Who Plays On Thanksgiving Day in the NFL?
Looking for something to watch on Thanksgiving Day besides the Macy’s parade and football? Why not catch one of the NFL games happening that day? Here’s a look at the schedule.
The History of NFL Thanksgiving Day Football
The Detroit Lions have a long history of playing on Thanksgiving Day, dating back to 1934. The Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day every year since then, except for 1939-1944 (due to the NFL’s policy of not scheduling games on days that would conflict with high school and college football games). In recent years, the Lions have been joined by the Dallas Cowboys, who also have a long history of playing on Thanksgiving Day.
The First NFL Thanksgiving Day Game
The NFL has a long and storied history of playing games on Thanksgiving Day, dating all the way back to the league’s inception in 1920. The first NFL Thanksgiving Day game was held on November 26, 1920, between the Chicago Bears and the Decatur Staleys, with the Bears winning 39-10.
Over the years, many different teams have played on Thanksgiving Day, but there are four teams that have become synonymous with the holiday: the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. These four teams have played on Thanksgiving Day more than any other teams in the NFL, and they continue to do so to this day.
The First NFL Championship Game on Thanksgiving Day
On November 28, 1920, the APFA (now the NFL) staged its first championship game. The game was played between the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Cardinals at Chicago’s Cubs Park (now Wrigley Field). The Cardinals won the game by a score of 9-7.
In 1934, the Detroit Lions began a tradition of hosting a game on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934, with the exception of 1939-1944 (due to World War II). In 1966, the NFL added a second game on Thanksgiving Day, when the Dallas Cowboys hosted the Cleveland Browns.
Since then, three games have been played on Thanksgiving Day each year. In 2006, the NFL added a third game, to be played on that Sunday night. As of 2019, there are now four games played on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Tradition Continues
The NFL has a long tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. Every year, there are three games played on Thanksgiving, and they are always some of the most anticipated games of the season. This year, the games will be even more special because they will be the first games played since the COVID-19 pandemic caused the season to be delayed.
The First Thanksgiving Day NFL Game in Color
The First Thanksgiving Day NFL game in Color happened on November 23, 1934, between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. The game was broadcast on NBC radio, with approximately 10,000 people in the stands at the University of Detroit Stadium. The Lions won, 19-16.
Since that first game, there have been annual Thanksgiving Day games in the NFL. As of 2016, there have been a total of 83 such games. Most games have been between division rivals , with the exception of a few years during World War II when some teams couldn’t field enough players due to military service .
The First NFL Thanksgiving Day Doubleheader
The first NFL Thanksgiving Day doubleheader was played on November 25, 1948, but it wasn’t until 1966 that the tradition became an annual event. That year, the Dallas Cowboys started a tradition of their own by hosting the first ever NFL Thanksgiving Day game. The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game every year since 1934, making them the longest running hosts of any NFL team.
In recent years, the NFL has also added a third game to the Thanksgiving Day lineup. This has become a tradition for many football fans, as it gives them even more reasons to be thankful on this special holiday.
The Games We Watch Today
Football fans all over the country look forward to Thanksgiving Day because it means three NFL games on television. This year, two of the games feature division rivals. In the early game, the Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears. The Lions have been playing well lately and are contenders for a playoff spot. The Bears are also in the hunt for a playoff berth. This should be a close, exciting game.
The Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.
The Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day numerous times throughout their franchise history. The most recent occurrence was in 2016, when they defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-17. As of the 2019 season, the Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving Day a total of 39 times, the most of any NFL team.
The Green Bay Packers
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 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 Polybiat. 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 (now the NFL) on August 11th, 1921. Although Green Bay is by far the smallest major league market in North America, Forbes ranked the Packers as the world’s 26th most valuable sports franchise in 2016, with a value of $2.35 billion.
