By Sunday 
NFL Sets Lions’ First Game—Fans Begin Practicing Emotional Stability
The NFL Draft may be stealing all the headlines, but Detroit Lions fans just got an unexpected twist in their offseason storyline—the official date and time of their 2025 preseason debut is here, and it’s coming way earlier than you might expect.
Wait, July Football?
That’s right. The Lions will face the Los Angeles Chargers on July 31, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. That’s not a typo—July. The NFL is bringing us preseason football before most of us have even figured out what to do with our vacation days.
The announcement was made via the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s social media post, officially locking the date for the first NFL preseason game of the year—and for the first time since 2000, it’s happening in July. So if you were planning to ignore football until August, think again.
Why the Lions?
Let’s be honest: even the most die-hard Lions fan probably raised an eyebrow at this matchup. The 2025 Hall of Fame class includes Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe—none of whom ever wore Honolulu Blue. In fact, some of them played for division rivals. But hey, we’re not complaining. If the NFL wants to toss the Lions onto a national stage, we’ll happily take it—even if it means watching third-stringers battle it out under the Ohio lights.
What Should We Expect?
Well, probably not Jared Goff slinging touchdowns, if that’s what you were hoping for. As tradition dictates, starters rarely see the field during the Hall of Fame Game. What fans will get is their first look at rookies, depth players, and a heavy dose of speculative overreactions.
Will someone score a meaningless touchdown that sparks a “Could this guy be the next breakout star?” Twitter thread? Absolutely. Will someone get unfairly labeled a bust after three plays? You bet.
A National Spotlight (With Low Stakes)
Though it’s technically “just” preseason, the Hall of Fame Game has a charm of its own. It’s a soft launch for the season ahead. A chance to see the logo on a jersey, the new faces on the sideline, and the glorious return of football in any form. For the Lions, it’s also a chance to show off just how far this team has come in recent years—even if it’s just for a quarter or two.
So yes, Lions fans, it’s time. Dust off your jerseys. Reinstall that fantasy football app. And most importantly, begin practicing emotional stability. The 2025 season is creeping closer, and it’s coming in hot—starting July 31.
Football’s almost back. Are we ready? Probably not. But we’ll pretend we are.