Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAYThu, November 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM UTC·3 min readThere is a first time for everything.
That was the case about 404 years ago when the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. There was no luxury of modern technology, no oven to cook in, no television to be viewed and no phone to doom scroll on. Instead, it was just the joy of each other's company as everyone feasted.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt that point, the idea that the holiday would become commercialized and filled with football wasn't even close to becoming reality.
In fact, it would take 313 years for the sport of football to play its first Thanksgiving contest – during 1934 in Detroit.
Bing Crosby was at the top of music world, the Great Depression was ravaging the country, Franklin D. Roosevelt was President and Babe Ruth was in the midst of his final season as a New York Yankee.
In the Motor City, the Detroit Lions were looking to gain some traction in a town dominated by baseball's Tigers. Entered George A. Richards, who bought the Portsmouth Spartans and moved them to Detroit in 1934. The team would then become known as the Lions, but needed something to get the fans' attention.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo Richards went and scheduled a game on Thanksgiving against the defending champion Chicago Bears. Just like that, a tradition was born.
Here's what to know about the NFL's first Thanksgiving game.
Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott poses with the Galloping Gobbler trophy after the win over Washington at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov 24, 2016. The Cowboys won the game, 31-26. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott put on an offensive showcase.
During a Thanksgiving Day game in 2013, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got into the action. The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return, but Tomlin stepped onto the field, causing Jones to avoid the Steelers coach along the sideline. Instead of a touchdown, Jones was tackled after a 73-yard return. The Ravens went on to win the game, 22-20.
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collides with the backside of lineman Brandon Moore and fumbles the ball. It was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory. The play was part of a disastrous sequence for the Jets, who lost three fumbles as the Patriots scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds. New England went on to win 49-19, and Sanchez's infamous moment from the 2012 game is known as "The Butt Fumble."
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter NFL action in Irving, Texas Nov. 23, 2006. In a breakout game, Romo threw for 306 yards and five TDs.
On his way to 49 touchdown passes for the season, Peyton Manning put six on the board in the Indianapolis Colts' masterful 41-9 win over the Detroit Lions. Manning went 23-of-28 for 236 yards and six touchdowns before being pulled near the end of third quarter in 2004.
Randy Moss added another tally to his incredible rookie year in in the Minnesota Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching three touchdown passes for 163 yards in 1998.
With the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers headed to overtime, referee Phil Luckett's microphone caught Pittsburgh captain Jerome Bettis calling "tails" on the coin toss. Despite the toss coming up tails, Luckett claimed Detroit won the toss. The Lions opted to receive the kickoff and scored a field goal on the first possession to win the game in 1998.
Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions obliterated the Chicago Bears, 55-20, in 1997. Sanders moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list during the game.
The Dallas Cowboys' Leon Lett dives for a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt as Bert Weidner of the Miami Dolphins scrambles for the ball on Nov. 25, 1993, in Irving, Texas. The live ball was recovered by Jeff Dellenbach of the Dolphins. Miami kicker Pete Stoyanovich then made the winning 19-yard field goal as time expired giving the Dolphins a 16-14 victory.
Thanksgiving 1977 marks the last time that the Dallas Cowboys did not host a Thanksgiving Day game. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals played the Miami Dolphins at Busch Stadium. Quarterback Bob Griese led the Dolphins to a dominating 55-10 win. A year later, the Cowboys were back in the Thanksgiving spotlight, a tradition the franchise hasn't relinquished since.
Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for an NFL record 273 yards against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 1976 in Pontiac, Michigan.
1 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.
1 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Detroit Lions players celebrate their 23-20 win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick at Ford Field on Nov. 28, 2024. The celebration was made possible by some highly questionable clock management by Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. A day later, Eberflus was fired by the Bears, the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.
2 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott poses with the Galloping Gobbler trophy after the win over Washington at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Nov 24, 2016. The Cowboys won the game, 31-26. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott put on an offensive showcase.
3 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
During a Thanksgiving Day game in 2013, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got into the action. The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return, but Tomlin stepped onto the field, causing Jones to avoid the Steelers coach along the sideline. Instead of a touchdown, Jones was tackled after a 73-yard return. The Ravens went on to win the game, 22-20.
4 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collides with the backside of lineman Brandon Moore and fumbles the ball. It was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory. The play was part of a disastrous sequence for the Jets, who lost three fumbles as the Patriots scored three touchdowns in 52 seconds. New England went on to win 49-19, and Sanchez's infamous moment from the 2012 game is known as "The Butt Fumble."
