Dallas Cowboys' team owner Jerry Jones got some great news this year when he learned the NFL was inducting him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To add to the special situation, the Dallas Cowboys also learned they will play in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff of the game is at 7 p.m. CST.
Dallas Cowboys history in the Hall of Fame game
This year's first preseason football game takes place on Aug. 3, 2017. The Hall of Fame is always the first preseason game that kicks off the new season. Dallas has played in the game five other times before, in 1968, 1979, 1999, 2010, and 2013.
That is the sixth most appearances of all teams. The last time that they played in the game, Larry Allen entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This year, the Cowboys will play the Arizona Cardinals, a team that had developed into a solid playoff team but slumped in 2016. They bring back quarterback Carson Palmer and superstar running back David Johnson.
Dallas Cowboys players in the Hall of Fame
The Cowboys are one of the NFL's most successful teams, so it is no surprise that they have a lot of people in the prestigious hall. Jerry Jones follows Tex Schramm as executives in the hall to go along with both Tom Landry as a head coach. Other notable names include Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Mel Renfro, Troy Aikman, Rayfield Wright, Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, and Larry Allen.
The 2017 Dallas Cowboys
The Hall of Fame game will also give the fans a chance to see the Dallas Cowboys as they attempt to build off their incredibly successful 2016 NFL season. Rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are both returning with a year of experience. It also should be the first time that the Dallas Cowboys have played without Tony Romo on their team in over a decade.
It will also be a chance to see if the Cowboys can improve their defense in either the 2017 NFL Draft or in free agency. What really held the Cowboys back was a lack of the pass rush for the third year in a row, although they showed improvement.