when is the first preseason nfl game

The first preseason NFL game for 2025 is the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers. It takes place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. This game technically kicks off the preseason before the regular three-week slate of exhibition games begins in August.