By Lauren Zulick ‘25
What can be more American than NFL games on Thanksgiving Day? Football on Thanksgiving Day is one of the oldest and most cherished traditions in American sports. It has become a time when families gather to enjoy not only a big holiday but also some exciting NFL action.
The NFL has been scheduling and playing games since they were founded in 1920. Specifically, the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have been playing on this day since 1934 and 1966, respectively. This Thanksgiving Day, the NFL has a tripleheader, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 28th and ending that night with a kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET.
By the early 1930s, the NFL saw an opportunity to create a special football event for the holiday. The Detroit Lions, who were a new team at the time, were the first to take advantage of this idea. In 1934, the Lions hosted the first-ever Thanksgiving Day game at their home stadium, which was called Tiger Stadium at the time. They played against the Chicago Bears, one of the NFL’s oldest teams. The Lions lost that game 19-16, but the idea of playing on Thanksgiving had been born. Fans loved the idea of football on Thanksgiving, and the Lions quickly became known for their annual tradition.
The first kickoff of the day starts off with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The games will be streamed and Paramount+. These two NFC North teams are known for their hard-fought, physical games and their Thanksgiving matchups are no exception.
The last time these teams played, Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears upset the Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago. This past game ended in the Bears winning 28-13 during week 14 of the regular season. The Bears, led by quarterback Justin Fields, will be looking to continue their strong play, while the Lions will be eager to defend their home turf and get the win this time around.
The second kickoff on Thanksgiving is our home team, the Dallas Cowboys versus the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The second game will stream on Fox and FuboTV. With Dak Prescott, the Cowboys first string quarterback out for the season, there is no doubt that the Cowboys are going to be facing quite the challenge on the 28th.
Backup quarterback responsibilities will be critical for the Cowboys, as they try to maintain their playoff hopes against the New York Giants, a team known for its unpredictability and competitive spirit. The Cowboys’ games have become a fan-favorite fixture, especially with the team’s strong following and tradition of competitive play on this holiday.
Lastly, the third kickoff of the day is the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers at 8:20 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. This matchup will stream on NBC and FuboTV. With entertaining coach Mike McDaniel on the Dolphins side and coach Matt LaFleur on the Packers side, this is sure to be an entertaining game to end off Thanksgiving Day.
THE BEAR FACTS 