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{{short description|National Football League Thanksgiving Day games in the USA}}
{{redirect|Thanksgiving Classic|the Canadian Football League games|Thanksgiving Day Classic|the black college football rivalry|Turkey Day Classic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
[[File:NFL Thanksgiving logo.svg|thumb|The NFL Thanksgiving logo used for 2016; the year is updated annually, with the new NFL shield being used for the first time in 2008.]]
Since its inception in 1920, the [[National Football League]] (NFL) has played games on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]], patterned upon the historic playing of [[college football]] games on or around the November holiday. The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the [[Detroit Lions]] since 1934, and one game hosted by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] since 1966 (with two exceptions in 1975 and 1977). Since 2006, a third game has also been played in [[prime time]]  on Thanksgiving night. Unlike the two afternoon games, this game has no fixed teams.

In 2001, the NFL began branding the games as the '''Thanksgiving Classic'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2001/11/15/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/NFL-Establishes-Thanksgiving-Games-As-New-Marketing-Platform.aspx|title=NFL Establishes Thanksgiving Games As New Marketing Platform|last=Lefton|first=Terry|work=Sports Business Journal|date=November 15, 2001|access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, the league changed the branding to the '''John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration''' in honor of former head coach and broadcaster [[John Madden]], who died in December 2021.<ref name="madden"/>

==History==
===Before the NFL===

The concept of [[American football on thanksgiving|American football games being played on Thanksgiving Day]] dates back to 1876, shortly after the game had been invented, as it was a day that most people had off from work. In that year, the [[college football]] teams at [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]] and [[Princeton Tigers football|Princeton]] began an annual tradition of playing each other on Thanksgiving Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Navy vs Michigan st (NJ)|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse|access-date=December 2, 2011|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ivyleague/yale/opponents_records.php?teamid=2637|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207020242/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa/ivyleague/yale/opponents_records.php?teamid=2637|archive-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref> The [[University of Michigan]] also made it a tradition to play annual Thanksgiving games, holding 19 such games from 1885 to 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title=1885 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1885fbt.htm|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2009-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304004056/http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1885fbt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1887 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1887fbt.htm|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618093303/https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1887fbt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1888 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1888fbt.htm|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618093349/https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1888fbt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1889 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1889fbt.htm|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618093429/https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1889fbt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1891 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1891fbt.htm|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618101650/https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1891fbt.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Thanksgiving Day games between Michigan and the [[Chicago Maroons]] in the 1890s have been cited as "The Beginning of Thanksgiving Day Football."<ref>{{cite news|title=Football on Thanksgiving: A Brief But Comprehensive History|date=November 23, 2011|publisher=Midwest Sports Fans|url=http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/football-on-thanksgiving-a-brief-but-comprehensive-history/|access-date=November 23, 2011|archive-date=November 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127152317/http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/football-on-thanksgiving-a-brief-but-comprehensive-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In some areas, most commonly in [[New England]], high-school teams play on Thanksgiving, usually to wrap-up the regular-season.

By the time football had become a professional event, playing on Thanksgiving had already become an institution. Records of pro football being played on Thanksgiving date back to as early as the 1890s, with the first [[pro–am]] team, the [[Allegheny Athletic Association]] of [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania. In 1902, the [[National Football League (1902)|National Football League]], a [[Major League Baseball]]-backed organization based entirely in [[Pennsylvania]] and unrelated to the current NFL, attempted to settle its championship over Thanksgiving weekend; after the game ended in a tie, eventually all three teams in the league claimed to have won the title.

Members of the [[Ohio League]], during its early years, usually placed their marquee matchups on Thanksgiving Day. For instance, in 1905 and 1906 the [[Latrobe Athletic Association]] and [[Canton Bulldogs]], considered at the time to be two of the best teams in professional football (along with the [[Massillon Tigers]]), played on Thanksgiving. A [[Canton Bulldogs-Massillon Tigers Betting Scandal|rigging scandal with the Tigers]] leading up to the 1906 game led to severe drops in attendance for the Bulldogs and ultimately led to their suspension of operations.

During the 1910s, the Ohio League stopped holding Thanksgiving games because many of its players coached high school teams and were unavailable. This was not the case in other regional circuits: in 1919, the [[New York Pro Football League]] featured a Thanksgiving matchup between the [[Buffalo (NFL)|Buffalo Prospects]] and the [[Rochester Jeffersons]]. The game ended in a scoreless tie, leading to a rematch the next Sunday for the league championship.

===The pioneer NFL and Thanksgiving Day games===

Several other NFL teams played regularly on Thanksgiving in the first eighteen years of the league, including the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[History of the Chicago Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]] (1922–1933; the Bears played the Lions from 1934 to 1938 while the Cardinals switched to the [[Green Bay Packers]] for 1934 and 1935), [[Frankford Yellow Jackets]], [[Pottsville Maroons]], [[Buffalo All-Americans]], [[Canton Bulldogs]] (even after the team [[Cleveland Bulldogs|moved to Cleveland]] they played the 1924 Thanksgiving game in Canton), and the [[New York Giants]] (1929–1938, who always played a [[crosstown rivalry|crosstown rival]]).

