The 2026 preseason has its first matchup set.
The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers will square off in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, to begin the 2026 preseason on Thursday, Aug. 6, the Hall announced Wednesday.
It's a fitting matchup considering Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Carolina's Luke Kuechly are among the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which also includes Drew Brees, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri.
"Both of these teams are eager to come to Canton to open their season and to celebrate members of the Class of 2026 who meant so much to their organizations," said Jim Porter, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame, in a statement.
Brees, Craig, Fitzgerald, Kuechly and Vinatieri will receive their Gold Jackets in downtown Canton the evening following the Hall of Fame Game, and will be enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 8, inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where the Cardinals and Panthers will kick off the the preseason.
The Cardinals have been designated as the game's home team and will feature a completely new look shepherded by rookie head coach Mike LaFleur. Arizona is led by tight end Trey McBride, whose 126 receptions in 2025 set an NFL single-season record by a tight end, and safety Budda Baker, who marked his eighth Pro Bowl campaign last season.
Carolina will appear in the Hall of Fame Game for the first time since the franchise's inception in 1995 when they played the Jacksonville Jaguars, a fellow expansion team making their on-field debut. The Panthers are coming off an NFC South title win in 2025 and are led by quarterback Bryce Young, who helped foster wideout Tetairoa McMillan's 2025 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
