Panthers Players Wear Luke Kuechly Jerseys Ahead of Hall of Fame Game

As the Carolina Panthers prepared to face the Arizona Cardinals in the annual Hall of Fame Game, the team paid a visual tribute to one of its greatest legends. Headed into Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday night, several players—including quarterback Kenny Pickett and linebacker Claudin Cherelus—opted to wear the throwback Carolina blue jersey of former linebacker Luke Kuechly.

The preseason matchup marks the kickoff of the 2026 NFL preseason and serves as a precursor to Kuechly’s official enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. The gesture highlights the respect the current roster holds for Kuechly, who spent his entire eight-year career with Carolina. During his tenure, Kuechly amassed a resume that included the 2012 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, the 2013 AP Defensive Player of the Year award, seven Pro Bowl selections, and five first-team All-Pro nods. He was instrumental in leading the Panthers to three NFC South titles and a Super Bowl appearance.

The contest is being broadcast on NBC, with streaming availability on Peacock and NFL Plus. The broadcast platform is owned by Comcast Corporation, the media and technology conglomerate. In the market on Thursday, shares of Comcast were trading higher, with the stock up 1.25% from the previous close. The company currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $87.15 billion. Comcast’s Media segment, which includes the Peacock streaming service, is a key component of its business operations alongside connectivity and studios.

What to watch

• Luke Kuechly’s official Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony takes place Saturday.
• Comcast is expected to report quarterly earnings, which will provide insight into Peacock subscriber growth following the NFL preseason viewership.

Source: original release