The Vikings will kick off the NFL preseason on August 9 when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The game will be played in Fawcett Stadium in Canton one day after the Hall of Fame's Class of 2015, which includes legendary Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff, is formally enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC's Sunday Night Football at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

"This is a tremendous honor for our organization to be featured in the Hall of Fame Game," head coach Mike Zimmer said in a statement released by the team. "It will give our players and coaches an extra week to prepare for the regular season and an additional opportunity for us to evaluate our roster. Pairing the game with Mick going into the Hall of Fame, it will be a special weekend for the Minnesota Vikings and our fans."

This will be the Vikings' first appearance in the Hall of Fame Game since 1997 and their fourth overall appearance.

"We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to kick off the 2015 NFL preseason on a national stage," Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said in the statement. "This trip will give our young team a chance to appreciate the many players and individuals who have made the game what it is today."

The Vikings' inclusion in the Hall of Fame Game means they will play five preseason games in 2015.