Football is almost back, as the 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game is just around the corner and it will kick off the 2023 pre-season.
The New York Jets are taking on the Cleveland Browns in this year’s curtain-raiser, which will be played at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Hall of Fame Village, in Canton, Ohio.
Aaron Rodgers reacts to New York Jets being on Hard Knocks
This year’s Hall of Fame Game will be Aaron Rodgers‘ first outing with his new team and it will take place at 20:00 ET on Thursday, August 3, as part of Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week.
What is the purpose of the Hall of Fame Game?
The very first NFL Hall of Fame Game took place back in 1962, with almost 16,000 fans watching a 21-21 tie between the New York Giants and St Louis Cardinals.
That game was held to celebrate the breaking of ground for the construction of the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, with that building officially opening in 1963.
Since then, it has been tradition for the Hall of Fame Game to be held around the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, with the two teams selected usually having strong connections with at least one of the figures entering the Hall of Fame.
Is the Hall of Fame Game a pre-season game?
Yes, the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game is a pre-season game. In fact, it’s the game which kicks off pre-season each year.
There have been a few exceptions when the NFL Hall of Fame Game hasn’t been played, especially in the 21st century.
There was no NFL Hall of Fame Game in 2011 (due to an NFL lockout), in 2016 (due to poor field conditions) and in 2020 (due to the coronavirus pandemic).
In every other year since 1962, it has been held and the most recent edition saw the Las Vegas Raiders defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-11 in 2022.
