Football is finally back. Well, sort of. If you've been staring at a blank calendar since February, you know the feeling of that first summer Thursday when the lights actually turn on at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. It's Canton. It's Ohio. It's the smell of fresh-cut grass and the sound of pads popping for the first time in what feels like a decade.
The Hall of Fame Game 2025 teams are the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Honestly, this is a pretty juicy matchup for an exhibition game. Usually, we're stuck watching third-stringers from teams nobody expects to do much. Not this year. The NFL actually picked two legitimate heavyweights.
The Lions are coming off a monster 2024 season where they went 15-2 and grabbed the #1 seed in the NFC. They're the "home" team for this one. On the other side, you've got Jim Harbaugh and his Chargers. They fought through a tough schedule last year to hit 11-6 and a Wild Card spot. Both teams are looking at Super Bowl LX as a real possibility, not just a pipe dream.
Why These Two Teams?
The NFL doesn't just pull names out of a hat for this game. They look for connections. Specifically, they look at who is getting a Gold Jacket that weekend.
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The Antonio Gates Factor
You can't talk about the Hall of Fame Game 2025 teams without mentioning Antonio Gates. The guy is a legend. He spent his entire 16-year career with the Chargers, racking up 116 touchdowns—the most ever for a tight end. Seeing the Bolts on the field while Gates joins the immortals? It just makes sense.
He’s the 12th person from the Chargers organization to make it in. Think about that. He’s joining guys like Dan Fouts and LaDainian Tomlinson. It’s a huge deal for the fans in powder blue who made the trip to Ohio.
The Class of 2025
It’s a small class this year. Only four guys. But man, they are heavy hitters:
- Antonio Gates (TE, Chargers)
- Sterling Sharpe (WR, Packers)
- Jared Allen (DE, Vikings/Chiefs/Bears/Panthers)
- Eric Allen (DB, Eagles/Saints/Raiders)
The Lions aren't here because of a specific inductee this year, but they're basically the kings of the NFC North right now. Putting them in the kickoff game is a nod to how far Dan Campbell has brought this franchise.
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What Actually Happens in the Game?
Let’s be real for a second. You aren't going to see Jared Goff or Justin Herbert out there for long. If they even suit up, they’ll probably play one series and then spend the rest of the night wearing headsets and eating sunflower seeds on the sideline.
This game is for the "bubble" guys.
The Lions have some new faces in the headset department. Both offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard are taking over after Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn moved on to head coaching gigs. This is their first real test. Sure, the play-calling is "vanilla," but the communication has to be crisp.
For the Chargers, it's about seeing who fits Jim Harbaugh’s "toughness" mold. They have a seventh-round defensive back named Trikweze Bridges who a lot of scouts are keeping an eye on. And for Detroit? Keep your eyes on undrafted wide receiver Jackson Meeks. He’s the nephew of an ex-Lions pass rusher, so the bloodline is there.
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A Weird History
Neither of these teams has been to Canton since 1994. That's a long time.
The Chargers actually hold a weird record from their 1980 appearance. They played the Packers in the only scoreless game in Hall of Fame history. It got rained out in the fourth quarter. Let's hope the 2025 weather is a bit more cooperative.
The Schedule for Enshrinement Week
The game is just the appetizer. If you're heading to Canton, here is how the rest of the week looks:
- July 31: The Hall of Fame Game (Lions vs. Chargers) at 8 p.m. ET.
- August 1: The Gold Jacket Dinner. This is where the legends get their coats. It’s emotional. Lots of grown men crying.
- August 2: The Enshrinement Ceremony. This is the big one. The speeches. The bronze busts.
- August 3: Concert for Legends. This year it's Nickelback. Love 'em or hate 'em, they know how to put on a show.
How to Watch
If you aren't in Ohio, you're probably watching on NBC or Peacock. The usual crew is back—Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark.
The game ended up being a bit of a blowout, with the Chargers taking down the Lions 34-7. It was sloppy, which is expected for July, but the Chargers' depth really showed out.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Check the Rosters: Before the game, look at the undrafted free agent list. These are the guys who will play 90% of the snaps.
- Watch the Coordinators: For the Lions, watch how the sideline looks. Is it chaotic? Is the communication smooth? This tells you more about the regular season than the score does.
- Fantasy Sleepers: Keep an eye on the second-string running backs. Injuries happen in August, and the guy who looks good in Canton is often the guy who gets the call in September.
The Hall of Fame Game 2025 teams reminded us why we love this sport. It’s not always about the superstars. Sometimes it’s about the guy fighting for a roster spot in the fourth quarter under the lights of a high school-sized stadium in Ohio. That's football.
Next Steps for You:
If you're planning a trip for next year, you should check out the official Pro Football Hall of Fame ticketing site early in April. Packages usually include the game, the enshrinement, and museum access. Also, if you missed the live broadcast, you can catch the full replay on NFL+ to see which rookies actually stood out in the second half.