Which Current NFL Franchise Has Never Played on Thanksgiving Day?

Did you know that there are four NFL franchises that have never played on Thanksgiving Day? Can you name them?

The History of NFL Franchises

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966.

The Original NFL Franchises

In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was formed. The Association began with 14 teams and ultimately expanded to 22. In 1922, the APFA was renamed the National Football League.

The 14 original NFL franchises were:
-Akron Pros
-Canton Bulldogs
-Chicago Cardinals
-Chicago Bears
-Cleveland Indians
– Dayton Triangles
– Decatur Staleys
– Detroit Heralds
– Duluth Eskimos
– Hammond Pros
– Massillon Tigers
– Muncie Flyers
– Rochester Jeffersons
– Rock Island Independents

The Current NFL Franchises

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.

The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; since 1970, it has been held on Thanksgiving Day.

All current NFL teams have played on Thanksgiving Day at some point in their history.

The Thanksgiving Day Tradition

Every year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans gather around the television to watch the annual Thanksgiving Day football game. This tradition started in 1876, when the Yale and Princeton football teams played each other on Thanksgiving Day. The game has become a staple of American culture, with people of all ages tuning in to watch. But there is one current NFL franchise that has never played on Thanksgiving Day.

The First Thanksgiving Day Game

The very first Thanksgiving Day game was played in Detroit in 1934 between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. The game was broadcast on radio and was a huge success, with over 26,000 fans in attendance. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since, with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to World War II).

The Current Thanksgiving Day Games

This year, there are three NFL games happening on Thanksgiving Day. The first game is between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The second game is between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Chargers. The third and final game is between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons.

The NFL Franchises That Have Never Played on Thanksgiving Day

The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934, with the exception of 1939, when they hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day but lost to the Green Bay Packers. So, which other NFL franchises have never played on Thanksgiving Day?

The Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals, who joined the NFL as the Morgan Athletic Club in 1898, have never played on Thanksgiving. That’s not to say they haven’t been competitive on Turkey Day – they have a 5-5-1 record overall – but they’ve only ever played six Thanksgiving games, most recently in 1933. The Cardinals will play their first game on Thanksgiving this year when they face the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFL to have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934. In fact, it was the Lions who first popularized the tradition of playing on Thanksgiving. The team has played a total of 85 Thanksgiving games, winning 39 of them.

While the Lions have been a constants on Turkey Day, many other teams have come and gone from the annual lineup. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys have both played on Thanksgiving more than 20 times each, but there are currently four NFL franchises that have never played on Thanksgiving Day:

1. The Jacksonville Jaguars
2. The Carolina Panthers
3. The Houston Texans
4. The expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976

The Dallas Cowboys

As football has become a tradition on Thanksgiving Day in the United States, many NFL franchises have played games on the holiday. However, there are a few teams that have never played on Thanksgiving Day. One of those teams is the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys are one of the most popular teams in the NFL, and they have a rich history. They were founded in 1960 as an expansion team, and they quickly became one of the most successful teams in the league. They have played in eight Super Bowls, winning five of them. They are also one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL, worth an estimated $4 billion.

Despite their success and popularity, the Cowboys have never played on Thanksgiving Day. This is partly due to their owner, Jerry Jones, who has said that he doesn’t want his team to play on Thanksgiving because he wants them to be home with their families on the holiday.

While the Cowboys have never played on Thanksgiving Day, they have been featured in some of the most iconic Thanksgiving Day games in NFL history. In 1966, they played in the first-ever live nationally televised NFL game on Thanksgiving Day, against the Cleveland Browns. It was a historic game that was watched by millions of people across America.

The Cowboys also played in one of the most memorable ThanksgivingDay games ever in 1978, when they beat the Minnesota Vikings 28-27 in what was dubbed “The Miracle at Texas Stadium.” The Vikings had led 27-14 with less than two minutes left in the game, but the Cowboys rallied to score two touchdowns to win it 28-27.

While the Dallas Cowboys have never played on Thanksgiving Day, they are still one of the most popular and successful teams in NFL history.