CANTON, Ohio — The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement week has kicked off and there are events throughout the week.

On Wednesday morning, thousands of kids from the Canton area created a three mile long human chain. It stretched from downtown Canton to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was part of the NFL’s year-long initiative, "Play Football."

What You Need To Know

  • Thousands of kids from the Canton area made a three-mile long human chain

  • They passed a football from downtown Canton to the Hall of Fame

  • This is part of the NFL's year-long "Play Football" initiative

Gavin Lysiak, a 10-year-old football player, was among the kids that were in the human chain.

“It’s just going to be a lot of fun and exciting,” he said.

Lysiak said that football is something that he loves.

“It really means just how much you love the game and how fun it is to just like play it,” he said.

He explained that being a good teammate is important to him, on and off the football field.

His grandfather, Frank Lysiak, was a part of the human chain with Gavin. He explained that the younger generation is crucial to the game of football.

“Youth is our future. So anything you can do to bring youth together and again going back to life lessons and teaching them about life anytime you can do that, I think it’s a good thing,” he said.

There are many other events in Canton throughout the week leading up to the enshrinement on Saturday.

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