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Growing up in a small Midwestern town, Thanksgiving at my house always followed the same sacred routine. The morning started with the smell of turkey roasting, followed by the familiar sound of the TV announcer’s voice welcoming viewers to the annual Thanksgiving Day football game. I cannot remember a single Thanksgiving without football playing in the background. But have you ever wondered how this tradition began? Explore the history of Thanksgiving Day football, from 1876 college games to NFL traditions.
The Surprising Origins of America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition
The marriage between Thanksgiving and football did not happen overnight. It actually dates back further than most people realize. The very first Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1876, when Yale and Princeton began their holiday rivalry. This was decades before the NFL even existed! As a history buff who loves unusual facts, I found this particularly fascinating when I first learned about it.
The professional football Thanksgiving tradition started in 1934 when the Detroit Lions played against the Chicago Bears. The Lions’ owner, George A. Richards, was looking for ways to increase attendance and gain attention for his new team. He figured the Thanksgiving holiday was the perfect opportunity to attract fans, and he was absolutely right. The game sold out two weeks in advance and had to turn away thousands of eager spectators.
How the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys Became Thanksgiving Icons
Detroit has hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1934, except during World War II. That is nearly nine decades of holiday football tradition! I still remember my grandfather telling stories about gathering around the radio to listen to these games before television became commonplace.
The Dallas Cowboys jumped on the Thanksgiving bandwagon in 1966 when general manager Tex Schramm recognized the marketing potential. The Cowboys’ game that year broke attendance records and established what would become another enduring Thanksgiving tradition. My uncle, a die-hard Cowboys fan, has not missed watching their Thanksgiving game since 1978.
Memorable Moments That Made Thanksgiving Football History
Thanksgiving games have produced some of the most iconic moments in NFL history. Remember Leon Lett’s infamous fumble recovery attempt in the snow during the 1993 Cowboys-Dolphins game? Or the Butt Fumble in 2012 when Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into his own lineman’s backside and fumbled the ball? These moments live on in Thanksgiving football lore.
The 1998 Thanksgiving game featured the “Coin Toss Controversy” between the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, when referee Phil Luckett apparently misheard Jerome Bettis during the overtime coin toss. As someone who was watching that game live with my family, I can still recall the collective gasp in our living room when the confusion unfolded.
Family, Food, and Football: Why This Tradition Endures
What makes Thanksgiving football so special is not just the games themselves, but how they have become intertwined with our holiday celebrations. For many families like mine, the games provide background entertainment during cooking, a focal point for conversation, and sometimes a welcome distraction from awkward family dynamics.
The tradition creates a shared experience that bridges generational gaps. I have bonded with older relatives over stories of Thanksgiving games from decades past, and now I share current games with younger family members.
Many families have even incorporated the games into their own traditions, scheduling dinner around kickoff times or organizing touch football games in the backyard during halftime.
The Future of Thanksgiving Day Football
As the NFL continues to evolve, so too does the Thanksgiving tradition. The league has experimented with international games, new broadcast platforms, and innovative ways to engage viewers. Yet the core appeal remains the same: gathering with loved ones to enjoy good food and exciting football.
This Thanksgiving, as I settle in with a plate of turkey and all the fixings, I know I will be joining millions of Americans in watching the games. Some traditions are worth preserving, and Thanksgiving Day football has certainly earned its place at the holiday table.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving football memories? Do you schedule your meal around the games, or are they just playing in the background? However you celebrate, I hope your holiday is filled with good food, loving company, and maybe a touchdown.
Reference
Gems, G. R., Borish, L. J., & Pfister, G. (2017). Sports in American history: From colonization to globalization. Human Kinetics.
Oriard, M. (2001). King Football: Sport and spectacle in the golden age of radio and newsreels, movies and magazines, the weekly and the daily press. University of North Carolina Press
Rader, B. G. (2004). American sports: From the age of folk games to the age of televised sports. Pearson.
Library of Congress. (2019). Thanksgiving and football: A historical tradition. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://www.loc.gov