The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, after rookie quarterback Haynes King ran five yards for a touchdown with two seconds remaining. The late score settled a rapid exchange of leads at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and opened the National Football League preseason with a dramatic finish early Friday.
Arizona had moved ahead on the preceding possession, but King directed Carolina's final drive and supplied the decisive run. AS reported that the rookie completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 39 rushing yards and the winning score. Those numbers made him the central figure in a game designed primarily to evaluate developing players before the regular season.
Carolina starter Kenny Pickett completed eight of 11 passes for 62 yards before King entered. Arizona gave rookie Carson Beck the start, and the third-round selection from the University of Miami completed 15 of 19 attempts for 188 yards and one touchdown, according to the match report. The performances offered both coaching staffs an early competitive test while many established starters had limited or no roles.
The NFL's official game center recorded a scoreless first quarter and a 17-17 tie at halftime. Arizona added the only three points of the third quarter for a 20-17 advantage, before the teams combined for 26 points in the fourth. Carolina scored 16 in the final period and Arizona scored 10, producing the 33-30 final and one of the event's highest-scoring finishes.
The matchup also carried ceremonial importance. Arizona great Larry Fitzgerald and Carolina great Luke Kuechly belong to the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 with Drew Brees, Roger Craig and Adam Vinatieri. The Hall said the five were recognized during pregame activities, with Gold Jacket events scheduled for Friday and the formal enshrinement ceremony in Canton on Saturday.
The result does not count in regular-season standings, but it begins the evaluation period for both teams. Carolina enters the year after winning the NFC South with an 8-9 record and losing a close playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams, while Arizona begins its first season under head coach Mike LaFleur. Both clubs will now review the reserve and rookie performances before their remaining preseason games and final roster decisions.
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