NFL Thanksgiving Day Games History: Origin, Team Records, Traditions and more

When you think of Thanksgiving today, football is on the short list of holiday staples. Watching the NFL is right there with being with family, carving the turkey, and slicing the pumpkin pie when it comes to traditions on this special holiday in November each year.

While it may seem like the NFL and Thanksgiving have always gone together, that’s not exactly the case. The NFL began in 1920, but the first Thanksgiving game didn’t occur until 14 years later.

Here’s everything you need to know about the history and origins of this holiday tradition:

When did the NFL start playing games on Thanksgiving?

The every-year tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving, NFL style, dates back to 1934 when the Detroit Spartans hosted the World Champion Chicago Bears.

What NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?

The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys traditionally always play on Thanksgiving. The Lions have been playing on the holiday dating back to 1934, while the Cowboys have been since 1966.

RELATED: How to watch the NFL on Thanksgiving this year

Why do the Detroit Lions always play on Thanksgiving?

According to ProFootballHOF.com, George A. Richards, who was a radio executive in Detroit, purchased the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans, moved them to the Motor City and set up a game on Thanksgiving in hopes of attracting fans in the team’s first season.

Why do the Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?

According to NFL.com, in the 1960s, the NFL was looking for another team to commit to playing on Thanksgiving along with the Detroit Lions. While many teams weren’t interested, Dallas Cowboys GM Tex Schramm believed the publicity of playing on Thanksgiving would be good for his struggling team in 1966. Schramm’s decision paid off on the field and at the gate, which is why the tradition has continued and in part is why the Cowboys are known as “America’s Team.”

Has every NFL team played on Thanksgiving?

Every team has played on Thanksgiving except for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

What is every NFL team’s record on Thanksgiving?TeamThanksgiving RecordArizona Cardinals6-15-2Atlanta Falcons1-3Baltimore Ravens2-0Buffalo Bills6-4-1Carolina Panthers1-0Chicago Bears20-15-2Cincinnati Bengals0-1Cleveland Browns3-3Dallas Cowboys32-22-1Denver Broncos4-7Detroit Lions37-44-2Green Bay Packers14-20-2Houston Texans2-0Indianapolis Colts2-1-1Jacksonville JaguarsNAKansas City Chiefs5-5Las Vegas Raiders4-4Los Angeles Chargers3-1-1Los Angeles Rams4-1Miami Dolphins5-2Minnesota Vikings7-2New England Patriots3-3New Orleans Saints3-1New York Giants7-6-3New York Jets4-4Philadelphia Eagles6-1Pittsburgh Steelers2-6San Francisco 49ers3-2-1Seattle Seahawks2-2Tampa Bay Buccaneers0-1Tennessee Titans5-2Washington Commanders4-82023 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule