The sky over Canton looked like a bruised peach before the rain started coming down in sheets. Honestly, if you’re a football fan, that smell of wet grass and the sight of those yellow goalposts means one thing: the long, dry summer of baseball and trade rumors is finally over. The 2024 Hall of Fame Game wasn't exactly a high-scoring masterclass. It was messy. It was shortened by weather. But for anyone tracking the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans, it was the first real look at how these rosters were actually going to breathe in 2024.
People usually write off this game. They say it’s for the "bubble guys" or the fans who’ve traveled five hours to see a bronze bust of Julius Peppers. They aren't wrong, but they're missing the subtext. This specific matchup at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium wasn't just about the 21-17 final score in favor of the Bears. It was the debut of the NFL’s massive gamble on the "Dynamic Kickoff" rule.
The Night the NFL Changed Forever (Sorta)
You’ve probably seen the highlights of kickers actually having to make tackles now. Or maybe you haven't. The 2024 Hall of Fame Game was the official laboratory for the most significant rule change in a generation. Before this, the kickoff was basically a commercial break where players ran 40 yards just to wave at each other. Now? It’s a cluttered, tactical mess of bodies lined up just five yards apart.
Watching it live in Canton felt weird. The Texans' first kickoff landed in the "landing zone," and suddenly, the physics of the game shifted. No more head-on collisions at 20 miles per hour. Instead, it looked more like a giant game of "Red Rover" played by 250-pound athletes. Special teams coaches like Chicago’s Richard Hightower had been sweating this all summer. You could tell. The players were hesitant, trying to figure out the timing. It’s basically a localized run play now. If you’re a fantasy football nerd, this game was the first hint that field position might actually matter again.
Brett Rypien and the Art of the Backup
Let’s talk about Brett Rypien. Most people don't go to Canton to see a journey-man quarterback who’s bounced around the league like a pinball. But Rypien went out there and looked like prime Dan Marino for about thirty minutes. He threw for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
Think about that.
In a game where starters like Caleb Williams and C.J. Stroud were safely tucked away in hoodies on the sideline, Rypien was playing for his life. This is the nuance of the Hall of Fame Game that the casual viewer misses. For a guy like Rypien, or Collin Johnson—who caught two of those touchdowns—this isn't "preseason." It's a job interview with 31 other teams watching the tape. Johnson, specifically, was a monster. At 6'6", he was plucking balls out of the humid Ohio air like he was playing against middle schoolers. It didn’t matter that the rain eventually turned the field into a slip-and-slide; he was the best player on the turf.
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The Texans' Youth Movement
On the other side, the Texans weren't trying to win. Not really. DeMeco Ryans is a defensive mind, and you could see him testing the lateral speed of his depth linebackers. Davis Mills started at QB, and he was... fine. He's a professional backup. He completed 10 of 13 passes, mostly short stuff to Teagan Quitoriano and Cam Akers.
Akers is an interesting story. After two Achilles injuries, most people thought he was done. Seeing him catch a touchdown pass in the 2024 Hall of Fame Game was one of those small, human moments that makes sports worth it. He looked quick. Not "2020 Akers" quick, but quick enough to carve out a role in a crowded Houston backfield.
Why the Rain-Shortened Ending Actually Mattered
With 3:31 left in the third quarter, the officials called everyone off the field. Lightning. The game was eventually called, which felt like a bit of a letdown for the fans who paid $100 for a ticket, but it was the right move. The turf was becoming a hazard.
But here’s the thing: that shortened clock actually helped the coaches. They didn't need a fourth quarter of "slop" ball. They had seen enough. Matt Eberflus had seen his depth receivers create separation. DeMeco Ryans had seen his rookie secondary players get beat on double moves—valuable lessons that don't cost you a playoff spot in August.
- The Attendance: 19,000+ people showed up.
- The Vibe: Emotional. Earlier that week, the city honored the Class of 2024, including icons like Devin Hester and Andre Johnson.
- The Takeaway: The Bears' depth is significantly better than it was two years ago.
The New Kickoff: A Messy Success?
If you were looking for a 50-yard return, you didn't get it. The average starting field position hovered around the 25 or 30-yard line. It felt "clogged." Because the kicking and receiving teams are so close together, the "holes" in the coverage close in a heartbeat.
Houston’s Steven Sims had a decent return, but you could see the frustration. Special teams players are having to unlearn a decade of muscle memory. They want to sprint. They're told to wait. It’s a mental game now as much as a physical one. If you're betting on the NFL this season, watch the first four weeks of special teams very closely. The teams that figured it out in the 2024 Hall of Fame Game are the ones that won't give up cheap touchdowns in October.
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Real Talk on the Hall of Fame Inductees
You can't talk about this game without mentioning the guys in the gold jackets. Seeing Julius Peppers standing there... the man is still a mountain. Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar—this class was heavy on defensive legends.
Gradishar waiting 35 years to get in is a travesty, honestly. He was the heart of the "Orange Crush" defense in Denver. When he spoke, or when his highlights played on the big screen, the crowd actually went quiet. It’s a reminder that while we obsess over the "new kickoff" or "Brett Rypien's passer rating," the game belongs to the guys who survived the era of leather-tough hits and no concussion protocols.
What This Game Told Us About the Regular Season
Don't overreact to the Bears winning. The 2024 Hall of Fame Game is a terrible predictor of regular-season success. However, it is a great predictor of roster construction.
The Bears' decision to move on from certain depth pieces later in the month started right here. They realized they had a surplus of big-bodied receivers. The Texans realized they needed more help at edge rusher than they thought.
Actionable Steps for Football Fans
If you're looking back at this game to understand the 2024-2025 season dynamics, focus on these specific areas rather than the box score:
1. Study the Kickoff "Void"
Notice how the returners are playing the "landing zone." The NFL is watching to see if this change actually increases scoring. If returns stay stagnant, expect the league to tweak the "touchback to the 30-yard line" rule mid-season or next year.
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2. Evaluate Depth WR Separation
Players like Collin Johnson proved that size matters in the preseason. When you're watching your own team’s depth chart, look for guys who can win one-on-one matchups without a complex scheme. That’s who makes the 53-man roster.
3. Respect the Weather Factor
The Canton rain proved once again that the NFL will prioritize player safety over finishing a preseason broadcast. For bettors, this is a reminder that "Under" totals in the Hall of Fame game are historically a smart move because of the high probability of experimental play-calling and unpredictable Ohio weather.
4. Track the "Andre Johnson Effect"
The Texans are playing with a different level of swagger now that they have their first true Hall of Famer. C.J. Stroud was on the sidelines soaking it all in. This game marked the beginning of Houston’s "arrival" as a perennial contender, not just a "spunky underdog."
The 2024 Hall of Fame Game was a wet, weird, and wonderful start to the year. It gave us a glimpse of a new era of special teams and reminded us that in the NFL, even the backups are capable of putting on a show if you give them a chance.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire for the names that popped in the second quarter—history shows at least one of them will catch a game-winning touchdown in December when a starter goes down. That’s the real legacy of Canton. It’s where the legends are honored, but it’s also where the "nobody" starts their journey to becoming a "somebody."