Every Thanksgiving, after the turkey comes out of the oven, millions of American families do the same thing: they turn on the football game. Thanksgiving football is one of the oldest traditions in American sports, and it is a big part of why Thanksgiving feels like Thanksgiving. This guide explains the tradition in plain words, so parents and teachers can share it with kids — and our video below shows how the whole NFL works, step by step.
Quick answer: We watch football on Thanksgiving because the NFL has played games on the holiday for more than 100 years. The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game since 1934, the Dallas Cowboys since 1966, and today there are three games every Thanksgiving Day. It is a family tradition: the games give everyone something to watch together while dinner cooks and after the meal is done.
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When Did Thanksgiving Football Start?
The first Thanksgiving Day NFL games were played in 1920, the league’s very first season. Football was already a holiday pastime in America, and the new professional league put games on Thanksgiving because that was when families were together and free to watch. The tradition stuck. More than 100 years later, Thanksgiving and football are still a pair — and the story of Thanksgiving itself is worth knowing too, because the holiday began as a harvest celebration long before the first football was ever thrown.
Why Do the Detroit Lions Always Play on Thanksgiving?
The Detroit Lions started the tradition in 1934. The team was new to Detroit, and its owner wanted a big event that would fill the stadium on a holiday. He scheduled a game against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, and it worked — the stadium sold out. The Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game almost every year since 1934, and the early-afternoon game in Detroit is now the holiday’s opening act.
Why Do the Dallas Cowboys Play on Thanksgiving Too?
The Dallas Cowboys joined the tradition in 1966. The Cowboys wanted a national stage, and Thanksgiving was the biggest television day of the fall. Their late-afternoon game became the second game of the day, and the Cowboys have hosted almost every Thanksgiving since. Today the Lions play early, the Cowboys play late in the afternoon, and a third game follows at night.
How Many Thanksgiving Football Games Are There?
There are three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day. The first kicks off in the early afternoon in Detroit, the second in the late afternoon in Dallas, and the third is a night game with two other teams. That means football runs almost all day, from the time the turkey goes in the oven until long after dinner. Three games, three different matchups, one very long day of Thanksgiving football.
How Does the NFL Work?
The NFL has 32 teams, split into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference has four divisions, and each division has four teams. Every team plays 17 games in the regular season, which runs from September into January. The best teams from each conference go to the playoffs, and the two conference champions meet in the Super Bowl. Our video above walks through all of it — the teams, the season, and the road to the championship.
What Is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the NFL championship game, played every February. It is the last game of the season, and it decides which team is the champion. The two conference winners — one from the AFC and one from the NFC — play each other, and the winner takes home the Lombardi Trophy. The Super Bowl is the most-watched television event in America every year, and the halftime show is almost as famous as the game itself.
Why Do Families Watch Thanksgiving Football Together?
Thanksgiving is a day for being together, and football gives the whole family something to share. Grandparents, parents, and kids can all watch the same game, cheer for the same team, and talk about the plays. The games run all day, so there is always a game on — while dinner cooks, after the meal, and into the evening. For many families, the football game is as much a part of Thanksgiving as the turkey and the pie.
Fun Thanksgiving Football Facts for Kids
- The first Thanksgiving Day NFL games were played in 1920, more than 100 years ago.
- The Detroit Lions have hosted a Thanksgiving game since 1934 — that is more than 90 years.
- The Dallas Cowboys joined in 1966, and their game is now the late-afternoon tradition.
- There are 32 NFL teams, and every one of them wants to play on Thanksgiving because so many people watch.
- TV legend John Madden started a fun tradition: after the Thanksgiving game, he gave the best player a turkey leg as a prize.
- Thanksgiving Day is one of the biggest television days of the year in America, and football is the reason.
How to Watch Football With Your Kids on Thanksgiving
- Pick a team together before the game starts, and let your child choose the colors to cheer for.
- Explain the basics as you watch: four downs to move 10 yards, six points for a touchdown, three for a field goal.
- Use the breaks between plays to talk about what just happened — kids learn the game fastest by watching it with you.
- Let the game run in the background while you cook or eat; nobody has to watch every second.
- Watch our video first if your child is new to football — it explains how the whole NFL works in about eight minutes. Teachers can also use it in the classroom, and our Classroom Knowledge Corner has more lessons like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the Lions play on Thanksgiving every year?
The Detroit Lions started hosting a Thanksgiving Day game in 1934, when the team was new to Detroit and wanted a big holiday event. The game sold out, the tradition stuck, and the Lions have hosted almost every Thanksgiving since. It is the longest-running Thanksgiving tradition in the NFL.
How many NFL teams are there?
There are 32 NFL teams. They are split into two conferences, the AFC and the NFC, with 16 teams in each. Each conference has four divisions of four teams.
What time are the Thanksgiving NFL games?
There are three games. The first kicks off in the early afternoon in Detroit, the second in the late afternoon in Dallas, and the third is a night game. The exact start times change a little each year, but the pattern is always the same: early, late, and night.
Is Thanksgiving football only an American tradition?
Yes. Thanksgiving is an American holiday, and the NFL is an American league, so the Thanksgiving games are a tradition that belongs to the United States. Families in Canada celebrate their own Thanksgiving in October, but the NFL triple-header is an American November tradition.
Final Thoughts
Thanksgiving football is more than a game on television. It is a thread that runs through more than 100 years of American Thanksgivings — from the first games in 1920 to the three-game feast we watch today. It is the Lions in Detroit, the Cowboys in Dallas, and a night game to close the day. And most of all, it is a reason for the whole family to sit together, cheer together, and be thankful together. Watch the video with your kids, pick a team, and enjoy the games. Happy Thanksgiving — and may your team win.
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