Football fans across the country are celebrating the return of NFL action with Thursday night’s 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

As part of the pre-season opener, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers faced off in the first bit of live pro football since Super Bowl LIX back in February. 

Despite the fact that it’s just a pre-season match-up, fans are ready to embrace the return of the sport and took to social media to share their excitement.

Taking to X, one fan wrote: ‘I’m watching this pre season game tonight like it’s the damn Super Bowl! Football is back! #NFL’ 

Another user on the platform wrote: ‘It’s only pre season but we finally have real life football to watch. The NFL season is finally here!’

‘Wow we made it through the offseason. Another NFL season on the way. Pre season is back tonight,’ one user said. 

The NFL got back underway on Thursday night for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game 

The Detroit Lions faced off with the Los Angeles Chargers as the first bit of action this season

Fans were quick to express their excitement over the return of NFL action on social media

The excitement from one user in particular was evident, as they said: ‘NFL FOOTBALL IS BACK TONIGHT! FELLAS WE ARE SAVED BY THE BELL’.

Another fan shared an insight into their evening as they wrote: ‘Nachos and football tonight. The best sport is back! #NFL’

‘NFL Pre Season starts today. It’s time for sweaters, sports and snacks,’ another user wrote. 

Reflecting on some other sports, one fan said: ‘We’re about a month away from college football, NFL and the Premier League being back. I’ve got tears in my eyes just thinking about it’.

Looking at the game itself, it promises to be an exciting affair with both teams coming in off the back of respective strong campaigns in 2024.

Jim Harbaugh led the Chargers to a playoff appearance in his first year with the team, while the Lions won the NFC North for the second year in a row. 

Fans will be hoping that Thursday night’s game will not suffer the same fate that the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game did last year after it was hit by thunderstorms. 

Fans did not hold back as they rejoiced in the NFL pre-season opener getting underway

The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, was disrupted by severe thunderstorms.

With 3:31 left in the third quarter, the Chicago Bears held a 21-17 lead over the Houston Texans.

However, as heavy rain poured down at Tom Benson Stadium and lightning flashed in the area, players were instructed to exit the field.

Spectators abandoned their seats to find cover, and the game was officially canceled 30 minutes later.