When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? For many Americans, it’s not just about the turkey and pumpkin pie – it’s about the time-honored tradition of watching NFL football. But have you ever wondered how this festive football feast came to be? Let’s take a closer look at the rich history behind the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games.
The Origins of the NFL’s Thanksgiving Tradition
It all started back in 1934, when the Detroit Lions first hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day. The team’s owner, G.A. Richards, saw an opportunity to boost attendance and generate publicity for his newly-relocated franchise. The gamble paid off, with over 26,000 fans packing the University of Detroit Stadium to watch the Lions take on the defending champion Chicago Bears.
The Lions lost that inaugural game 19-16, but a new holiday classic was born. The team has played on Thanksgiving every year since, except for a brief hiatus during World War II. Over the decades, the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game has become a beloved Motor City tradition, as much a part of the holiday as cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
The Dallas Cowboys Join the Party
In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys decided to get in on the Thanksgiving action. Team president Tex Schramm saw the holiday game as a chance to boost the Cowboys’ national profile. The NFL was initially skeptical, but the Cowboys’ first Thanksgiving game – a 26-14 win over the Cleveland Browns – was a resounding success, drawing over 80,000 fans to the Cotton Bowl.
Since then, the Cowboys have become a Thanksgiving Day staple, playing every year except in 1975 and 1977. Along the way, they’ve provided some of the holiday’s most memorable moments, from Clint Longley’s improbable comeback win in 1974 to Leon Lett’s infamous blunder on a snowy field in 1993.
It was a dud in St. Louis. Pete asked if we’d take it back. I said only if we get it permanently. It’s something you have to build as a tradition.
– Tex Schramm on the Cowboys reclaiming the Thanksgiving game in 1978
A Thanksgiving Football Feast
Of course, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a massive spread of food. And the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games take the concept of a “football feast” to a whole new level. According to Legends Hospitality, the company that handles concessions at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys go through a staggering amount of food on Thanksgiving:
- 16,320 pounds of mac and cheese
- 13,515 pounds of turkey
- 5,130 pounds of cornbread dressing
- 2,340 pounds of sweet potatoes
- And 425 pounds of pecans for pies!
It’s a similar story in Detroit, where Levy Restaurants serves up over 4,100 pounds of turkey, 3,200 pounds of mashed potatoes, and 3,700 slices of pie to hungry Lions fans each Thanksgiving.
Memorable Moments and Holiday Heroics
Over the years, the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games have provided some truly unforgettable moments. There was the time Lions legend Barry Sanders rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-20 rout of the Bears in 1997. Or the time Peyton Manning threw six touchdown passes – tied for the most ever on Thanksgiving – in the Colts’ 41-9 beatdown of the Lions in 2004.
More recently, who could forget Mark Sanchez’s infamous “Butt Fumble” in 2012, when the Jets quarterback lost the ball after colliding with his own lineman’s backside? It’s moments like these – equal parts thrilling and absurd – that have helped make the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day tradition so enduringly popular.
A True Holiday Classic
So this Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table with family and friends, take a moment to appreciate the NFL’s grand holiday tradition. From the early days in Detroit to the glamour of the Dallas Cowboys, football has become as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing. It’s a true American classic – a festive feast for the eyes and the appetite. And in a world that often feels divided, it’s heartening to know that we can all still come together over two simple things: food and football.
