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The Chicago Bears will take on the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET with widespread television coverage on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Chicago has played in five Hall of Fame Games, most recently in 2018 when the Bears lost 17-16 to the Baltimore Ravens. Chicago had won all four of its prior games in Canton.
This is just the second-ever NFL Hall Of Fame Game appearance by Houston which last played in Canton in 2002 in a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. The Texans are favored by 1.5.
The Texas made a huge splash last season behind rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, who guided the squad to a 10-7 record in the regular season and a decisive 45-14 win over Cleveland in the Wild Card playoffs before bowing 34-10 at Baltimore the following week.
Houston faces schedule in 2024 that is tied with Green Bay for the 4th-toughest. Only Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have schedules ranked tougher.
That leaves the Texas over/under wins total at slightly under last year's mark with odds of (minus) -150 to exceed 9.5 and +122 to go under that total. Houston will host Chicago in Week 2 of the regular season.
9/8 at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM, CBS
9/15 Chicago, 8:20 PM, NBC
9/22 at Minnesota, 1:00 PM, CBS
9/29 Jacksonville, 1:00 PM, CBS
10/6 Buffalo, 1:00 PM, CBS
10/13 at New England, 1:00 PM, CBS
10/20 at Green Bay, 1:00 PM, CBS
10/27 Indianapolis, 1:00 PM, CBS
10/31 at NY Jets, 8:15 PM, Amazon Prime
11/10 Detroit, 8:20 PM, NBC
11/18 at Dallas, 8:15 PM, ESPN
11/24 Tennessee, 1:00 PM, CBS
12/1 at Jacksonville 1:00 PM, CBS
12/8 BYE WEEK
12/15 Miami, 1:00 PM, CBS
12/21 at Kansas City, 1:00 PM, NBC
12/25 Baltimore, 4:30 PM, Netflix
1/5 at Tennessee, Time TBD, TV TBD
Chicago was 7-10 a year ago under QB Justin Fields, the club's 2021 first-round draft pick who has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2024 schedule for the Bears is tied for 3rd-easiest, behind only New Orleans and Atlanta. Chicago drafted USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams in the first round with the very first pick of this year's draft and added wide receiver Rome Odunze with the 9th pick of round one.
The Bears have an over/under win target of 8.5 games with odds of -160 on the over and +130 on the under.
9/8 Tennessee, 1:00 PM, Fox
9/15 at Houston, 8:20 PM, NBC
9/22 at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM, CBS
9/29 LA Rams, 1:00 PM, FOX
10/6 Carolina, 1:00 PM, FOX
10/13 Jacksonville (London), 9:30 AM, NFL Network
10/20 BYE WEEK
10/27 at Washington, 1:00 PM, CBS
11/3 at Arizona, 4:05 PM, CBS
11/10 New England, 1:00 PM, FOX
11/17 Green Bay, 1:00 PM, FOX
11/24 Minnesota, 1:00 PM, FOX
11/28 at Detroit, 12:30 PM, CBS
12/8 at San Francisco, 4:25 PM, FOX
12/16 at Minnesota, 8:00 PM, ABC, ESPN+
12/22 Detroit, 1:00 PM, FOX
12/26 Seattle, 8:15 PM, Amazon Prime
1/5 at Green Bay, Time TBD, TV TBD
Source: ProFootballHOF.com
The 2024 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies will take place on Saturday, August 3 beginning at Noon ET on ESPN and the NFL Network.
The 2024 Class will welcome the Hall of Fame entrances of Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, Julius Peppers, and Patrick Willis.
Dwight Freeney - Drafted in first round (11th overall) of 2002 NFL Draft after leading the nation in sacks (17.5) his senior season at Syracuse … Named Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year while earning All-American recognition … Ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts … Selected to 2002 NFL All-Rookie Team after recording 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss … Seven Pro Bowl selections … AP first-team All-Pro in 2004, 2005 and 2009; second-team All-Pro in 2003 … Named All-AFC by PFWA 2003-05 and 2009-2010 … Secured NFL Sack Title with 16 in 2004 … Member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI championship team and played in two additional Super Bowls (XLIV, LI) … Played in 218 regular-season games over 16 seasons in NFL … Career stat totals: 125.5 sacks, 148 quarterback hits and 128 tackles for loss … Credited with 47 forced fumbles (tied for third on the NFL’s all-time list) and forced three fumbles in a game on two occasions.
