Texans will play Bears in Hall of Fame Game

The Houston Texans will kick off the 2024 season in Canton, Ohio, for the annual Hall of Fame Game, the NFL announced Tuesday. Houston will play the Chicago Bears in the first preseason game of the new year on Aug. 1 at 8 p.m.

We’re headed to Canton pic.twitter.com/P24FSYx6ys

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) March 26, 2024

This game has significance to both teams with new Hall of Famers. Andre Johnson became the first player in Texans franchise history to be named to the Hall of Fame, while former Bears players Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers will also be inducted.

The rest of the 2024 class includes Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar and Patrick Willis.

“It’s exciting playing in the Hall of Fame Game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson at the NFL owners meetings. “I think the credit goes to Andre Johnson for him getting selected, the first Texan to be selected to into the Hall of Fame. For us to go up as a team to support Andre in the Hall of Fame Game, the first time as an organization playing in the Hall of Fame Game, I think it’s exciting to really kick off the 2024 season with our team being in the forefront.”

Houston has played in the Hall of Fame Game before, but not since 2002. The Texans played in the exhibition ahead of their inaugural season. It’s a full circle experience now that the Texans’ second-ever first-round pick will be enshrined.

It also kicks off a year of hype for the Texans, who are being lauded for their offseason moves as possible contenders in the AFC.