Which NFL Teams Have Never Played on Thanksgiving?

The NFL has a long tradition of playing games on Thanksgiving Day, but not every team has been fortunate enough to take part. Here’s a look at which NFL teams have never played on Thanksgiving.

The Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since 1934. They are the only team in the NFL to have done so. The Lions have played in more Thanksgiving games than any other team in the NFL.

History

The Detroit Lions have a long and storied history of playing on Thanksgiving Day. The tradition began in 1934 when the team was known as the Portsmouth Spartans and was scheduled to play the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. The game was so popular that it was moved to Detroit the following year, when the team became the Lions.

The Lions have played on Thanksgiving every year since, with the exception of 1939-1944, due to World War II. In 1945, the holiday game resumed and has been held annually in Detroit ever since. The Lions have played more Thanksgiving games than any other NFL team, and they are also the only team to have won four consecutive games on the holiday (1952-1955).

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The Lions have a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day, dating back to 1934 when they hosted the Chicago Bears at University of Detroit Stadium. The game was so successful that it became an annual tradition, and the Lions have been hosting a Thanksgiving game ever since.

There are a few reasons why the Lions play on Thanksgiving. First, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the team to a national audience. The Thanksgiving Day game is always televised, and it’s one of the few times that the Lions get to play in front of a national audience. Secondly, playing on Thanksgiving is a great way to generate excitement and interest in the team. It’s one of the few times during the season that fans can come together and watch their favorite team play. Finally, playing on Thanksgiving is a great way to generate revenue for the team. The Lions typically sell out their Thanksgiving Day games, and they generate a lot of revenue from ticket sales and television rights fees.

The Dallas Cowboys

Every year, NFL fans look forward to Thanksgiving because it means three things: Turkey, family… and football. The Turkey Day game has become such an integral part of the holiday that it’s hard to imagine Thanksgiving without it. For the most part, the tradition has remained the same. The Detroit Lions always play at home on Thanksgiving, and they are typically joined by two other teams.

History

The Dallas Cowboys first played on Thanksgiving Day in 1966. They have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since, with the exception of 1975 and 1977. In 1975, the Cowboys were scheduled to play the St. Louis Cardinals on Thanksgiving, but the game was cancelled due to a player’s strike. In 1977, the Cowboys played the Miami Dolphins in Miami on Thanksgiving Day.

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The Dallas Cowboys have been playing on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1966. The tradition began as a way to boost ticket sales at a time when the team was struggling financially. The gamble paid off, and the Cowboys have been one of the most popular teams in the NFL ever since.

The Cowboys are not the only team to play on Thanksgiving Day, but they are the only team to do so every year. Other teams that have played on Thanksgiving in recent years include the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins.

The Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are the only team in the NFL that have never played on Thanksgiving. This is because they are the only team that was founded before the NFL was created. The Packers have always played on Thanksgiving Day, but they have never been scheduled to play on Thanksgiving Day.

History

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, dating back to 1919, and is the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States. Home games have been played at Lambeau Field since 1957.

The Packers are the last of the “small town teams” which were common in the NFL during the league’s early days of 1922 and 1927. Founded in 1919 by Earl “Curly” Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the franchise traces its lineage to other semi-professional teams in Green Bay dating back to 1896. Between 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed against other semi-pro clubs from around Wisconsin and Michigan, before joining the American Professional Football Association (APFA), Dr. David Jones first attempt at a national pro football league, in 1921. Although Green Bay is by far the smallest major league market in North America, its fandom has historically been some of the strongest among NFL teams; Sports Illustrated ranked Lambeau Field fourth on its list of “Football’s Top 10 Greatest Venues” of all time while Bleacher Report named it as one of their top five (#3).

Over 11 decades since their establishment,the team has won 13 league championships, including nine NFL Championships (pre-1966 AFL–NFL merge) and four Super Bowls, most recently Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 season. The Packers have long enjoyed a strong rivalry with their Art Rooney founded and Mike Holmgren coached divisional opponents Chicago Bears whom they have played over 180 times since 1921; as well as more regional rivals like Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The Packers have played on Thanksgiving Day four times in their history. The first time was in 1921, when they defeated the Hammond Pros, 7-6. The second time was in 1922, when they defeated the Minneapolis Marines, 12-0. In 1923, the Packers beat the Duluth Kelleys, 7-6. And in 1924, they defeated the Hammond Pros again, 14-0.

Why do the Packers play on Thanksgiving?

The answer is simple: because they can.

The Packers are one of only two teams in the NFL (the other being the Detroit Lions) that are owned by their community, meaning that they are not owned by a single individual or group of individuals. This ownership structure allows the team to play on Thanksgiving Day whenever they want to, as there is no one person or group that has to answer to for making that decision.

So, if you’re ever wondering why the Packers are playing on Thanksgiving Day (or any other day for that matter), just remember: because they can.

The Miami Dolphins

Since the Dolphins joined the NFL in 1966, they have never played on Thanksgiving. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving every year since the 1950s, but the Dolphins have never had the chance. In fact, the Dolphins have only played on Thanksgiving once, in 1971, and they lost that game.

History

The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The Dolphins play their home games at Hard Rock Stadium in the northern suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida. The Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons are the only NFL franchises to have perfect regular season and playoff records.

