When you think of Thanksgiving, certain images probably spring to the forefront of your mind. There’s undoubtedly a table full of food, whether it’s an idealized version à la Norman Rockwell or something more akin to real life. And, for many families, football is probably a part of that equation.
Over the years, the NFL has successfully staked its claim to Turkey Day, with the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys becoming as much as of a holiday fixture as turkey and stuffing. But have you ever wondered why they’re ever-presents?
As with many other seasonal mysteries, it largely comes down to tradition.
Composite image of Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions coaches and players. The two NFL rivals are as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing. Composite image of Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions coaches and players. The two NFL rivals are as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing. Photo-illustration by Newsweek
Why Do the Cowboys Play Every Thanksgiving?
There are plenty of cliches about how you can’t get an opportunity without asking for it. Former Cowboys president and general manager Tex Schramm apparently took that to heart.
As laid out in a 2021 Dallas Morning News post, Schramm volunteered his team for a second Thanksgiving Day game (the Lions, as we’ll discuss shortly, were already playing on the holiday). The offer, however, came on one condition: the Cowboys would play that contest at home.
The gambit promptly paid off. Dallas took to the field on Thanksgiving 1966 and beat the visiting Cleveland Browns 26-14. To make things even sweeter for Schramm, more than 82,000 fans piled into the Cotton Bowl to watch the game.
The Cowboys have played away from home twice, in 1975 and 1977, but those games were outliers.
Why Do the Lions Play Every Thanksgiving?
When the Cowboys entered the Thanksgiving Day picture, they were the new kids on the block. The Lions, believe it or not, have an even longer history on the holiday.
As explained by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the tradition dates back to 1934 when George A. Richards bought the Portsmouth Spartans, moved them to Detroit and rebranded the club as the Lions. Looking to make a splash during the initial campaign in the Motor City, Richards not only scheduled a Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears, but struck a deal with NBC to broadcast the game across 94 radio stations.
Detroit lost that day, but the game proved to be a massive public relations success. It was such a hit that barring a break for World War II, the Lions have hosted an annual Turkey Day contest ever since.
Do Other Teams Play on Thanksgiving?
While the Lions and the Cowboys are synonymous with Thanksgiving Day football, they don’t hold a monopoly on the holiday. Since both teams traditionally host home games, two other clubs have to enter the fray to complete the matchups.
The NFL made things a triple-header in 2006, making even more space on the holiday schedule. The Kansas City Chiefs hosted the first edition of that third contest—KC’s founder and original owner had advocated for a third Turkey Day game—but they didn’t become a fixture like Detroit and Dallas. That means two additional franchises get a spot in the limelight each year.
Over the years, every currently active NFL team has gotten a chance to play on Thanksgiving barring one: the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What Was the ‘Thanksgiving Day Massacre?’
When you settle in to watch some festive football, you’re probably rooting for an evenly matched contest, assuming you don’t have any skin in the game. The