Nov 26, 2009; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver (80) celebrates after being awarded the Galloping Gobbler trophy after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-12 at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

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NFL Thanksgiving Traditions: What is the Turkey Leg Award in the NFL?

Explore the NFL's Thanksgiving tradition: the Turkey Leg Award, recognizing standout performances on Thanksgiving Day games.

No other food is as closely associated with Thanksgiving as Turkey. No activity is more closely linked with any holiday than football. It appears quite fitting that the two would unite on the field. Since 1989, the NFL has given the player named MVP on Thanksgiving Day a turkey leg instead of a trophy.

Believe it or not, on Thanksgiving, that turkey drumstick is more exhilarating than any award given out. In the 1989 Thanksgiving matchup between the Eagles and Cowboys, iconic announcer John Madden proposed giving the game’s MVP a turkey leg as a prize for their outstanding performance.

pic.twitter.com/Ppbbd9MRUX The list of Turkey Leg winners is impressive. In 1990, Madden gave the award to @EmmittSmith22, but had wished he had five more legs to recognize the Cowboys o-line.

In 1992, Madden introduced the six-legged turkey, which was then awarded to Smith and.
— KL Norwood (@kl_norwood) November 25, 2022

Reggie White, the Eagles linebacker, received the turkey leg award for the first time as he guided the Philadelphia defense to a 27-0 victory over Troy Aikman and the Cowboys. However, the reputation of the turkey leg prize was destined to expand even more.

The Origins of the NFL Turkey Leg Award

In the 1989 Thanksgiving match between the Eagles and Cowboys, famous announcer John Madden determined that the game’s MVP should be presented with a turkey leg in recognition of their performance.

Reggie White, the Eagles linebacker, became the inaugural winner of the turkey leg prize for guiding Philadelphia’s defense to a 27-0 victory over Troy Aikman and the Cowboys.

However, the reputation of the turkey leg prize was still destined to expand. The next year, Madden once again presented the award to Cowboys’ running back Emmitt Smith. Smith had rushed the ball 23 times for 132 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 27-17 victory over the Redskins.

Madden expressed a desire to present six turkey legs post-game, one for Smith and one for each of Dallas’ five offensive lineman. This led to the creation of a six-legged turkey by Joe Pat Fieseler, owner of Harvey’s Barbecue Pit.

“We had to find turkeys that had a lot of legs on them, There’s only one place you can get a turkey with more than two legs, and that’s in Texas.” : Madden told the Star-Telegram.

Fieseler clarified that despite its unusual appearance, there is a logical explanation for its origin. The true source of the six-legged turkey isn’t due to it being a radioactive creature. According to the report, two legs are natural, while the other four are attached with three-inch wooden skewers. Even now, the best players in the primetime NBC game on Thursday night continue to receive turkey legs.

What is the Galloping Gobbler award in NFL?

Madden kept awarding players until he departed Fox in 2001, then the network started presenting a small trophy named the “Galloping Gobbler.” The trophy resembled a tiny turkey donning a helmet and posing. This prize was not as well-known.

Smith was the inaugural recipient of the prize, noted its resemblance to a Cris Collinsworth bobblehead, and the award was discovered in the garbage after he left it near his locker.

(Nov 24, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) kisses the galloping gobbler trophy after the win over the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys defeat the Redskins 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Imagn Images )

Over time, the award transformed its look, evolving into a bronze turkey statue with a football, until it was eventually redesigned as a plaque in 2011. It was taken out of use in 2017 and was swapped with the “Game Ball,” which was subsequently replaced by a championship belt in 2019.

What exactly is a Turducken?

The turkey leg trophy’s origins are frequently connected to Madden’s turducken. A boneless duck is stuffed inside a boneless chicken which is then stuffed inside a boneless turkey to create the turducken.

In 1997, Madden first showcased the turducken during the Thanksgiving game between the Bears and Lions, discussing it on air in the broadcast booth with Pat Summerall in front of the six-legged turkey and turducken.

In 2002, Madden told The New York Times that he first tried the dish after a Saints public relations staff member recommended it. Madden mentioned he didn’t have a plate or utensils, but the smell and appearance were so appealing he chose to eat with his hands.

Image Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!