“When it rains, it pours” might as well be the unofficial motto of the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game. In a twist that’s becoming all too familiar, Mother Nature crashed the party in Canton, Ohio, forcing the suspension and eventual cancellation of the 2024 preseason opener between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears.

Since its inception in 1962, the Hall of Fame Game has been a beacon of hope for football-starved fans, signaling the end of the long offseason drought. But like a temperamental diva, this preseason opener has had its share of no-shows. The 2024 matchup between the Texans and Bears joins an exclusive club of just five cancellations in the game’s 62-year history.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? The first absence came in 1966, when the AFL-NFL merger took center stage, leaving no room for pregame festivities. Fast forward to 2011, and labor pains between owners and players sidelined the annual tradition. But it’s the recent cancellations that truly highlight the NFL’s growing pains.

In 2016, the league faced a sticky situation – quite literally. The paint used for logos on the newly installed turf at Tom Benson Field had an adverse reaction, turning the playing surface into a treacherous ice rink. Despite valiant efforts by stadium personnel, the field couldn’t be remedied in time, leading to a last-minute cancellation that left fans and players alike high and dry.

Then came 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic threw a Hail Mary pass that no one could catch. For the first time since 1962, the entire Hall of Fame weekend was benched, with the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers’ matchup pushed to 2021.

Now, in 2024, we find ourselves in familiar territory. As thunder rolled and lightning flashed, players were ushered off the field, and fans were left to ponder the cruel irony of football’s most anticipatory game becoming its most consistently disappointing.

Bears roar, Texans charge, Mother Nature wins

The Bears had taken a 21-17 lead with 11:39 left in the third quarter, thanks to a stellar performance by backup quarterback Brett Rypien. His 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Collin Johnson marked his third of the night, capping off an impressive 11 of 15 passing performance for 116 yards.

For some players, like Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams, the cancellation might have been a blessing in disguise. Williams, the top overall draft pick, had expressed his eagerness to play earlier in the week.

“The reps are always paramount for anybody like myself, a young rookie, a second-year guy, a third-year guy. It’s paramount. It’s really important and we’ll see about this preseason games coming, how they will play out.” he said. But as fate would have it, his NFL debut will have to wait for another day.

The decision to call the game wasn’t made lightly. NFL officials, along with representatives from both teams, monitored the situation closely. With lightning strikes within eight miles of the stadium and more severe weather on the horizon, player and fan safety took precedence.

As fans trudged out of the stadium, many couldn’t help but wonder: Is the Hall of Fame Game cursed? With three cancellations in the last eight years, it’s a question that’s becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss.

In the end, while the game may have been washed out, the spirit of football remains undampened. As one disappointed fan put it, “It’s like the weather is reminding us that no matter how much we plan, football always has a surprise in store. Maybe next time we should bring our swim trunks!”