The first owner of the Lions, [[George A. Richards]], started the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day game as a gimmick to get people to go to Lions football games, and to continue a tradition begun by the city's [[Detroit (NFL)|previous NFL teams]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lions Thanksgiving Day Tradition|url=http://www.nfl.com/static/content/public/static/pdf/media-guides/DET-Media-Guide.pdf#page=353|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|work=2019 Detroit Lions Media Guide|access-date=November 26, 2019|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818024118/http://www.nfl.com/static/content/public/static/pdf/media-guides/DET-Media-Guide.pdf#page=353|url-status=live}}</ref> What differentiated the Lions' efforts from other teams that played on the holiday was that Richards owned radio station [[WJR]], a major affiliate of the NBC [[Blue Network]] (the forerunner to today's [[American Broadcasting Company]]); he was able to negotiate [[NFL on NBC Radio|an agreement with NBC]] to carry his Thanksgiving games live across the network.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jaworowski|first=Matt|title=Timeline: How football became a Thanksgiving tradition|url=http://wivb.com/2016/11/23/timeline-how-football-became-a-thanksgiving-tradition|publisher=[[WIVB-TV]]|date=November 24, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-date=November 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125045615/http://wivb.com/2016/11/23/timeline-how-football-became-a-thanksgiving-tradition/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Franksgiving]] controversy in 1939 and 1940, the only two teams to play the game were the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]], as both teams were in the same state ([[Pennsylvania]]). (At the time, then-[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Franklin Roosevelt]] wanted to move the holiday [[Great Depression|for economic reasons]] and many states were resistant to the move; half the states recognized the move and the other half did not. This complicated scheduling for Thanksgiving games. Incidentally, the two teams were also exploring the [[Steagles|possibility of a merger]] at the time.<ref>See also: [[Pennsylvania Keystoners]]</ref>) Because of the looming World War II and the resulting shorter seasons, the NFL did not schedule any Thanksgiving games in 1941, nor did it schedule any in the subsequent years until the war ended in 1945. When the Thanksgiving games resumed in 1945, only the Lions' annual home game would remain on the Thanksgiving holiday.

The [[All-America Football Conference]] and [[American Football League]], both of which would later be absorbed into the NFL, also held Thanksgiving contests, although neither of those leagues had permanent hosts. Likewise, the [[American Football League (1926)|AFL of 1926]] also played two Thanksgiving games in its lone season of existence, while the [[American Football League (1936)|AFL of 1936]] hosted one in its first season, which featured the [[Cleveland Rams]], a future NFL team, and the [[American Football League (1940)|1940–41]] incarnation of the American Football League played two games in 1940 on the earlier "Franksgiving" date.

===The late 20th century===
[[File:DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Detroit Lions]], seen here during the 2007 Thanksgiving game against their division rival [[Green Bay Packers]], have played on Thanksgiving since 1934.]]

In 1951, the Packers began a thirteen-season run as the perpetual opponent to the Lions each year through 1963.

In 1966, the [[Dallas Cowboys]], who had been founded six years earlier, adopted the practice of hosting Thanksgiving games. It is widely rumored that the Cowboys sought a guarantee that they would regularly host Thanksgiving games as a condition of their very first one (since games on days other than Sunday were uncommon at the time and thus high attendance was not a certainty).<ref name=whythecowboys>{{cite web|last=Scales|first=Kristi|title=Why Do the Cowboys Play on Thanksgiving Day?|url=http://www.5pointsblue.com/cowboys-play-thanksgiving-day/|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=5PointsBlue.com|date=November 26, 2014|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130040718/http://www.5pointsblue.com/cowboys-play-thanksgiving-day/|archive-date=November 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

This is only partly true: Dallas had in fact decided on their own to host games on Thanksgiving; team president [[Tex Schramm]] was enticed by the publicity that would come with a permanent nationally televised contest and volunteered to be host when the NFL proposed the second Thanksgiving game.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Cunningham |first=Nate |date=2024-11-13 |title=Why Do the Cowboys and Lions Play on Thanksgiving Every Year? |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/why-do-the-cowboys-and-lions-play-on-thanksgiving-every-year |access-date=2024-11-19 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-US}}</ref> Schramm also anticipated a [[home field advantage]] in that the shorter week would favor the home team because the opponent would not only lose three days of practice but additional time traveling to Dallas that the Cowboys could use to prepare.<ref name=whythecowboys/>

In 1975 and 1977, at the behest of then-Commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]], the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] replaced Dallas as a host team (Dallas then hosted St. Louis in 1976). Although the Cardinals, at the time known as the "Cardiac Cards" due to their propensity for winning very close games, were a modest success at the time, they were nowhere near as popular nationwide as the Cowboys, who were regular Super Bowl contenders during this era. This, combined with St. Louis's consistently weak attendance, a series of ugly Cardinals losses in the three-game stretch, and opposition from the [[Kirkwood–Webster Groves Turkey Day Game]] (a local [[high school football]] contest) led to Dallas resuming regular hosting duties in 1978.

