On Tuesday morning, the NFL announced that the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears will play in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on August 1st. The game is viewed as the unofficial to the NFL season as it is the first contest of the year, be it the first preseason exhibition tied to the Hall of Fame Ceremony during that weekend. Chicago will participate because the franchise will have two players inducted in this year’s class, which include kick returner Devin Hester and defensive lineman Steve McMichael, as the Bears playing in the contest is a good sign of fortune for the upcoming season.
Since the inception of the Hall of Fame Game, starting in 1962, the Bears have played in the iconic contest five times since 1968 and have made the playoffs in four of those five years. Chicago played in Canton four times since 1968, including 1977, 1990, 2005, and 2018. Each of those years, the Bears would make the playoffs later that season, as they finished first in their division three of the four years and won a wild card postseason spot in 1977.
Playing in the Hall of Fame Game is viewed favorably by the coaching staff of teams participating, as it gives the team an additional preseason contest to analyze their roster. Additionally, the NFL franchises partaking in the early August contest are allowed to start their training camps earlier than others. Although starters rarely play in the game, as it is the first contest of the preseason, the extra time to prepare has allowed the participating teams to be more ready than others for the regular season.
The last three times Chicago has played in the Hall of Game, the team has won the NFC Central and NFC North division, winning 11 or more games in the respective seasons. In 1990, the Bears won 11 games as they had the fourth-best defense in the league, led by defensive rookie of the year in safety Mark Carrier, who recorded ten interceptions. Chicago defeated the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, 16-6, before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions, New York Giants.
In 2005, the Bears played the Miami Dolphins in the Hall of Fame Game as former defensive end Richard Dent was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Despite being expected to finish last in the NFC North by some respected NFL analysts, Chicago won 11 games with a rookie quarterback and having more rushing yards than passing yards. The Bears had the second-best defense, with linebacker Brian Urlacher named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Six years ago, With Urlacher being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Chicago was selected again to partake in the Hall of Fame Game with the Baltimore Ravens. Similar to 2005, the Bears were not expected to be good in 2018, but fortune changed a week before the start of the regular season as the team traded for All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack. With Mack, Chicago won 12 games as the defense was the best in the NFL, leading the league in sacks and interceptions.
Participation in this year’s Hall of Fame Game has a chance to be uniquely special for the Bears’ franchise for multiple reasons. As mentioned earlier, several former players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame that weekend, as it will bring two generations of the team’s storied culture together. Chicago will have the best special teams’ return player inducted in Hester, who owns the record for most return touchdowns in NFL history. McMichael is being inducted following a colorful and prominent career while staying strong despite currently battling Lou Gehrig’s disease for the last several years.
Playing in the contest could also be a fitting start, depending on who the Bears draft with the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. If the team selects USC quarterback Caleb Williams, as many expect to be the case, it would be fitting that Williams could potentially make his pro debut in Canton, especially when he is being compared to future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Even if the rookie doesn’t play, Bears fans across the country will tune in to watch the game to see the rookie in a uniform in a game situation for the first time.
Having multiple generations of players, along with the debut of a quarterback, who is being projected to be a generational talent, would be one of the most memorable moments for the Bears’ franchise. Having multiple former Hall of Fame and fan-favorite players watching Williams and this current team could be even more memorable if the team can make the playoffs at year’s end. With Chicago expected to compete for the playoffs in 2024, even if none of the team’s starters play, seeing football on a hot summer’s night will be a welcomed sight for NFL fans across the country.
