The NFL preseason officially got underway with the Hall of Fame Game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers — but before the first snap, a heavy silence swept the stadium.
In a powerful tribute, a moment of silence was held to honor four innocent lives lost in a tragic shooting in New York City earlier in the week. The attack, which occurred in a Midtown Manhattan office building housing NFL headquarters, left four people dead — including an off-duty NYPD officer — and injured an NFL employee, who remains hospitalized.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stayed behind in New York for funeral services and visited the injured league employee personally. The league has since heightened security at its facilities, including the Hall of Fame venue in Canton, where Thursday’s preseason opener was held.
While the Hall of Fame Game traditionally celebrates football legends and the excitement of a new season, this year’s opener served as a sobering reminder of life beyond the field. The Lions and Chargers paused to acknowledge the tragedy, with players, coaches, and fans uniting in silence to pay their respects.
It was a powerful moment that reminded everyone: football can wait, but honoring lives lost cannot.
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Moment of Silence in Canton: NFL Mourns Four Lives Lost in New York Tragedy
