The long summer wait for football is officially over as the 2026 NFL preseason begins this week. Before the regular season slate kicks off in September, the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game will be the first bit of action on August 6.
The game is meant to honor this year’s inductees, with the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals traveling to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
NBC Sports is set to broadcast the game with pre-game coverage starting at 7 PM ET.
Closer Look at the Hall of Fame Game Broadcasting Crew for 2026
Spearheading the broadcast crew is play-by-play veteran Mike Tirico, whose broadcasting career spans 39 years. As he enters his 20th season doing play-by-play, he remains one of the most tenured broadcast voices on television.
Tirico is one of the most versatile announcers in the industry. He serves as an Olympic host and NBA play-by-play announcer and has great experience covering golf and horse racing.
Joining him in the booth is his partner and color analyst, Cris Collinsworth, who has 36 years of broadcasting experience. He brings firsthand experience, having been drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 37th overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.
He played for eight seasons with the Bengals, finishing his career with 417 receptions for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns.
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As a duo, Tirico and Collinsworth have worked together for nearly nine years, first joining forces on NBC’s Thursday Night Football package in 2017. Following Al Michaels’ departure, the duo has been the lead booth for Sunday Night Football since 2022. In addition to their work on Thursday and Sunday Night Football, they have also called various playoff games and Super Bowl LX.
Completing the Hall of Fame announcers team is sideline reporter Melissa Stark, who has 30 years of experience in the industry.
Before the game-time team gets going, Football Night in America will get the evening started, headlined by Maria Taylor as host, as well as new NBC Sports addition Mike Tomlin, who’s joining the network for the season after leaving his position as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach after 19 years.
Rounding out the crew for the game day are analysts Devin McCourty and Jason Garrett, on-site analysts Jac Collinsworth and Rodney Harrison, and reporters Mike Florio and Chris Jones.
The coverage will primarily feature the Class of 2026 inductees Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri as they prepare for their enshrinement in Canton while the Cardinals and Panthers battle on the gridiron.
