What NFL Teams Always Play on Thanksgiving?

It’s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about what NFL teams will be playing on Thanksgiving Day. As always, there are a few teams that always seem to end up playing on Turkey Day. So, who are the teams that always play on Thanksgiving?

The Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have been a staple on Thanksgiving Day ever since they first played on the holiday in 1966. They’ve played on Thanksgiving every year since, with the exception of 1975 and 1977. In recent years, the Cowboys have usually played against either the Detroit Lions or the Miami Dolphins.

The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934. The team’s annual game on the holiday is a tradition that dates back to the days of the NFL’s founding, and it is one of the longest-running in all of professional football. The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game is one of the most anticipated events on the NFL calendar, and it always draws a large television audience.

The Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other team in the NFL, a tradition that dates back to their early years as a franchise. The Packers have played on Thanksgiving Day a total of 33 times, most recently in 2015. The team has a 20-12-1 record on Thanksgiving Day.

The Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are one of two teams that always play on Thanksgiving. The other team is the Detroit Lions. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934, with the exception of 1939-1944. The Dolphins have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1966.

The New England Patriots

Year after year, the New England Patriots have become a staple on Thanksgiving. They have played on the holiday every year since 2002, with the exception of 2008. The Patriots have a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition of their own, playing a game at home against a division opponent. In recent years, that has been the Buffalo Bills.

The New York Jets

The New York Jets are one of the NFL teams that always play on Thanksgiving. It is a tradition that started in the early days of the franchise, and has continued ever since. The Jets have played in Thanksgiving games every year since 1966, with the exception of one year (1968) when they did not have a game scheduled.

The Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have played on Thanksgiving Day more often than any other team in the NFL. They have played a total of 40 games on Thanksgiving, with their first appearance coming in 1933 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Eagles have a record of 22-17-1 on Thanksgiving Day.

The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have played in the most Thanksgiving games of any NFL team, with a total of 39 appearances. They have also won the most Thanksgiving games of any team, with 27 wins. The Steelers have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1952.

The San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have played in more Thanksgiving games than any other team, a total of 27 times. They’ve played on the holiday every year since 1972.

The Washington Redskins

For many years, the Detroit Lions have been synonymous with Thanksgiving football. The team has hosted a game on the holiday almost every year since 1934, with a few exceptions. The Dallas Cowboys have also become a stalwart of the holiday, playing on Thanksgiving day nearly every year since 1966. But there’s one team that’s been a Thanksgiving mainstay even longer than either of those squads: the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins first played on Thanksgiving in 1934, just their second season in the NFL. They’ve missed the holiday only twice since then, in 1938 and 1939. That means that the Redskins have played on Thanksgiving more often than any other team in NFL history.

Interestingly, the Redskins’ Thanksgiving streak almost came to an end in 1940. The team was set to host the Lions on Thanksgiving day, but due to schedule changes caused by World War II, the game was moved to December 21st. The Lions ended up winning that contest handily, 26-14.

The following year, 1941, saw the start of another long Thanksgiving tradition: the annual Turkey Bowl rivalry game between high school teams from Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. That game has been played every year since, making it one of the oldest rivalries in American football history.

So if you’re looking for a team to root for on Turkey Day, you can’t go wrong with the Redskins. Just be sure to enjoy some turkey and stuffing while you’re cheering them on!