With their resumption as a regular NFL Thanksgiving Day venue, the Cowboys requested and received an agreement guaranteeing the Cowboys a spot on Thanksgiving Day indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news|last=McManaman|first=Bob|title=Cardinals, not Cowboys, could have been an NFL Thanksgiving Day staple|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2017/11/22/cardinals-nfl-thanksgiving-dallas-cowboys-host-team/883790001/|website=AZCentral.com|date=November 22, 2017|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304065319/https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2017/11/22/cardinals-nfl-thanksgiving-dallas-cowboys-host-team/883790001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 1978, Thanksgiving games have been hosted in Detroit and Dallas every year, with Detroit in the early time slot and Dallas in the late afternoon slot. Because of television network commitments in place through the 2013 season, to make sure that both the AFC-carrying network ([[NBC]] from [[1965 NFL season|1965]] to [[1997 NFL season|1997]], and [[CBS]] since [[1998 NFL season|1998]]) and the NFC-carrying network (CBS from [[1956 NFL season|1956]] to [[1993 NFL season|1993]], and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] since [[1994 NFL season|1994]]) got at least one game each, one of these games was between NFC opponents, and one featured AFC-NFC opponents. Thus, the AFC could showcase only one team on Thanksgiving, and the AFC team was always the visiting team.

===The 21st century===

Since 2006, a third NFL game on Thanksgiving has been played in [[prime time]]. It originally aired on the [[NFL Network]] as part of its ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' package until 2011, when the game was moved to NBC's ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]]'' package under the NFL's current television deals. The night game has never had a dedicated host team or any conference tie-in, meaning the league can place any game into the time slot. Since NBC took over the prime time game in 2012, [[National Football League rivalries|divisional matchups]] have been normally scheduled, with the exceptions being in 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024. In 2014, [[#Broadcasting|a series of changes to the broadcast contracts]] freed CBS from its obligation to carry an AFC team, and by 2018, the last vestiges of conference ties to the Thanksgiving games were eliminated (although in practice games on Fox have remained all-NFC contests).

The originally scheduled 2020 primetime game between the [[2020 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] and the [[2020 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] was postponed to the following Wednesday, December 2, after multiple Ravens players and staff tested positive for [[COVID-19]] in the days before the game. This thus marked the first time no primetime contest was held since 2005.<ref name="2020 BAL-PIT"/>

On November 11, 2022, the league announced that the Thanksgiving games would be branded as the "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration", honoring the memory of head coach and broadcaster [[John Madden]]. Madden called 20 Thanksgiving games as the lead analyst for [[CBS Sports]] from 1981 to 1993 and [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] from 1994 to 2001.<ref name="madden">{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-honors-john-madden-with-thanksgiving-day-commemoration|title=NFL honors John Madden with Thanksgiving Day commemoration|website=[[NFL.com]]|publisher=National Football League|date=November 11, 2022|access-date=November 11, 2022|archive-date=November 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111194144/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-honors-john-madden-with-thanksgiving-day-commemoration|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Landmarks==

