NFL to push Hall of Fame Game involving Steelers, Cowboys to 2021

The Hall of Fame Game is the first casualty on the NFL schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the announcement Thursday that the preseason opener between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys has been pushed back to 2021.

The enshrinement ceremony also was postponed until 2021.

The Steelers-Cowboys game, scheduled for Aug. 6 at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, will be contested Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, the Hall of Fame announced.

“The health and safety of our Hall of Famers, fans and volunteers who make Enshrinement Week so special remains our top priority,” David Baker, president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a statement “The Hall will honor the Centennial Class of 2020 next August, along with what promises to be an equally spectacular Class of 2021, as part of a multi-day celebration of football with an atmosphere that will deliver for fans ‘Twice the Fun in ’21.’ ”

Last week, Cameron Heyward, who is the Steelers’ player representative, expressed pessimism that the game would be played as scheduled because of health concerns.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame game sold out in 22 minutes. Fans can retain their tickets and attend the game in 2021, or they can ask for a refund.

The decision to postpone the game means the Steelers and Cowboys likely will report to training camp this year at the same time as the other 30 NFL teams. Typically, the teams playing in the Hall of Fame Game get a one-week head start on the others. Training camps are scheduled to begin around July 28.

Instead of being inducted this year, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and safety Troy Polamalu will have their ceremony Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. The rest of the Centennial Class, which includes former Steelers safety Donnie Shell, also will be enshrined that day, with the 2021 class being inducted a day later.

The Centennial Class originally was scheduled to be inducted Sept. 17.

Cowher was among five members of the Centennial slate that was added to the enshrinement ceremony of modern-era players, a list that includes Polamalu, Steve Atwater, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James and Isaac Bruce. Former coach Jimmy Johnson and contributors George Young, Steve Sabol and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue also were scheduled to be inducted this August as part of the 100-year celebration group.

The remainder of the Centennial Class, selected by a blue ribbon panel in January, includes former players Shell, Harold Carmichael, Jimbo Covert, Bobby Dillon, Cliff Harris, Winston Hill, Alex Karras, Duke Slater, Mac Speedie and Ed Sprinkle.

The Hall of Fame reopened its doors to visitors two weeks ago after being shuttered for three months because of the pandemic.