Randy Gradishar - Unanimous All-America selection at Ohio State in 1973 … Broncos’ first-round pick, 1974 (14th overall) … Led Denver in total tackles nine consecutive seasons, 1975-1983 … Played in 145 regular-season games during 10 NFL seasons … Member of famed “Orange Crush” defensive unit of 1970s and 1980s … Named 1978 AP NFL Defensive MVP/Player of the Year … Played in Super Bowl XII, recording eight tackles … First-team All-Pro twice (1977-78), second-team three times (1979, 1981, 1983) … Played in seven Pro Bowls (1975, 1977-79, 1981-83) … Unofficial 2,049 career tackles are most in Broncos history and were most in league history at the time of his retirement … One of 10 linebackers in league history – all Hall of Famers – with at least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries … Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 … Member of Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.
Devin Hester - Multi-dimensional player who joined Bears after collegiate career as offensive, defensive and special teams threat … Became immediate standout as return specialist, earning spot on 2006 NFL All-Rookie Team … In debut season, returned 47 punts for 600 yards (both NFL highs) and three TDs, along with 20 kickoffs for 528 yards and two touchdowns … Also returned a missed field goal that season for a 108-yard touchdown – one of only four such “kick-six” scores of that distance in an NFL game. … Opened Super Bowl XLI with 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the only time in Super Bowl history that has occurred … In second NFL season, returned four punts and two kickoffs for scores, establishing an NFL record for six combined kick returns for TDs … First-team All-Pro three times (2006-07, 2010) … Member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s … One of two return specialists on the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Andre Johnson - Surpassed 1,000 receiving yards seven times (2004, 2006, 2008-2010, 2012-13) … Led NFL in receptions twice (103 in 2006 and 115 in 2008) and in receiving yards twice (1,575 yards in 2008 and 1,569 yards in 2009) … One of only three players (Jerry Rice, Calvin Johnson) to lead NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons in Super Bowl era … Finished career with 1,062 receptions for 14,185 yards and 70 receiving touchdowns … Texans franchise leader in most receiving statistics … Caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown as Texans beat Cincinnati in first playoff appearance (2011); followed the next week with eight receptions for 111 yards in narrow loss to Ravens … Three career games with 200+ receiving yards … First-team All-Pro twice (2008-09) … Selected to seven Pro Bowls (2004, 2006, 2008-10, 2012-13) … Member of 2003 NFL All-Rookie Team … First player elected to Texans’ Ring of Honor (2017).
Steve McMichael - Selected by New England in third round (73rd overall) of 1980 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas … Signed with Chicago in 1981 after being released by Patriots … Started franchise-record 191 consecutive games for Bears in 13 seasons … Finished career with most tackles (814) and most sacks (92.5) in Bears history … Twice led Chicago in sacks: 1988, 1992 … Member of Bears’ defenses that allowed the fewest points, rushing yards and total yards in the NFL from 1982-1991 … Played in 14 career playoff games, making 11 starts … Won Super Bowl XX with Bears over Patriots, started at left defensive tackle and recorded a sack … Forced 13 fumbles, recovered 17 and had three safeties in 15 total seasons … Earned first-team All-Pro three times (1985-87) … Two Pro Bowl nods (1988, 1989) .
Julius Peppers - Dominant defensive end who finished career fourth on all-time sacks list with 159.5 … Only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 or more interceptions … Second all-time with 52 career forced fumbles … At the time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time among defensive players with 266 games played … Carolina Panthers franchise leader in sacks (97), forced fumbles (34) and blocked field goals (eight) … One of four players to record 10 seasons with 10-plus sacks, other three are Hall of Famers … Named 2002 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year by AP and PFWA … Led league with 18 tackles for loss in 2006 … Totaled 719 tackles, 175 tackles for loss, 186 quarterback hits … Voted to nine Pro Bowls … Three time first-team All-Pro, three times on second team … Member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of both the 2000s and 2010s.
Patrick Willis - Immediate starter for 49ers after joining team as 11th overall selection in 2007 NFL Draft … Totaled 174 tackles, four sacks, seven QB hits and eight tackles for loss in earning 2007 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award … Named first-team All-Pro five times in eight NFL seasons (2007, 2009, 2010-12) … Selected to Pro Bowl following seven consecutive seasons (2007-2013) … Won NFL’s version of the Butkus Award (then in its second year) in 2009, following his best season statistically overall: 152 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, eight pass deflections and career-bests of three interceptions and 13 tackles for loss … Won the Bill Walsh Award in 2009 as the 49ers’ most valuable player … Contributed 10 tackles in Super Bowl XLVII loss to Baltimore Ravens … Career stats include 20.5 sacks, 60 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 16 forced fumbles. … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s.