* '''1920:''' An [[urban legend]] states that the [[1920 Chicago Tigers season|Chicago Tigers]] and [[1920 Decatur Staleys season|Decatur Staleys]] challenged each other to a Thanksgiving [[dueling|duel]] in the league's inaugural season, with the loser to be [[promotion and relegation|relegated out of the league]]. Although the story is apocryphal, the Tigers did fold after the 1920 campaign and the Staleys moved to Chicago early in the 1921 season, later renaming themselves the Bears.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Brenden|last=Prunty|title=The Great Thanksgiving Game That Wasn't|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/chicago-great-thanksgiving-football-game-1920-urban-legend-180583/|date=November 23, 2019|access-date=November 25, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127221124/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-sports/chicago-great-thanksgiving-football-game-1920-urban-legend-180583/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''1921:''' In a matchup of two of the league's best teams, the [[1921 Chicago Staleys season|Chicago Staleys]] lost to the [[1921 Buffalo All-Americans season|Buffalo All-Americans]] at home. The Staleys demanded a rematch, with Buffalo agreeing to a December reprise only as an off-the-record [[exhibition game]]. Chicago won the second game, which ended up counting despite the All-Americans' insistence, [[1921 NFL Championship controversy|controversially handing Chicago the championship]].
* '''1925:''' A Thanksgiving NFL game was played in Detroit for the first time when the league's second Motor City team, the [[1925 Detroit Panthers season|Detroit Panthers]], hosted the [[1925 Rock Island Independents season|Rock Island Independents]]. The visitors won, 6–3.<ref>Tod Maher and Bob Gill (eds.), ''The Pro Football Encyclopedia: The Complete and Definitive Record of Professional Football.'' New York: Macmillan, 1997; p. 102.</ref> Meanwhile in Chicago, collegiate superstar [[Red Grange]] debuted for the [[1925 Chicago Bears season|Bears]] in a game against their crosstown rivals, the [[1925 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]], in front of nearly 40,000 fans.<ref>Associated Press, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30604349/red_grange_plays_bangup_game_but/ "'Red' Grange Plays Bang-up Game but Best His Team Can Do is Tie,"] [Allentown, PA] ''Morning Call,'' Nov. 27, 1925, p. 26.</ref>
* '''1928:''' A third Detroit NFL franchise, the [[1928 Detroit Wolverines (NFL) season|Wolverines]], hosted a Thanksgiving Day game during their one and only year of existence.<ref name=Crush>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-friedmans-wolverines/159340393/ "Friedman's Wolverines Crush Dayton Triangles, 33 to 0: Great Passing Routs Ohioans,"] ''Detroit Free Press,'' Nov. 30, 1928, p. 20.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-triangles-are-defeated/159359218/ "Triangles are Defeated, 33–0: Benny Friedman Leads Wolverines to Victory in National League,"] ''Dayton Daily News,'' Nov. 30, 1928, p. 38.</ref> The team won a laugher, 33–0, over the [[1928 Dayton Triangles|Dayton Triangles]] at [[University of Detroit Stadium]].<ref name=Crush />
* '''1929:''' The [[1929 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]' [[Ernie Nevers]] scored all 40 points — a record that still stands — in a 40–6 rout over their [[Community areas in Chicago|North Side]] foes, the [[1929 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]].
* '''1934:''' The fourth Detroit NFL franchise, the [[1934 Detroit Lions|Lions]], began their Thanksgiving tradition with a game hosting the Chicago Bears. [[George S. Halas]] & Co. won 19–16 in front of 26,000 people.<ref>Maher and Gill (eds.), ''The Pro Football Encyclopedia,'' p. 107.</ref>
* '''1952:''' The expansion [[1952 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]] were forced to move their lone remaining home game to the [[Rubber Bowl]] in Akron, Ohio due to a scheduling conflict. Their opponent, the [[1952 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]], underestimated the winless Texans and sent their second string team to the game. The resulting 27–23 upset proved to be Dallas' only victory of their existence.
* '''1962:''' The [[1962 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] handed the 10–0 [[1962 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] their lone defeat of the season, 26–14. The game was dubbed the "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" due to the dominant performance by the Lions defense, who sacked [[Bart Starr]] 11 times.<ref>{{cite web|first=Anwar S.|last=Richardson|title=Stars of Detroit Lions' past see similarities to 1962 Thanksgiving showdown with Packers|url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2011/11/stars_of_detroit_lions_past_se.html|website=MLive|date=November 24, 2011|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419214441/https://www.mlive.com/lions/2011/11/stars_of_detroit_lions_past_se.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=NFL Films|title=#6 "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" Lions Dominate Packers <nowiki>|</nowiki> Top 10 Thanksgiving Day Moments|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aMMWVBGUws|website=YouTube|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=May 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508150553/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aMMWVBGUws&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''1966:''' The [[1966 Dallas Cowboys|Dallas Cowboys]] joined the Lions as annual Thanksgiving Day hosts with a defeat of the visiting [[1966 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]], 26–14.<ref>Maher and Gill (eds.), ''The Pro Football Encyclopedia,'' p. 129.</ref>
* '''1969:''' In a blinding snowstorm at [[Briggs Stadium|Tiger Stadium]], the [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] blanked the [[1969 Detroit Lions season|Lions]] 27–0, featuring an interception by [[Jim Marshall (defensive end)|Jim Marshall]], who lateraled to [[Alan Page]] on the return, resulting in a touchdown.
* '''1974:''' The Dallas Cowboys lost their Hall of Fame QB [[Roger Staubach]] to an injury and fell behind Washington. Then the team's backup, an unknown and untested youngster named [[Clint Longley]], led a furious 4th-quarter comeback that saw Dallas pull off a stunning 31-27 victory. 
* '''1976:''' The [[1976 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] managed both best and worst offensive performances in the history of NFL Thanksgiving football when [[O. J. Simpson]] ran for 273 yards, an [[list of National Football League records (individual)|NFL record]]. Bills reserve quarterback [[Gary Marangi]] made history of another sort, completing only 4 of 21 pass attempts for 29 yards and a [[passer rating|rating]] of just 19.7. The Lions won, 27–14.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170702164626/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611250det.htm "Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions – November 25th, 1976,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com</ref>
* '''1980:''' With the [[1980 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] and [[1980 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] tied 17–17 in the new [[Pontiac Silverdome]] at the end of regulation, the first Thanksgiving [[overtime (sports)|overtime]] game was born. Speedy Bear [[Dave Williams (running back)|Dave Williams]] returned the opening kickoff 95 yards in 13 seconds for a game-winning touchdown, setting a record for the shortest overtime period in NFL history.
* '''1989:''' In what was known as the "[[Bounty Bowl]]", the [[1989 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] crushed the [[1989 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] by a score of 27–0. Allegations surfaced that the Eagles had placed a bounty on the Cowboys kicker, thus becoming the first of a string of three bitterly contested games between the two teams, the other two being [[Bounty Bowl II]] and the [[Porkchop Bowl]] a year later.
