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American Football

NFL: What's the Pro Football Hall of Fame? When can players be inducted?

NFL: What's the Pro Football Hall of Fame? When can players be inducted?Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here's all you need to know about the museum that celebrates the superstars of the sport.

The new National Football League season is underway, with some of the biggest teams and stars on the planet ready to go all the way to Super Bowl LIX.

But even for those who never get their hands on a championship ring, there could be another prize even more celebrated in store - the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Here, you can find the names of the great and the good who have played the sport for generations, recognised for what they have contributed on and off the field.

Here's all you need to know about the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What is the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a museum dedicated to the most celebrated players in NFL history, collating those names who have made incredible achievements in the sport.

It is intended as a permanent monument to the history of the competition. It originally opened in 1963 and inducts new players with each season.

Where is the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the NFL in its previous guise as the American Professional Football Association.

The sport's earliest repeat champion, the now-defunct Canton Bulldogs, hailed from the city, which also was the home of former United States President William McKinley.

When can players be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

To be eligible for a nomination for induction, players must have been retired from the NFL at least five years before they can be entered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Stars such as Tom Brady, for example, will not be eligible until 2027, having retired from the game in 2022.

How many inductees are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

As of 2024, there are 378 individuals who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with seven added in the latest round earlier this year.

The most represented team in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the Chicago Bears, who have 39 representatives. Conversely, the Jacksonville Jaguars have just one inductee.

What is the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game?

The Pro Football Hall of Game is an annual preseason fixture played close to the Hall of Fame each year, held at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the Hall of Fame Village.

It is the curtain-raiser to preseason preparations for the competition and features two teams traditionally chosen in advance of any other schedules being crafted.