Welcome Back to Canton

The Hall of Fame Game opened the door on 2026 with Carson Beck making an impression, Haynes King supplying a storybook finish and a reminder that football is finally back.

Canton has always been where pro football goes to remember. This time it also gave us our first look forward. Carolina's 33–30 victory over Arizona opened the 2026 preseason with the kind of finish nobody could script better: Haynes King crossed the goal line on the final play, turning an exhibition opener into a walk-off celebration.

Beck Made the First Impression Count

Carson Beck looked comfortable in his first NFL game action, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. The numbers matter, but the more useful takeaway was how he handled the assignment: get the ball out, operate within structure and give Arizona reasons to keep expanding what it asks of him.

King Supplied the Ending

Haynes King made sure the night would be remembered for more than evaluation tape. With the game tied and the clock disappearing, his final-play touchdown gave Carolina the win and Canton a storybook ending. Preseason football is about jobs, depth charts and development, but players still compete to win. King provided the reminder.

First Impressions, Not Conclusions

The Hall of Fame Game cannot tell us who will be playing deep into January. Rosters are incomplete, schemes are deliberately limited and many established starters are watching. What it can reveal is poise, readiness and which young players make us want another look. Beck and King did exactly that.

If This Is the Gauge

Football returned with quarterback intrigue, young players fighting for opportunity, a close fourth quarter and a game decided as time expired. If Canton is any gauge of the energy waiting for us in 2026, there is plenty to anticipate. The first game is behind us. The season is coming.