5 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo celebrates a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter NFL action in Irving, Texas Nov. 23, 2006. In a breakout game, Romo threw for 306 yards and five TDs.
6 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
On his way to 49 touchdown passes for the season, Peyton Manning put six on the board in the Indianapolis Colts' masterful 41-9 win over the Detroit Lions. Manning went 23-of-28 for 236 yards and six touchdowns before being pulled near the end of third quarter in 2004.
7 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Randy Moss added another tally to his incredible rookie year in in the Minnesota Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys, catching three touchdown passes for 163 yards in 1998.
8 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
With the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers headed to overtime, referee Phil Luckett's microphone caught Pittsburgh captain Jerome Bettis calling "tails" on the coin toss. Despite the toss coming up tails, Luckett claimed Detroit won the toss. The Lions opted to receive the kickoff and scored a field goal on the first possession to win the game in 1998.
9 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Hall of Famer Barry Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns as the Detroit Lions obliterated the Chicago Bears, 55-20, in 1997. Sanders moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time rushing yardage list during the game.
10 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
The Dallas Cowboys' Leon Lett dives for a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt as Bert Weidner of the Miami Dolphins scrambles for the ball on Nov. 25, 1993, in Irving, Texas. The live ball was recovered by Jeff Dellenbach of the Dolphins. Miami kicker Pete Stoyanovich then made the winning 19-yard field goal as time expired giving the Dolphins a 16-14 victory.
11 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Thanksgiving 1977 marks the last time that the Dallas Cowboys did not host a Thanksgiving Day game. Instead, the St. Louis Cardinals played the Miami Dolphins at Busch Stadium. Quarterback Bob Griese led the Dolphins to a dominating 55-10 win. A year later, the Cowboys were back in the Thanksgiving spotlight, a tradition the franchise hasn't relinquished since.12 / 12From 'Butt Fumbles' to Barry Sanders: NFL’s Most unforgettable Thanksgiving moments
Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for an NFL record 273 yards against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Nov 25, 1976 in Pontiac, Michigan.
When was the first NFL Thanksgiving game?
The Lions would play the Bears in the first ever Thanksgiving Day NFL game in 1934. The site would be the University of Detroit Stadium with 26,000 people in attendance, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's believed that more people would've attended if the stadium capacity was larger.
Detroit won the first Turkey Day contest by a score of 19-10, beginning a tradition that has withstood the test of time. While fads like the "Harlem Shake" and "Tebowing" came and went, the Lions have managed to weave themselves into Thanksgiving just as much as your mother's stuffing recipe.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe team's fans don't often feel in the holiday spirit on the holiday, however. In fact, the Lions experience on Thanksgiving typically resembles the feeling you get when the annoying family member arrives.
That wasn't the case in 2024, however, as the Lions triumphed to the tune of a 23-20 victory over the rival Bears. Now Detroit will look to start a winning streak, but they still have some work to do to get above .500 on Turkey Day.
NFL Thanksgiving records by team
While the Lions have the most Thanksgiving day appearances, all but one of the NFL's 32 teams have kicked off on Thanksgiving Day. Here's a breakdown of each team's record:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementArizona Cardinals: 6-15-2
Atlanta Falcons: 1-3
Baltimore Ravens: 2-0
Buffalo Bills: 6-4-1
Carolina Panthers: 1-0
Chicago Bears: 20-16-2
Cincinnati Bengals: 0-1
Cleveland Browns: 3-3
Dallas Cowboys: 34-22-1
Denver Broncos: 4-7
Detroit Lions: 38-45-2
Green Bay Packers: 16-20-2
Houston Texans: 2-0
Indianapolis Colts: 2-1-1
Jacksonville Jaguars: N/A
Kansas City Chiefs: 5-5
Las Vegas Raiders: 4-4
Los Angeles Chargers: 3-1-1
Los Angeles Rams: 4-1
Miami Dolphins: 5-3
Minnesota Vikings: 7-2
New England Patriots: 3-3
New Orleans Saints: 3-1
New York Giants: 7-7-3
New York Jets: 4-4
Philadelphia Eagles: 6-1
Pittsburgh Steelers: 2-6
San Francisco 49ers: 3-2-1
Seattle Seahawks: 2-3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-1
Tennessee Titans: 5-2
Washington Commanders: 4-9
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When was the first NFL game on Thanksgiving? Date, history and more
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