The NFL offseason ends sooner than the schedule suggests, because the season effectively starts twice — once in Canton, then again a week later for everyone else. Here are both dates.
August 6: The Hall of Fame Game
| Date | Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| Matchup | Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers |
| Time | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
| Venue | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio |
Why the Cardinals and Panthers?
The Hall of Fame Game is not a random draw — it is tied to the incoming class. The Class of 2026 features two men who played their entire careers for one franchise: Larry Fitzgerald with Arizona and Luke Kuechly with Carolina. Their teams get the game.
The full class — Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri — is recognised on the field during pregame, then enshrined two days later on Saturday, August 8.
One practical consequence: because Arizona and Carolina play in Canton, they each play four preseason games while the other 30 teams play three.
August 13–29: The Three-Week Preseason
The main preseason schedule runs August 13 through August 29. Week 1 opens Thursday, August 13:
- 7:00 p.m. ET — Detroit at Cincinnati · Green Bay at Pittsburgh
- 7:30 p.m. ET — Indianapolis at New England
- 8:00 p.m. ET — L.A. Chargers at Houston · Arizona at Las Vegas
- 9:00 p.m. ET — Tennessee at San Francisco
Preseason games are broadcast through a mix of national windows and local team networks; individual kickoff times and TV assignments for Weeks 2 and 3 are confirmed closer to each week.
What Preseason Is Actually For
Starters play sparingly — often a series or two, sometimes not at all. The real business is the roster cut to 53: undrafted rookies, depth linemen and backup quarterbacks are auditioning for jobs, which is why position battles are the thing worth watching. Our starting quarterback tracker for all 32 teams follows the ones still open.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does the 2026 NFL preseason start?
Thursday, August 6 with the Hall of Fame Game. The regular preseason runs August 13–29.
Who plays in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game?
Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers, 8 p.m. ET on NBC in Canton, Ohio.
Why were those teams picked?
Hall of Fame inductees Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals) and Luke Kuechly (Panthers) each spent their whole careers with those franchises.
How many preseason games does each team play?
Three — except Arizona and Carolina, who play four because of the Hall of Fame Game.
Schedule details per the NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame, NBC and FBSchedules, 2026; Week 2 and 3 kickoff times and TV assignments are confirmed closer to each week. Photo: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium by Engineerchange, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
