Art Rooney II: Steelers likely to play in this year’s Hall of Fame game
Bill Cowher is already a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class to be inducted this summer, and other former Pittsburgh Steelers luminaries Donnie Shell, Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca could join him.
All of the current Steelers seem likely to end up in Canton, as well.
Speaking on the Stan Savran Show on ESPN 970 this morning, Steelers president Art Rooney II said the Steelers are likely to play in the annual Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
“There’s a pretty good chance we will be playing the Hall of Fame Game this year,” Rooney told Savran.
“There’s nothing firm yet, but we have been giving indications so we should probably be planning on it. It’s not official yet, but I think it’s more than likely — let’s put it that way.”
1.13.20 Stan talks to Art Rooney II https://t.co/6hKsYkTKvv
— ESPN Pittsburgh (@ESPNRadioPGH) January 13, 2020
The Steelers are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for most appearances in the game with six each. The Cowboys also are strong candidates for the game. They, too, have a former coach headed for induction (Jimmy Johnson). Also, for the NFL’s 100th anniversary, the league could decide it wants a matchup of the only three-time Super Bowl matchup in history (1975, ’78, ’95).
The Steelers’ most recent appearance in the Hall of Fame Game was 2015, when they lost 14-3 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Kicker Shaun Suisham suffered a career-ending knee injury that day. The following year’s game would be canceled because of poor field conditions at a former high school stadium. But the league since has renovated (and renamed) the field.
The Steelers’ other appearances were in 1963, ’64, ’83, ’98 and 2007.
Playing in the Hall of Fame game means the participating teams will play five preseason games. It also would add an extra week onto their training camps, meaning the Steelers could report to Saint Vincent earlier than usual and spend four weeks of practice there rather than the usual three.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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