The answer lies in history, ambition, and a bit of luck. Let’s explore why these two teams are inseparable from Thanksgiving and how the NFL has built a legacy around the holiday.
The Detroit Lions: A Tradition Since 1934
The Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day legacy dates back to 1934, when the team’s owner, George A. Richards, took a bold gamble to drum up fan interest. Richards, who had recently relocated the Portsmouth Spartans to Detroit and rebranded them as the Lions, was determined to compete with the city’s beloved baseball team, the Tigers. Looking for a way to make a splash, he scheduled a Thanksgiving Day game against the defending NFL champions, the Chicago Bears.
Richards didn't stop there. He struck a deal with NBC to broadcast the game nationwide on 94 radio stations—a groundbreaking move for its time. The game attracted 26,000 fans, filling Detroit’s University of Detroit Stadium, and generated massive attention for the Lions. Although they lost that first Thanksgiving contest 19-16, the event was a resounding success, cementing Detroit’s place on the holiday sports calendar.
Since then, the Lions have played every Thanksgiving except during a six-year hiatus from 1939 to 1944 due to World War II. Despite their uneven performance on the field—the Lions hold a 37-44-2 record on Thanksgiving—the tradition endures, making them synonymous with Turkey Day football.
The Dallas Cowboys: A Calculated Leap in 1966
While the Lions established the Thanksgiving tradition, the Dallas Cowboys turned it into a spectacle. In 1966, Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm saw an opportunity to elevate the franchise's profile. Despite being a relatively new team, Dallas was already making waves, but Schramm wanted to secure a national stage. He volunteered the Cowboys to host a second Thanksgiving game, on one condition: it had to be played in Dallas.
The gamble paid off spectacularly. In their first Thanksgiving appearance, the Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns 26-14 in front of over 80,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl. The game set attendance records and bolstered the Cowboys’ reputation as "America’s Team." Since then, the Cowboys have played on Thanksgiving every year except in 1975 and 1977, when the NFL experimented with assigning the holiday game to the St. Louis Cardinals. The experiment flopped, and Dallas reclaimed its Thanksgiving slot in 1978, where it has remained ever since.
The Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day record is more impressive than Detroit’s, standing at 32-22-1. Whether dominating opponents or battling through high-stakes games, Dallas has become an integral part of the Thanksgiving football experience.
Why Thanksgiving Football Works
The enduring appeal of Thanksgiving football stems from its seamless integration into the holiday. After hours of cooking, eating, and catching up with family, football provides an entertaining focal point. For many, it's a unifying ritual: a chance to gather around the TV, cheer for favorite teams, or marvel at the game’s pageantry.
The NFL benefits enormously from this tradition. Thanksgiving games draw massive viewership, often rivaling playoff contests. The fixed nature of the Lions’ and Cowboys’ roles ensures predictability, while the rotating third game, introduced in 2006, adds variety to the schedule.
Memorable Thanksgiving Moments
Over the decades, Thanksgiving football has delivered its share of unforgettable moments. One standout is the 1962 “Thanksgiving Day Massacre,” when the Detroit Lions hosted the undefeated Green Bay Packers. Detroit’s defense dismantled Bart Starr and the Packers, sacking the legendary quarterback 11 times and forcing multiple turnovers en route to a 26-14 victory.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have provided plenty of iconic Turkey Day moments, including Clint Longley's "Hail Mary" pass in 1974, which stunned Washington, and Randy Moss’s three-touchdown performance as a rookie in 1998.
Expanding the Tradition
In 2006, the NFL added a third Thanksgiving game in primetime, opening the holiday schedule to more teams. This additional game has rotated among franchises, giving every active team except the Jacksonville Jaguars a chance to play on Thanksgiving. The night game provides fans with a high-stakes finish to the holiday, often featuring playoff implications or marquee matchups.
Thanksgiving 2024: A Modern Feast of Football
As the tradition marches on, Thanksgiving 2024 promises another feast for football fans. The day kicks off with the Detroit Lions hosting the Chicago Bears, followed by the Dallas Cowboys welcoming the New York Giants.. The nightcap features the Miami Dolphins visiting the Green Bay Packers, a matchup that could have postseason ramifications.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Thanksgiving Football
The Lions and Cowboys didn’t become Thanksgiving staples by chance. Their inclusion stems from bold decisions by visionary leaders like George Richards and Tex Schramm, who saw the potential to blend football with the holiday spirit. Decades later, their gambles have paid off, transforming Thanksgiving football into an unmissable part of the American experience.
As fans gather around their TVs this Thanksgiving, they’ll witness not just a game, but a continuation of a cherished tradition. The Lions and Cowboys will take the field as they have for generations, ensuring that football remains as central to Thanksgiving as turkey and pumpkin pie.
