NFL cancels Hall of Fame Game, postpones enshrinement ceremony

The upcoming Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, which was to serve as the 2020 preseason opener on Aug. 6, is canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL announced Thursday.

It also rescheduled the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony to Aug. 7, 2021. Next year's class will be inducted the following day.

Pittsburgh and Dallas have agreed to participate in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game instead.

Both clubs were preparing to begin training camp earlier than other teams due to the contest but are now likely to report alongside the rest of the league.

The cancellation of the annual festivities in Canton, Ohio, marks the first event the NFL has called off amid the pandemic. The 2020 draft was done virtually and held as scheduled despite the circumstances.

Troy Polamalu, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Cowher, Edgerrin James, and Isaac Bruce were among this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame modern-era class.