A look back at the origins of the Thanksgiving NFL tradition and the first-ever game that kicked off this iconic holiday celebration.
Football is one of the main traditions for Thanksgiving celebrations nowadays. In the words of the legendary John Madden, “Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand.” Some things simply complement each other perfectly.
Even though the association between the NFL and Thanksgiving seems longstanding, it is not completely accurate. The NFL started in 1920, but the initial Thanksgiving game was held 14 years after.
The annual tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving, NFL fashion, originated in 1934 with the Detroit Spartans hosting the World Champion Chicago Bears.
The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have a longstanding tradition of playing on Thanksgiving each year. The Lions have been participating in games on the holiday since 1934, and the Cowboys have been doing so since 1966.
George A. Richards, a radio executive based in Detroit, bought the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans and relocated them to Detroit to play a Thanksgiving game to draw fans in the team’s debut season. The NFL wanted another team to participate in Thanksgiving games besides the Detroit Lions.
Despite lack of interest from other teams, Dallas Cowboys GM Tex Schramm saw the benefit of playing on Thanksgiving for his struggling team in 1966. Schramm’s choice was successful in both the game and ticket sales, leading to the continuation of the tradition and contributing to the Cowboys being dubbed “America’s Team.” All teams have competed on Thanksgiving except the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL has participated in Thanksgiving Day games, inspired by the tradition of college football games during the same time of year. One game has been played by the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day since 1934, and another game has been hosted by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966, with only two exceptions in 1975 and 1977.
Since 2006, there has also been a third prime-time game played on Thanksgiving Day. In contrast to the two-afternoon matches, this game does not have set teams.
From 2001 onwards, the NFL started to market the matches as the Thanksgiving Classic. In 2022, the league rebranded to the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration in memory of coach and broadcaster John Madden, who passed away in December 2021.
Image Credit- Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2023.
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