike LaFleur, while Carolina begins another season with Dave Canales, who guided the Panthers to the NFC South title and a playoff appearance in 2025.
Random fact: The very first Hall of Fame Game in 1962 featured the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants, ending in a 21-21 tie. More than 60 years later, the Cardinals once again return to the game that traditionally launches a new NFL season.
