The Evolution of Thanksgiving Football Tradition
Even before the NFL introduced three Thanksgiving games, the concept of Thanksgiving games was already alive in certain regions of the country.
The Northeast is seen as the birthplace of this Thanksgiving tradition, but interestingly, it wasn’t the New York Giants or Jets that started it. The roots can be traced back to the prestigious Princeton and Yale.
On November 30, 1876, these two schools played what is recognized as the first college football game, with Yale clinching a 2-0 victory in Hoboken, New Jersey. A mere 1,000 fans witnessed this historical event, marking the beginning of a longstanding custom.
In the ensuing two decades, this annual event gained traction, particularly when Princeton secured a 6-0 win in 1892 before over 50,000 spectators. According to historical accounts, while that was the last Thanksgiving encounter between the schools, a surge in college, high school, and club games emerged, with around 5,000 games being played on the holiday during the 1890s.
The NFL’s Thanksgiving Connection
Many people link the origins of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tradition to the Detroit Lions, but before that, games had already been a part of Thanksgiving for many years.
As early as 1920, teams like the Akron Pros and Dayton Triangles held Thanksgiving games, shutting out the Canton Bulldogs and Detroit Heralds, respectively. Non-league teams such as the Illyria Athletics and Chicago Boosters also participated on this festive day.
The Chicago Bears made history in 1922 by playing in what would become a long line of Thanksgiving matchups. One standout game was in 1934 when the Lions, under entrepreneur George A. Richards, hosted the Chicago Bears after moving the Ohio Spartans team to Detroit for under $8,000. This game drew a record crowd of 26,000 fans to the University of Detroit Stadium, and while the Bears won 19-16, it set in motion a tradition that continues with the Lions.
Lions, Cowboys, and More
Since the Lions became a team, they have hosted Thanksgiving games annually, with breaks only during World War II from 1939 to 1944.
The first televised Thanksgiving game featured the Lions against the Green Bay Packers in 1953. However, it took 13 years before another Thanksgiving game made it to television.
On November 24, 1966, the Dallas Cowboys participated in their first televised Turkey Day contest, defeating the Cleveland Browns 26-14 in front of over 80,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl. This event marked the Cowboys as a staple in the Thanksgiving lineup.
According to Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm, Texas sports fans were accustomed to holiday games, noting that “people in this area are used to playing football with turkeys due to the Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry.”
For several years, the Cowboys held the second game, but in 1975, the NFL wanted to highlight the St. Louis Cardinals’ offense, leading to the Cardinals’ involvement in the Thanksgiving lineup. However, their poor performance prompted the NFL to return the Thanksgiving spotlight to the Cowboys in 1978, with Schramm reportedly negotiating for a permanent Thanksgiving spot.
Thanksgiving and John Madden
The late John Madden brought a unique flair to football broadcasts, contributing significantly to Thanksgiving football lore. He called 22 consecutive Thanksgiving games since 1981 and introduced the concept of Turducken—a dish that has become a staple of the Thanksgiving broadcast experience.
Introduced in 1996, Turducken involved a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, all encased in a deboned turkey. Madden helped popularize the dish, making it an interesting talking point during Thanksgiving games. In fact, in 2002, he even tore apart a roasted Turducken right on-air.
Sadly, Madden retired shortly after the NFL expanded its Thanksgiving schedule to three games in 2006, limiting his chances to spread his enthusiasm for this festive dish further. However, players have carried on his traditions, often seen enjoying turkey after games or celebrations on the field.
