NFL Thanksgiving games: Interesting facts and history of football tradition

NFL Thanksgiving games: Interesting facts and history of football traditionStory byNFL Thanksgiving games: Interesting facts and history of football traditionJack McKessy, USA TODAYThu, November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM UTC·3 min read

Thanksgiving and NFL football go hand-in-hand today, but when did the tradition of football on Turkey Day even start?

As it turns out, the NFL – technically, its direct predecessor, the American Professional Football Association – has been playing football on the federal holiday since its inception. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the professional football league played its first Thanksgiving game in 1920, the same year it was founded.

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In the more than a century since, there have been hundreds of NFL games on Thanksgiving. Three more will get underway this year, marking the 20th straight season the league has played three games on the federal holiday.

Here's what to know about the NFL's history on Thanksgiving:

Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott poses with the Galloping Gobbler trophy after the win over Washington at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov 24, 2016. The Cowboys won the game, 31-26. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott put on an offensive showcase.

During a Thanksgiving Day game in 2013, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got into the action. The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return, but Tomlin stepped onto the field, causing Jones to avoid the Steelers coach along the sideline. Instead of a touchdown, Jones was tackled after a 73-yard return. The Ravens went on to win the game, 22-20.

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collides with the backside of lineman Brandon Moore and fumbles the ball. It was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory. The play was part of a disastrous sequence for the Jets, who lost three fumbles as the Patriots scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds. New England went on to win 49-19, and Sanchez's infamous moment from the 2012 game is known as "The Butt Fumble."

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter NFL action in Irving, Texas Nov. 23, 2006. In a breakout game, Romo threw for 306 yards and five TDs.

On his way to 49 touchdown passes for the season, Peyton Manning put six on the board in the Indianapolis Colts' masterful 41-9 win over the Detroit Lions. Manning went 23-of-28 for 236 yards and six touchdowns before being pulled near the end of third quarter in 2004.

Randy Moss added another tally to his incredible rookie year in in the Minnesota Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching three touchdown passes for 163 yards in 1998.

With the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers headed to overtime, referee Phil Luckett's microphone caught Pittsburgh captain Jerome Bettis calling "tails" on the coin toss. Despite the toss coming up tails, Luckett claimed Detroit won the toss. The Lions opted to receive the kickoff and scored a field goal on the first possession to win the game in 1998.

Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions obliterated the Chicago Bears, 55-20, in 1997. Sanders moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list during the game.

The Dallas Cowboys' Leon Lett dives for a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt as Bert Weidner of the Miami Dolphins scrambles for the ball on Nov. 25, 1993, in Irving, Texas. The live ball was recovered by Jeff Dellenbach of the Dolphins. Miami kicker Pete Stoyanovich then made the winning 19-yard field goal as time expired giving the Dolphins a 16-14 victory.

Thanksgiving 1977 marks the last time that the Dallas Cowboys did not host a Thanksgiving Day game. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals played the Miami Dolphins at Busch Stadium. Quarterback Bob Griese led the Dolphins to a dominating 55-10 win. A year later, the Cowboys were back in the Thanksgiving spotlight, a tradition the franchise hasn't relinquished since.

Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for an NFL record 273 yards against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 1976 in Pontiac, Michigan.

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From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.

1 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.

2 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott poses with the Galloping Gobbler trophy after the win over Washington at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov 24, 2016. The Cowboys won the game, 31-26. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott put on an offensive showcase.

3 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

During a Thanksgiving Day game in 2013, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got into the action. The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return, but Tomlin stepped onto the field, causing Jones to avoid the Steelers coach along the sideline. Instead of a touchdown, Jones was tackled after a 73-yard return. The Ravens went on to win the game, 22-20.

4 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collides with the backside of lineman Brandon Moore and fumbles the ball. It was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory. The play was part of a disastrous sequence for the Jets, who lost three fumbles as the Patriots scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds. New England went on to win 49-19, and Sanchez's infamous moment from the 2012 game is known as "The Butt Fumble."

5 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter NFL action in Irving, Texas Nov. 23, 2006. In a breakout game, Romo threw for 306 yards and five TDs.

6 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

On his way to 49 touchdown passes for the season, Peyton Manning put six on the board in the Indianapolis Colts' masterful 41-9 win over the Detroit Lions. Manning went 23-of-28 for 236 yards and six touchdowns before being pulled near the end of third quarter in 2004.

7 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Randy Moss added another tally to his incredible rookie year in in the Minnesota Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching three touchdown passes for 163 yards in 1998.

