Hall of Fame Game Canceled; Dillon Enshrinement Postponed

The decision was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What does it mean for former Packers great Bobby Dillon's induction?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – While the Pro Football Hall of Fame reopened its doors on June 10, its two biggest events of the year have been canceled.

As reported by ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter on Thursday morning, there will be no Hall of Fame Game or induction this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cowboys and Steelers were scheduled to kick off the 2020 preseason on Aug. 6. The induction of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 was supposed to happen two days later. Instead, over the span of four days in 2021:

Thursday, Aug. 5: Steelers vs. Cowboys.

Saturday, Aug. 7: The Class of 2020 will be enshrined.

Sunday, Aug. 8: The Class of 2021 will be enshrined.

“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 the official announcement. “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.’”

As noted by Schefter: “This marks the first time the NFL has had to cancel an event on its calendar because of the pandemic, with the Hall of Fame Game annually kicking off the preseason. The NFL had been able to conduct free agency, albeit in a different way, as well as a virtual NFL draft.” Offseason practices were canceled; instead, teams conducted virtual offseasons.

The decision will impact the enshrinement of former Packers defensive back Bobby Dillon. According to Rich Desrosiers, the vice president of communications and public relations for the Hall of Fame, Dillon will be inducted with the rest of the Class of 2020 on Aug. 7, 2021. The 10 seniors that are part of the Hall of Fame’s centennial class were scheduled to be inducted on Sept. 16 as part of the Hall of Fame’s four-day Centennial Celebration in Canton, Ohio, that will mark the NFL’s actual 100th birthday.

On Jan. 15, in his 58th year of eligibility and less than five months after his death, Dillon was selected for induction. Despite having only one eye, Dillon was an interception machine during eight seasons with the Packers. As a rookie in 1952, he intercepted four passes. He followed that with nine interceptions in 1953, seven in 1954, nine in 1955, seven in 1956 and nine in 1957. When he retired following the 1959 season, he was second in NFL history with 52 career interceptions. That remains the franchise record, ahead of Hall of Famers Willie Wood (48) and Herb Adderley (39), modern-era Hall of Fame finalist LeRoy Butler (38) and likely Hall of Famer Charles Woodson (38).