Football is back, and America couldn't be happier. The NFL's Hall of Fame Game, a preseason clash that typically features backups and roster hopefuls, pulled in a staggering 7 million viewers on August 6. That's more eyeballs than any single NHL game managed during the entire 2025-26 season.
The game, held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, saw the Arizona Cardinals edge out the Carolina Panthers in a down-to-the-wire thriller. While the scoreboard mattered little in the grand scheme of the season, the ratings told a different story—one of a nation starving for gridiron action.
NBC Sports announced the numbers on Monday, August 10, calling it the most-watched Hall of Fame Game since 2017. The broadcast, available on both NBC and Peacock, drew a combined audience of 7 million, a figure that would make any regular-season NHL broadcast envious.
To put that in perspective, the NHL's Stanley Cup Final games averaged around 2.7 million viewers last season, and even the most-watched regular-season games rarely cracked 1 million. The Hall of Fame Game, a glorified exhibition, doubled the NHL's biggest numbers without breaking a sweat.
This isn't a knock on hockey—it's a testament to the NFL's cultural dominance. As Ben Koo of Awful Announcing noted, the preseason opener outdrew every NHL game from last season. It's a stark reminder that in the American sports landscape, football reigns supreme.
Fans are clearly desperate for NFL action, and they'll take it in any form, even if it means watching third-string quarterbacks battle for a roster spot. The ratings also hint at the massive numbers expected when the regular season kicks off in September, especially with record-breaking halftime shows and compelling storylines on the horizon.
The Hall of Fame Game is often dismissed as a meaningless warm-up, but the TV ratings tell a different tale. It's a cultural event that signals the start of something bigger. And while other preseason games may not match this number, the trend is clear: America is ready for football.
For those who doubted the NFL's pull, this is a wake-up call. The league's offseason drama, from NIL controversies to player holdouts, only fuels the fire. When the games actually count, expect viewership to explode.
So, hockey fans, take note: the NFL's preseason is more than just a tune-up—it's a ratings juggernaut that puts the NHL's regular season to shame. Football is here, and it's not going anywhere.
