Football is officially back.
The annual Hall of Fame game returns on Thursday, July 31, to herald in the start of the 2025 NFL season.
The NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game returns on Thursday nightGettyThis year’s match up will see the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions share the field in Canton, Ohio.
As always, the 2025 exhibition game features two teams associated with the players being inducted into the Hall of Fame — this year’s class includes Antonio Gates, Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe — but one legend missed out.
All four who made the cut will receive their gold jackets inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium two days after the Chargers and Lions kick off the new season.
But while football fans have been waiting all summer to see NFL stars step back on the field, at least one big name will be absent from the Hall of Fame game on Thursday.
Why is Justin Herbert not playing the Hall of Fame game?
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed earlier this week that his ‘traditional’ starters, such as quarterback Justin Herbert, won’t suit up for Thursday’s match up.
That decision is not a massive shock, as Los Angeles have three more opportunities for their stars to get in some reps as preseason progresses.
Trey Lance has been named starting QB for the Hall of Fame game, while veteran backup Taylor Heinicke will serve as the emergency quarterback as Herbert, one of the NFL’s highest-paid stars, sits out.
“He’s had a heck of a camp,” Harbaugh said of Lance, who was clowned by NFL legend Shannon Sharpe back in January.
“I just want to get Trey Lance game experience. With his career and then in college, he doesn’t have as much as most guys.”
The 25-year-old is expected to play into the third quarter before giving way to rookie DJ Uiagalelei, who went undrafted this year before being signed by the Chargers.
Lance is set to start the Hall of Fame game as Herbert is restedGetty Herbert will have a chance to suit up in later preseason gamesGettyNFL's Greatest......
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When did Trey Lance join the Chargers?
Lance signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Chargers upon arriving as a free agent in April.
As Harbaugh mentioned ahead of the game, he has limited NFL experience to date, after starting five-of-12 career games played with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys since being drafted four years ago.
To date, he has totaled 1,063 passing yards and five touchdowns, with four interceptions.
How to watch the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame game
This year’s Hall of Fame exhibition game between the Chargers and Lions will kick off at 8pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, July 31 in Canton, Ohio.
NBC is the broadcast partner for the event, with familiar faces like Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark expected to return to screens.
What are the season expectations for the Chargers and Lions?
The Chargers made the playoffs in 2024, but fell at the first hurdle with a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans in January.
Expectations will be high for the Chargers in 2025 after falling short in the postseasonGetty The Lions will also have hopes of making a deep playoff run this time aroundGettyLos Angeles, though, have high expectations heading into the new season.
They have a stellar offensive line, while rookie running back Omarion Hampton has already expressed hopes to form a dominant duo in the backfield with Najee Harris, to support $262.5m QB Herbert.
The Lions, meanwhile, will have dreams of a run to the Super Bowl.
After a memorable 2024 season that saw Detroit capture a franchise-best 15 wins, the minimum expectation should be a deep playoff run, even without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now head coach for the Chicago Bears.
However, racking up another 15 wins will be a tough ask, as the Lions face one of the league’s toughest schedules in 2025, with games against the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
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