The 2026 NFL season is underway. Sort of.
The preseason kicked off in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, Aug. 6, the Carolina Panthers defeating the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in a thrilling (such as it is) Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. And while Carson Beck and others shined under a prime-time spotlight, this game will quickly fade into appropriate irrelevance – now something of an ornamental affair as the inaugural one of what’s now a 49-game docket of exhibition games.
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And still, we usually tend to learn something from the HOF game, even if it’s little more than a first impression provided by a national platform in an otherwise forgettable undertaking – and, in this case, between two of the league’s lowest-profile teams. Nevertheless, we found some winners and losers from “Football Heaven,” to try and satisfy your first football jones of the summer:
WINNERS
Carson Beck
Arizona’s rookie quarterback made his (unofficial) NFL debut, starting Thursday and playing with distinction into the second half. No, Beck wasn’t facing Hall of Fame-caliber players like Luke Kuechly – or even Panthers Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd – but the third-rounder looked poised, accurate and dangerous, his best throw of the night a 49-yard deep shot to Jalen Brooks. Beck led the Cardinals to 17 first-half points and finished with 15 completions (19 attempts) for 188 yards and a TD – which equated to a gaudy 125.4 passer rating. Is it time to anoint Beck the QB1? No, and certainly not for a team that faces such an uphill climb in what’s otherwise the league’s most cutthroat division. But it was certainly an encouraging start for the 24-year-old and one that suggests he’ll get more extended opportunities – certainly this month, but quite likely at some point this fall.
CANTON, OHIO – AUGUST 06: Carson Beck #19 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the first quarter of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium on August 06, 2026 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Mike Tomlin
The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach was composed, natural and smooth while making his debut as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America.” Tomlin did a walk and talk with Panthers QB Bryce Young before the game, opined on the regular-season kickoff game and Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots and dove into his thoughts on the Steelers – saying his replacement, native Pittsburgher Mike McCarthy, “I know a little bit about the Steelers’ situation, to say the least: Mike’s perfect for them, and they’re perfect for Mike.”
Tomlin was also effusive about his new teammates. “I don’t miss that dorm room in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where I spent a calendar year of my life,” he said, referencing the Steelers’ spartan training camp base of operations. “But I do miss the men, the brotherhood, the camaraderie, the fighting together – but I gotta admit, I’m also enjoying the camaraderie I’m developing with this group.”
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Maybe the next Bill Cowher, his Pittsburgh predecessor – happy to be out of the coaching grind and on TV? We’ll see. No signature Tomlin-isms on Thursday night, but good coaches keep things vanilla in preseason.
Cardinals bench
Nice to see Arizona assistants, staff and players not in uniform wearing cardinal red T-shirts with incoming Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald‘s familiar No. 11 emblazoned on them. One of five enshrinees set to be inducted into the Hall on Saturday afternoon – and arguably the greatest player in more than a century of Cardinals football (and almost certainly the classiest) – it’s now a somewhat bittersweet event for Fitzgerald, whose father recently died.
Mike LaFleur
His third-stringers, aka Thursday’s starters, looked crisp in the Cardinals’ first game under their rookie head coach, who seemed cool and collected in his first football rehearsal as HC. He also was treated to a special moment before the game, when, during an on-field interview with NBC, he was unexpectedly patched in with his brother, Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who briefly gave little bro the business before expressing his love and encouragement.
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Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth
NBC’s play-by-play man and analyst – dare I say the NFL’s top broadcasting duo – was unsurprisingly in midseason form, Tirico with no issues identifying players he may never see on a field again and Collinsworth already offering unsparing thoughts despite how well Beck played. “We’re seven plays into the season, and we’re already talking about next year’s draft,” laughed Tirico as his partner wasted little time delving into Arizona’s long-term outlook behind center.
The UFL
Though it has no official relationship with the NFL, the United Football League – the current iteration of professional spring football – is apparently doing its job developing players for the big time. According to the UFL, five of its alumni were on rosters for Thursday night’s game – four with the Panthers, including 2026 UFL Defensive Player of the Year Cam Gill, a linebacker. He is currently joined by DT Kyon Barrs and WRs Elijah Cooks and Roc Taylor in Carolina. DB Quinton Newsome is a member of the Cardinals.
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Panthers quarterbacks
Three drives for Kenny Pickett, the final one resulting in a touchdown, eight of his 11 throws finding their mark (for 62 yards) … and a healthy getaway. Not a bad Carolina debut for the former first-round pick expected to back up Bryce Young in 2026. Rookie Haynes King also had a great evening with multiple TD passes and 180 yards through the air in relief of Pickett … all before scoring the game-winning touchdown with a 5-yard run on the game’s final play.
LOSERS
Jacoby Brissett
Expected to the Cardinals’ QB1 – at least to start this year, especially after extracting $15.5 million in guarantees from them last month – Beck’s performance could well shorten the length of the Brissett bridge in 2026. As Collinsworth and Tirico noted, this team is likely to be evaluating quarterbacks ahead of next year’s draft, which is expected to be rich in passing prospects. But the Cards should also have plenty incentive to play Beck and determine whether he’s a potential answer, long-term backup or otherwise. It’s just one night, but Beck made an early impression that Brissett, who’s never been more than a Band-Aid in his pro career, should remain on the sideline.
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Jeremiyah Love fans and scouts
Fernando Mendoza notwithstanding, Love was arguably the headliner of the 2026 draft – little surprise given he’s regarded as the most explosive running back to enter the league in years and arrives via Notre Dame. Yet if you’re an Irish fan, a Cardinals fan or fantasy football owner doing some advance scouting, you came away disappointed that Arizona chose to keep this year’s No. 3 overall pick in shrink wrap on this night – and despite Love’s virtual plea to play in the game at the outset of training camp. Bummer. And probably wise on the Cards’ part not to play the prospective future star in a game dominated by backups looking to make an impression at any expense. You can’t hurry Love … no, you just have to wait.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hall of Fame game winners and losers: Carson Beck overtaking Jacoby Brissett already?