* '''1993:''' Cowboy defensive lineman [[Leon Lett]] gained fifteen minutes of national infamy when in the final seconds he accidentally turned an apparently game-winning field goal block into a fumble by touching the spinning football and moving it forward. Given a second chance from point blank range, [[Miami Dolphins]] kicker [[Pete Stoyanovich]] knocked it through for a 16–14 win.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199311250dal.htm |title=Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys – November 25th, 1993 {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |access-date=2018-03-31 |archive-date=2017-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702174245/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199311250dal.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''1998:''' Remembered in football lore as "The Coin Toss game". As the [[1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[1998 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] went to [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] tied 16–16, Pittsburgh's [[Jerome Bettis]] called the coin flip by saying both heads and tails. Unfortunately, head referee [[Phil Luckett]] declared Detroit the winner of the toss on live TV. The Lions elected to receive and quickly drove down the field to kick a game-winning field goal on their first possession. Later that day in Dallas, Vikings WR [[Randy Moss]] would show a national audience why he was headed for 1st-team All Pro status as a rookie by catching 5 passes for 157 yards and 3 TDs in Minnesota's win. 
* '''2008:''' In one of the greatest mismatches of the Thanksgiving series, the 10–1 [[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] annihilated the 0–11 [[2008 Detroit Lions season|Lions]], 47–10. Detroit would go on to become the 33rd winless team in NFL history and the first ever to lose 16 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/full-list-of-winless-nfl-teams-since-1920-01ds117j84pk |title=Full List of Winless NFL Teams Since 1920 |last=Hayes |first=David |date=12 November 2019 |access-date=26 November 2019 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128064700/https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/full-list-of-winless-nfl-teams-since-1920-01ds117j84pk |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''2011:''' The trio of games<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-games-schedule-spreads-picks-prediction// |title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football Preview: Games, TV Schedule, Point Spreads, Picks and Predictions |publisher=Midwestsportsfans.com |date=2011-11-21 |access-date=2012-11-23 |archive-date=2012-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029022529/http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/11/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-games-schedule-spreads-picks-prediction/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was lauded as one of the better Thanksgiving Day slates in the series. In the nightcap head coaching brothers [[John Harbaugh]] of the Ravens and [[Jim Harbaugh]] of the 49ers matched wits in a preview of 2012's [[Super Bowl XLVII]].
* '''2012:''' In the infamous [[Butt Fumble]] game, [[2012 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] quarterback [[Mark Sanchez]] ran headfirst into the buttocks of his own offensive lineman, guard [[Brandon Moore (guard)|Brandon Moore]]. The [[2012 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] returned the fumble for a touchdown and would go on to win 49–19 in blowout fashion.
* '''2013:''' In a game against the [[Baltimore Ravens]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] head coach [[Mike Tomlin]] became the subject of controversy when video replay showed him apparently interfering with a kick return from [[Jacoby Jones]] and stopping a probable touchdown as he stood on the sideline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-01 |title=Mike Tomlin, Steelers facing fine, possible loss of draft pick |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-tomlin-steelers-facing-fine-possible-loss-of-draft-pick/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929025758/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-tomlin-steelers-facing-fine-possible-loss-of-draft-pick/ |url-status=live }}</ref> No penalty was called on Tomlin, but the Steelers would still go on to lose, 22–20. Tomlin was later fined $100,000 for his actions by the NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-07 |title=Mike Tomlin Fined $100k for Interfence During Jacoby Jones Kickoff Return {{!}} Ravens 101 {{!}} Sports Media 101 |url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/baltimoreravens/2013/12/04/mike-tomlin-fined-100k-for-interfence-during-jacoby-jones-kickoff-return/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107020022/http://www.sportsmedia101.com/baltimoreravens/2013/12/04/mike-tomlin-fined-100k-for-interfence-during-jacoby-jones-kickoff-return/ |archive-date=2014-11-07 }}</ref>
* '''2022:''' In the "23 Seconds Game",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pergament |first=Alan |date=November 24, 2022 |title=CBS' Nantz, Romo make '23 Seconds' game extra special for anxious Bills fans |url=https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/television/alan-pergament-cbs-nantz-romo-make-23-seconds-game-extra-special-for-anxious-bills-fans/article_18cb5a40-6cc6-11ed-8f06-5fde79d93006.html |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=[[The Buffalo News]] |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125145002/https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/television/alan-pergament-cbs-nantz-romo-make-23-seconds-game-extra-special-for-anxious-bills-fans/article_18cb5a40-6cc6-11ed-8f06-5fde79d93006.html |url-status=live }}</ref> an homage to the [[13 Seconds]] playoff game the year before, the [[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] defeated the [[2022 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] when with 23 seconds on the clock they ran a 21-second field goal drive. [[Tyler Bass]] hit a walk-off 28–25 game winner for the favored Bills.<ref>Jeremy Reisman, [https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/11/24/23476780/lions-vs-bills-final-score-thanksgiving-highlights-recap-josh-allen "Lions vs. Bills Final Score: Detroit’s Upset Bid Falls Just Short, as Buffalo Wins on Last-second FG, 28-25,"] ''Pride of Detroit,'' SB Nation, Nov. 24, 2022.</ref>
* '''2023:''' During a blowout 45–10 win over the [[Washington Commanders]], Cowboys cornerback [[DaRon Bland]] recorded his fifth interception returned for a touchdown on the season, breaking the NFL record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kownack |first=Bobby |title=Cowboys CB DaRon Bland sets NFL's single-season pick-six record on Thanksgiving Day |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-cb-daron-bland-sets-nfl-s-single-season-pick-six-record-on-thanksgiving- |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''2024:''' After trailing 23–7, the Bears came within three points of the Lions and were driving to tie the game or even pull off the upset. However, Chicago rookie quarterback [[Caleb Williams]] and head coach [[Matt Eberflus]] [[clock management|mismanaged the clock]] in the last 34 seconds: with one time-out remaining, the clock running, and just outside [[field goal range]] on third down, the Bears opted to attempt one additional play with the hopes of improving field position, calling a time-out, and making the game-tying field goal attempt, but setting into formation and executing the third-down play ended up taking too much time and ran out the clock, preserving Detroit's first Thanksgiving win since 2016.<ref>Associated Press, [https://wgntv.com/sports/bears-report/lions-beat-bears-23-20-to-extend-win-streak-to-10-games/ "Lions beat Bears 23-20 to extend win streak to 10 games,"] ''Bears Report,'' WGN-TV, Nov. 28, 2024.</ref> Meanwhile, it was the Bears' sixth consecutive loss, prompting management to make the franchise's first-ever release of a head coach midseason as it parted ways with [[Matt Eberflus]] the following day.<ref>ESPN, [https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-bears-fire-head-coach-matt-eberflus-espn-sources/15603262/ "Chicago Bears fire head coach Matt Eberflus, first in-season coaching change in franchise history,"] WLS-TV, Nov. 29, 2024.</ref>