The franchise began play in 1966 as an expansion team. The team made its first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl VI, losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 24–3. The following year, the Dolphins completed the NFL’s only perfect season, culminating in a Super Bowl win, winning all 14 of their regular season games, and all three of their playoff games, including Super Bowl VII. They were the third NFL team to accomplish this feat (joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2016 New England Patriots). In 1972, the Dolphins won their second consecutive Super Bowl after having a regular season that was virtually flawless.

In Dolphin lore, Thanksgiving has not been kind to them over the years. In fact, they have never played on Thanksgiving in their history.

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The Miami Dolphins are one of three teams who have never played on Thanksgiving, along with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. The Lions have played every Thanksgiving since 1934, while the Cowboys have hosted a game on Thanksgiving every year since 1966. So why haven’t the Dolphins ever had the chance to play on Thanksgiving?

It’s not because they’re not good enough – the Dolphins have actually been quite successful over the years, appearing in five Super Bowls and winning two of them. It’s also not because they’re not popular enough – the Dolphins have a large and passionate fan base.

So why is it that the Dolphins have never played on Thanksgiving? The answer may lie in the fact that Miami is not a traditional football city. Unlike Detroit and Dallas, which have long histories of being football towns, Miami only has one professional team (the Dolphins) and didn’t even get an NFL franchise until 1966.

While it’s possible that the NFL has simply never thought to put the Dolphins on Thanksgiving, it’s more likely that they simply don’t fit the mold of what a traditional Thanksgiving game should be. After all, part of the appeal of watching football on Thanksgiving is seeing two historic rivals go head-to-head. And with only one professional team, it’s hard for Miami to rival either Detroit or Dallas in terms of football tradition.

The New York Jets

The New York Jets have never played on Thanksgiving. The team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL). The team began play in 1960 at the Polo Grounds. After the 1962 season, the Titans moved to Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, where they remained for the next four decades.

History

The New York Jets are a professional American football team located in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference East division. The team is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey. In a unique arrangement for the league, the Jets share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey with the New York Giants. The franchise is legally and corporately registered as New York Jets, LLC.

The team was founded in 1959 as the Titans of New York, an original member of the American Football League (AFL); later, the franchise joined the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The team began to play in 1960 at the Polo Grounds. Under new ownership, the current name was adopted three years later and the franchise moved to Shea Stadium in 1964 and then to Giants Stadium in 1984. The team reached the playoffs for the first time in 1968 and went on to compete in Super Bowl III where they defeated the Baltimore Colts, becoming the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game. Since 1968, they have appeared in 14 AFC Championship Games, and 4 Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl III and Super Bowl XLVIII , led by three-time Super Bowl winning head coach Weeb Ewbank and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath . However, their visit to Pittsburgh this past Thanksgiving marked just their second appearance on Thanksgiving Day; their first came all the way back in 1963 against Detroit (a game they lost 26-7).

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The New York Jets are one of four teams that have never played on Thanksgiving, but that could all change this year.

The Jets are in talks to play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, according to a report from NFL Media.

The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1934, with the exception of 1939, when they played on the road. The team has hosted the annual holiday game more than any other NFL team.

If the Jets do end up playing on Thanksgiving, it would be a first for the team. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934 (with the exception of 1939).

The Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL over the past few decades. They have won six Super Bowls, and their fans are some of the most passionate in the league. One thing that the Steelers have never done is play on Thanksgiving.

History

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in 1933, the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC.

In contrast with their status as perennial Super Bowl contenders, the Steelers have traditionally always struggled on Thanksgiving, posting a record of just 8–20 all-time on the holiday (with their last win coming in 1988). In recent years, however, they have managed to win two out of their last three Thanksgiving games, defeating the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 and 2018.

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of only three NFL teams that have never played on Thanksgiving. The other two teams are the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. The reason the Steelers have never played on Thanksgiving is because they have always been scheduled to play their annual “Thanksgiving Day Game” on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving.

The San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have never played on Thanksgiving. This is because the team was not founded until 1946, long after the tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving started. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have been playing on Thanksgiving since the 1930s.

History

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team located in the San Francisco Bay Area. They compete in the National Football League as a member of the league’s National Football Conference West division. The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and joined the NFL in 1949 when the leagues merged. The 49ers were the first major league professional sports franchise based in San Francisco. The name “49ers” comes from the prospectors who arrived in Northern California during the 1849 Gold Rush.

The team has won five Super Bowl championships, with the first in 1981 and the most recent in 1994. They have been division champions 20 times between 1970 and 2020 and have played in eight NFC Championship Games. As of 2020, according to Forbes, the team is valued at $3 billion, making them the fifth-most valuable franchise in the NFL and second-most valuable sports franchise in California behind only Los Angeles Lakers. In 2019, Levi’s Stadium, their home stadium since 2014, ranked as one of the worst stadiums for home field advantage by SI.com due to its location within Santa Clara County being far away from San Francisco itself.

Why they play on Thanksgiving

The San Francisco 49ers play on Thanksgiving because they are one of the most storied and successful teams in NFL history. The team has played in more Thanksgiving games than any other team, and they have a winning record in those games. The 49ers play on Thanksgiving because they are a tradition-rich franchise that is always competitive. In recent years, the team has used the holiday game as a springboard to success in the playoffs.