Who is commentating Panthers vs Cardinals on NBC and Peacock? How to watch the 2026 Hall of Fame Game in the UK and US
Match date:
Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals open the 2026 NFL preseason in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, 6 August, with coverage in the United States on NBC and Peacock USA, while Westwood One also carries the game on radio.[2][6][11] The matchup is scheduled for Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, and it forms part of the Hall of Fame weekend that officially begins the league’s preseason calendar.[2][14]
Mike Tirico leads NBC’s television broadcast in the main commentary role, with Cris Collinsworth alongside him as co-commentator and Melissa Stark reporting from the sideline.[6] On Westwood One, Scott Graham is the main commentator and James Lofton is the co-commentator.[6] For viewers in the UK, the key point is that the game is set for 01:00 UK time, so it is a late-night watch for British fans following the league’s first live action of the new preseason.[6][11]
The Hall of Fame Game is especially significant because it gives both teams an extra preseason appearance compared with most NFL sides.[8][11] The NFL’s 2026 preseason schedule notes that the Cardinals and Panthers each play four preseason games because of their involvement in the Canton showcase.[11] That makes this opener more than a ceremonial curtain-raiser: it is also a useful early examination of roster battles, depth-chart decisions and new tactical ideas before the regular season begins in September.[11]
In sporting terms, the game is a meeting of two teams coming from different directions. ESPN’s preseason listing shows Carolina finished 2025 with an 8–9 record, while Arizona ended at 3–14, underlining how much both clubs will want to establish momentum early in August.[5] The Cardinals and Panthers also met in the Hall of Fame Game context before, with the NFL’s game page recording their previous matchup as a 27–22 Arizona win.[1]
Much of the pregame appeal also comes from the broadcast team itself. Mike Tirico is one of NBC’s most recognisable voices across major American sports, while Cris Collinsworth has been a leading NFL analyst for years and remains closely associated with NBC’s top-flight football coverage.[6] Melissa Stark is a familiar sideline presence to NFL audiences as well, bringing on-field context and interviews to the telecast.[6] Westwood One’s Scott Graham and James Lofton provide the national radio alternative for fans who prefer audio coverage or cannot access the television stream.[6]
For American viewers, the live TV option is straightforward: NBC carries the game, and Peacock USA streams it as a subscription or geo-restricted service.[6] For UK audiences, the main consideration is timing rather than a named domestic broadcaster in the information available here; the game’s early-hours kick-off means it is best treated as a late-night or overnight watch.[6][11] More on the Hall of Fame weekend and the game’s setting can be found via the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game announcement.
With the preseason beginning in Canton, the Panthers and Cardinals will use this national stage to assess form, fitness and fringe players, while viewers get an early look at how both rosters are shaping up under the bright lights of one of the NFL’s traditional opening fixtures.[2][11]
Article generated: 5 August 2026, 01:01 GMT