==Throwback uniforms==

Since {{nfly|2001}} teams playing on Thanksgiving have worn [[throwback uniform]]s on numerous occasions. In 2002, it extended to nearly all games of the weekend, and in some cases also involved classic field logos at the stadiums.

From 2001 to 2003, Dallas chose to represent the 1990s Cowboys dynasty by wearing the navy "Double-Star" jersey not seen since [[1995 NFL season|1995]]. In {{nfly|2004}}, the team wore uniforms not seen since {{nfly|1963}}. In 2009, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the [[American Football League|AFL]], both Dallas and [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland]] played in a "AFL Legacy Game." In 2013, the Cowboys intended to wear their 1960s throwbacks, but chose not to do so after the NFL adopted a new policy requiring players and teams to utilize only one helmet a season to address the league's new [[Concussions in American football|concussion protocol]]; rather than sport an incomplete throwback look, the Cowboys instead wore their standard blue jerseys at home for the first time since 1963.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eatman|first=Nick|title=Cowboys To Wear Blue Jerseys At Home Thursday|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-to-wear-blue-jerseys-at-home-thursday-344596|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=November 26, 2013|access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903220857/https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-to-wear-blue-jerseys-at-home-thursday-344596|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Cowboys resurrected their 1994 white "Double-Star" jerseys only this time wore them with white pants as part of the league's [[NFL Color Rush|Color Rush]], a trial run of specially designed, monochromatic jerseys to be worn during Thursday games. In 2022, after the NFL lifted the one-helmet rule, the Cowboys resumed wearing the throwback navy "Double-Star" jerseys on Thanksgiving.

In 2001–2004, and again in 2008, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2023 the Detroit Lions have worn throwback uniforms based on their very early years. For 2019 and 2022, Detroit wore its silver Color Rush uniforms.

