Which NFL Teams Always Play on Thanksgiving Day?
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The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other NFL teams.
The Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1934. They are the only team in the NFL that has played on every Thanksgiving Day since the NFL began in 1920. The Lions have played in more Thanksgiving Day games than any other team in the NFL.
History
The Detroit Lions have a long and storied history in the NFL, dating back to their founding in 1930. They are one of the original teams of the league and have played in every single season since 1930. The Lions have won four NFL Championships, three of which came before the Super Bowl era. They are also one of only four teams to have never played in a Super Bowl.
The Detroit Lions have a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day, dating back to 1934. They are one of three teams (along with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers) to have played on Thanksgiving Day every single year since the tradition began. The Lions have hosted more Thanksgiving Day games than any other team, with a total of 77 as of 2019. They have also appeared in more Thanksgiving Day games than any other team, with a total of 61 as of 2019.
Why they play on Thanksgiving
The NFL has been playing games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The tradition began with the Detroit Lions, who have hosted a game on the holiday every year since 1934.
The Lions weren’t the only team to play on Thanksgiving in the early years of the NFL; the Chicago Bears also hosted a game on the holiday from 1920 to 1933. But after the Bears moved their Thanksgiving game to Chicago Stadium in 1934, the Lions became the only team to play at home on the holiday.
There are a number of reasons why the Lions have continued to host a Thanksgiving Day game for more than 80 years. First, playing on Thanksgiving is a great way to generate income for the team. The Lions have been able to charge higher ticket prices for their Thanksgiving games than for other home games, and they also sell out their stadium on a regular basis. Second, playing on Thanksgiving gives the Lions national exposure that they wouldn’t get if they played only once a week like most other NFL teams.
Finally, playing on Thanksgiving is a tradition that many fans and players have come to love over the years. It’s become an annual event for many families and friends, and it’s something that people look forward to every year.
The Dallas Cowboys
History
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) East division. They are headquartered in Frisco, Texas, and play their home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which opened for the 2009 season. The stadium took the place of the partially demolished Texas Stadium, which served as the Cowboys’ home stadium from 1971 through the 2008 season.
Why they play on Thanksgiving
The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1966. This tradition started when then-Cowboys head coach Tom Landry decided that his team should play on the holiday to give them more exposure. The Cowboys have been one of the most popular teams in the NFL since they started playing on Thanksgiving, and they usually play one of the most anticipated games of the holiday.
The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other NFL team. In fact, they’ve played on Thanksgiving Day a total of 19 times! The Packers have a long-standing tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day, dating back to their days as an independent team.
History
The Packers franchise was founded in 1919 by former high-school football rivals Earl “Curly” Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun. Lambeau solicited funds for uniforms from his employer, the Indian Packing Company. He was given $500 (equivalent to $7,208 in 2019) for uniforms and equipment, on the condition that the team be named for its sponsor. The team only played that one season and finished 1-2-1.
The Packers have played in their original city longer than any other franchise in the NFL. They are also the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the United States. Home games have been played at Lambeau Field since 1957.
Why they play on Thanksgiving
The Green Bay Packers have a long and storied history, dating back to their founding in 1919. They are one of the most successful teams in NFL history, with thirteen league championships and four Super Bowl titles. They are also one of the most popular teams in the league, with a huge fan base that spans the globe.
One of the things that sets the Packers apart from other teams is their tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in November, the Packers take the field to take on another team in what has become one of the most hotly anticipated games of the NFL season.
So why do the Packers play on Thanksgiving? There are a few reasons.
First, it is a tradition that dates back nearly a century. The Packers have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1923, when they took on the Hammond Pros. Since then, they have only missed two Turkey Day games, in 1924 and 1925. Playing on Thanksgiving has become a cherished tradition for both the team and their fans.
Second, playing on Thanksgiving is a great way to showcase the team to a national audience. With games being televised across the country, it gives fans who might not otherwise get to see the Packers an opportunity to do so. It also gives casual fans a chance to check out what all the fuss is about and maybe even become die-hard fans themselves.
Third, it’s simply good business. Playing on Thanksgiving generates a lot of buzz and excitement around the team, which translates into increased ticket sales and merchandise sales. It’s also a great way to thank their loyal fans by giving them something special to look forward to every year.
So there you have it! The next time you sit down to watch the Packers play on Thanksgiving Day, remember that there’s more to it than just football; there’s also history, tradition, and some good old-fashioned marketing savvy at work.