8 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

With the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers headed to overtime, referee Phil Luckett's microphone caught Pittsburgh captain Jerome Bettis calling "tails" on the coin toss. Despite the toss coming up tails, Luckett claimed Detroit won the toss. The Lions opted to receive the kickoff and scored a field goal on the first possession to win the game in 1998.

9 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions obliterated the Chicago Bears, 55-20, in 1997. Sanders moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list during the game.

10 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

The Dallas Cowboys' Leon Lett dives for a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt as Bert Weidner of the Miami Dolphins scrambles for the ball on Nov. 25, 1993, in Irving, Texas. The live ball was recovered by Jeff Dellenbach of the Dolphins. Miami kicker Pete Stoyanovich then made the winning 19-yard field goal as time expired giving the Dolphins a 16-14 victory.

11 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Thanksgiving 1977 marks the last time that the Dallas Cowboys did not host a Thanksgiving Day game. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals played the Miami Dolphins at Busch Stadium. Quarterback Bob Griese led the Dolphins to a dominating 55-10 win. A year later, the Cowboys were back in the Thanksgiving spotlight, a tradition the franchise hasn't relinquished since.12 / 12

From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments

Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for an NFL record 273 yards against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 1976 in Pontiac, Michigan.

NFL GAMES TODAY: Thanksgiving schedule, times, TV channels

When was the first NFL Thanksgiving game?

The NFL's tradition of playing on Thanksgiving dates back to the league's founding.

The first year of the American Professional Football Association – the league that would become the NFL – was 1920, and six games were played on Thanksgiving that year, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At the time, the league featured teams like the Canton Bulldogs and Decatur Staleys, the latter of which became the Chicago Bears two years later.

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The league's commitment to playing games on Turkey Day began in earnest in 1934, when the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans moved to Detroit, became the Lions and laid claim to an annual game on Thanksgiving. That decision, made by Lions owner and radio executive George A. Richards, was made seven years before Congress made the date of Thanksgiving – the fourth Thursday of November – a federal law.

It has stuck ever since. Except for 1941-1944, when the league paused Thanksgiving games during World War II, there has been a Lions game on Thanksgiving every year.

LIONS THANKSGIVING TRADITION: All-time results, history for Detroit on Turkey Day

What NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

Richards and the Lions were the first to claim an annual Thanksgiving game back in 1934, and they still do to this day.

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In 1966, then-Dallas Cowboys team president Tex Schramm offered his team up to the NFL as a second site for an annual Thanksgiving game. Ever since then – with the exception of 1975 and 1977, when the St. Louis Cardinals hosted a Thanksgiving game instead – the Cowboys have played a game on Thanksgiving.

What NFL team has played the most Thanksgiving Day games?

The Lions have played 85 games on Thanksgiving – their meeting with the Packers on Nov. 27 will be their 86th.

COWBOYS ON THANKSGIVING: What is Dallas' Thanksgiving Day record? Results, history

Which team has the most wins on Thanksgiving?

Detroit, having played the most games by a wide margin, also has the most wins on Turkey Day, although that margin is much slimmer.

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The Lions have won 38 games on Thanksgiving, but the Cowboys – the team that has played the second-most games on the federal holiday – are not far behind them with 34 Thanksgiving wins.

NFL Thanksgiving records by team

• Arizona Cardinals: 6-15-2

• Atlanta Falcons: 1-3

• Baltimore Ravens: 2-0

• Buffalo Bills: 6-4-1

• Carolina Panthers: 1-0

• Chicago Bears: 20-16-2

• Cincinnati Bengals: 0-1

• Cleveland Browns: 3-3

• Dallas Cowboys: 34-22-1

• Denver Broncos: 4-7

• Detroit Lions: 38-45-2

• Green Bay Packers: 16-20-2

• Houston Texans: 2-0

• Indianapolis Colts: 2-1-1

• Jacksonville Jaguars: N/A

• Kansas City Chiefs: 5-5

• Las Vegas Raiders: 4-4

• Los Angeles Chargers: 3-1-1

• Los Angeles Rams: 4-1

• Miami Dolphins: 5-3

• Minnesota Vikings: 7-2

• New England Patriots: 3-3

• New Orleans Saints: 3-1

• New York Giants: 7-7-3

• New York Jets: 4-4

• Philadelphia Eagles: 6-1

• Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-6

• San Francisco 49ers: 3-2-1

• Seattle Seahawks: 2-3

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-1

• Tennessee Titans: 5-2

• Washington Commanders: 4-9

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Thanksgiving games: History of tradition, every team's record

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