==Charity campaigns and halftime concerts==
[[File:Support The United Way.jpg|thumb|right|The 2007 Thanksgiving halftime show in Detroit, featuring the [[Goo Goo Dolls]].]]
In 1997, [[the Salvation Army]] began the tradition of kicking off its [[Christmas Kettle]] campaign during halftime of the Dallas game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32646037/nfl-thanksgiving-day-games-history-lions-cowboys-play-every-year-moments-traditions-records|title=NFL Thanksgiving Games: History, traditions and best moments|website=ESPN|date=November 21, 2023|access-date=November 25, 2023|archive-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125062028/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32646037/nfl-thanksgiving-day-games-history-lions-cowboys-play-every-year-moments-traditions-records|url-status=live}}</ref> The campaign kickoff event includes a [[halftime show]] by a major recording artist,<ref>{{Cite web |last=StrykerStryker |date=2023-11-23 |title=Every Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Performer Ever |url=https://1063thebuzz.com/dallas-cowboys-thanksgiving-2023/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=106.3 The Buzz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Livengood |first=Paul |date=2022-11-19 |title=Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving: We broke down their record by halftime performer music genre |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-halftime-show-thanksgiving-record/287-fef97e4b-5bde-48a5-b59e-295c4c95524f |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=[[WFAA]] |language=en-US}}</ref> with halftime concerts also eventually being added to the Detroit game (which traditionally supports the [[United Way]]'s Live United campaign<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henne |first=Bruce |title=Kid Rock to play Thanksgiving NFL Halftime Show |url=http://www.hennemusic.com/2010/11/kid-rock-to-play-thanksgiving-nfl.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Ashley C. |date=2011-11-24 |title=After boos, Nickelback plays just one song at Detroit Lions halftime gig |url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/2011/11/after_boos_nickelback_plays_ju.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref>). The evening contest also features a halftime concert, which the NFL promotes co-equally with the others, but this concert is usually not televised; its current broadcaster, NBC, uses that time slot to air its own pre-recorded [[Human-interest story|human-interest]] profiles and typically only airs a few short highlights, whereas CBS and Fox air the Detroit and Dallas halftime shows in full.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Camenker |first=Jacob |title=Lindsey Stirling halftime show: NBC criticized for airing seconds of performance |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/11/28/lindsey-stirlings-nfl-halftime-show-nbc-packers-dolphins/76647839007/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> The NFL has treated the Thanksgiving halftime slots as a prime exposure opportunity second only to the [[Super Bowl halftime show]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2023-11-23 |title=Why the NFL Is Using Thanksgiving to Expand Its Halftime Show Ambitions |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nfl-thanksgiving-halftime-show-dolly-parton-jack-harlow-1235671744/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Home team controversy==

It has remained a tradition for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions to host the afternoon games dating several decades. Other teams eventually expressed interest in hosting Thanksgiving Day games. [[Lamar Hunt]], the former owner of the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] (who had hosted Thanksgiving Day games from 1967 to 1969 as an AFL team prior to the merger), lobbied heavily in favor of his team hosting a game on the holiday. When the NFL adopted a third, prime time game, the Chiefs were selected as the first team to host such a contest, but the team was not made a permanent host, and Hunt's death shortly after the 2006 contest ended the lobbying on behalf of the team.

The host issue came to a head in 2008, focusing particularly on the winless Lions. Going into the game, the Lions had lost their last four Thanksgiving Day games, and opinions amongst the media had suggested removing the Lions and replacing them with a more attractive matchup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2008/11/26/Franchises/NFL-Officials-Not-Discussing-Ending-Lions-Thanksgiving-Game/|title=NFL Officials Not Discussing Ending Lions' Thanksgiving Game|website=SportsBusinessJournal.com|date=November 25, 2008|access-date=June 8, 2025}}</ref> The team also required an extension to prevent a local [[NFL blackout|television blackout]].<ref>{{cite news|title=In Detroit, Tradition Takes a Hike; Annual Thanksgiving Football Game Offers Little Joy for Troubled City|date=November 27, 2008|first=Peter|last=Slevin|newspaper=Washington Post|page=A1}}</ref> The Lions were routed by the [[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] 47–10, en route to the team's [[2008 Detroit Lions season|0–16 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2008/11/28/sports/doc492f1bbc99e34289217519.prt|title=Once-beaten Titans dominate winless Lions 47–10|date=November 28, 2008|first=Larry|last=Lage|agency=Associated Press|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-date=March 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302012030/http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2008/11/28/sports/doc492f1bbc99e34289217519.prt|url-status=live}}</ref> NFL commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] confirmed that the Lions would stay on Thanksgiving Day for the [[2009 NFL season|2009 season]], but kept the issue open to revisit in the future.<ref>{{cite news|last=Niyo|first=John|title=Turkey game safe ... for now|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=31 January 2009|page=C6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kowalski|first=Tom|url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/03/lions_president_says_nfl_will.html|title=Lions president says NFL will not take away team's Thanksgiving Day game|work=mlive.com|date=22 March 2009|access-date=23 March 2009|archive-date=23 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323165351/http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/03/lions_president_says_nfl_will.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys, who typically represent a larger television draw,<ref>{{cite news|last=Horn|first=Barry|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/031009dnspocowbriefs.3e449a8.html|title=Networks vie for Dallas Cowboys' home opener|date=10 March 2009|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|access-date=10 March 2009|archive-date=11 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311043943/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/031009dnspocowbriefs.3e449a8.html|url-status=live}}</ref> have had far fewer public calls to be replaced on Thanksgiving Day. One issue that has been debated is a perceived unfair [[home field advantage|advantage]] of playing at home on Thanksgiving Day.<ref>{{cite web|last=King|first=Peter|url=http://si.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Dr.+Z+is+best+football+writer+of+our+time+-+Peter+King+-+SI.com&expire=-1&urlID=32774890&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F2008%2Fwriters%2Fpeter_king%2F11%2F30%2Fweek13%2Findex.html&partnerID=2356|title=The best football writer of our time|work=si.com|date=1 December 2008|access-date=24 November 2010|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708164313/http://si.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Dr.+Z+is+best+football+writer+of+our+time+-+Peter+King+-+SI.com&expire=-1&urlID=32774890&fb=Y&url=http:%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F2008%2Fwriters%2Fpeter_king%2F11%2F30%2Fweek13%2Findex.html&partnerID=2356|url-status=live}}</ref> The advantage is given in the form of an extra day of practice for the home team while the road team has to travel to the game site. This is true for most Thursday games, but with the night games, the visitor can travel to the game site after practice on Wednesday and hold the final walkthrough the following morning.

