The Chicago Bears are set to ignite the 2024 NFL season with an exciting preseason opener.
In a recent announcement, the NFL revealed that the Bears will face off against the Houston Texans in the much-anticipated Hall of Fame Game. This event, scheduled for Thursday, August 1, in Canton, Ohio, will kickstart the preseason at 7 p.m. The game is a highlight of Enshrinement Week, celebrating the new inductees into the Hall of Fame.
Tickets for this thrilling matchup will become available on Friday, April 12, at 9 a.m., with details on the broadcasting partner to be disclosed later this spring.
The selection of the Bears for the Hall of Fame Game was a fitting choice, given that three of the team’s former stars — Steve McMichael, Devin Hester, and Julius Peppers — are among the seven legends to be honored in the Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 3. The induction is particularly poignant for McMichael, who has been battling ALS since 2021. Following the announcement of his Hall of Fame induction in February, his family expressed hope that he would be able to attend the August ceremony.
Andre Johnson, a standout from the Texans, will also be celebrated as the first player from the franchise to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Alongside him, Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, and Patrick Willis will be honored.
Both the Bears-Texans game and the enshrinement ceremony will take place at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, located next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton — the cradle of the NFL.
The Bears, who ended the 2023 season on a high note with five wins in their last eight games, will play as the home team and occupy the south sideline bench. The Texans, after clinching the AFC South title and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs last season, will be the visitors on the north sideline.
Jim Porter, President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, expressed his enthusiasm for the game, highlighting the strong finish of both teams in the 2023 season and their promising prospects for 2024. He also noted the significant support Bears fans have shown for their Hall of Famers, with three more Bears legends being inducted this year, and the excitement for Texans fans to witness their franchise’s first Hall of Famer.
This game marks the Bears’ sixth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game, with their last participation in 2018 ending in a narrow 17-16 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. Historically, the Bears have found success following their appearances in this game, reaching the playoffs each of the last four times they’ve participated.
The Hall of Fame Game will be the first of four preseason games for the Bears, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating season.
For more details on the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week, visit the official Pro Football Hall of Fame website.