Chargers to kick off NFL preseason in Hall of Fame Game

Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times on Apr 23, 2025

Published in Football

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LOS ANGELES — Already planned for an early kickoff to Week 1 in Brazil, the Chargers will get an early start to their preseason too when they face the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, the NFL announced Wednesday.

The game will take place July 31 at 5 p.m. PDT to open the NFL preseason. The Chargers will honor former tight end Antonio Gates, who was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February.

Gates, the NFL's all-time leader in touchdown catches by a tight end and the Chargers' franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, will enter the Hall of Fame with Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Sterling Sharpe in the smallest class in 20 years. The Class of 2025 will be enshrined Aug. 2.

The Chargers have not participated in the Hall of Fame game since 1994, when they lost to the Atlanta Falcons.

After their three preseason games, the Chargers will begin the season on Sept. 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in just the second NFL regular-season game in South America. The full schedule will be released in May.