With the introduction of the prime time game, which effectively allows all teams in the league an opportunity to play on Thanksgiving Day, along with the introduction of year-long ''Thursday Night Football'' ensuring all teams have one Thursday game during the regular season (thus negating any on-field advantages or disadvantages to being selected for Thanksgiving Day), the calls for the Lions and the Cowboys to be removed have diminished.

==Broadcasting==
[[NFL on DuMont|DuMont]] was the first network to [[NFL on television|televise]] Thanksgiving Day games in {{nfly|1953}}; [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] took over in {{nfly|1956}}, and in {{nfly|1965}}, the first [[color television]] broadcast of an NFL game was the Thanksgiving Day match between the Lions and the [[1965 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]].

Starting in {{nfly|1970}}, the Detroit "early" game and the Dallas "late" game initially rotated annually as intra-conference ([[National Football Conference|NFC]] at NFC) and inter-conference ([[American Football Conference|AFC]] at NFC) games. This was to satisfy the then-television contract balance between the network holding the rights to the "AFC package" and televised inter-conference games in which the visiting team is from the AFC ([[NFL on NBC|NBC]] from 1970 to 1997, and CBS since 1998) and the network with the "NFC package" (CBS from 1970 to 1993, and [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] since 1994).

In {{nfly|2006}}, the third game in primetime originally aired on the [[NFL Network]]. In {{nfly|2012}}, NBC took over broadcasting the primetime game, and ever since all three broadcast networks with Sunday NFL rights carry one Thanksgiving Day game apiece. The first two games continue to be split between CBS and Fox, with CBS getting the Detroit "early" game, and Fox getting Dallas "late" game in even-numbered years, and Fox getting the "early" game and CBS the "late" game in odd-numbered years.

In 2014, a system known as "cross-flex" was introduced, in which the two networks bound by conference restrictions, CBS and Fox, could carry games from the other conference as part of their Sunday afternoon package,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7265289/week-13-flex-detroit-lions-new-orleans-saints-now-night-denver-broncos-minnesota-vikings-fox | title=NFL announces Week 13 flex plan | date=21 November 2011 | publisher=ESPN | access-date=November 21, 2011 | archive-date=24 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124025016/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7265289/week-13-flex-detroit-lions-new-orleans-saints-now-night-denver-broncos-minnesota-vikings-fox | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Newsday_NewTVContract">{{cite news | url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/nfl-renews-lucrative-tv-deals-1.3389953 | title=NFL renews lucrative TV deals | newspaper=Newsday | first=Neil | last=Best | date=December 14, 2011 | access-date=October 29, 2013 | archive-date=November 10, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110235834/http://www.newsday.com/sports/media/nfl-renews-lucrative-tv-deals-1.3389953 | url-status=live }}</ref> including the potential for CBS to broadcast an NFC vs. NFC game on Thanksgiving Day.<ref name=petracrossflex/> From that year through 2016, CBS carried all-NFC contests every year on Thanksgiving Day, and in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2023, no AFC teams played in any of the Thanksgiving Day games. To date, the NFL has never assigned an AFC road game to Fox on Thanksgiving Day.

[[NFL on Westwood One Sports|Westwood One]] most recently held national radio broadcast rights to all three games, with [[Compass Media Networks]] sharing rights to the Cowboys contest. (Under league rules, only radio stations that carry at least 12 Cowboys games in a season are allowed to carry the Compass broadcast.) The participating teams also air the games on their local [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] stations and regional radio networks.

The Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day game has regularly been the most watched NFL regular season telecast each year, with the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game usually in the top five.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-thanksgiving-game-ratings-americas-team|title=Cowboys Thanksgiving Game ratings prove they're still America's Team|first=Josh|last=Sanchez|work=Sports Illustrated|date=November 29, 2024|accessdate=February 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=NFL.com|date=December 3, 2024|accessdate=February 11, 2025|title=2024 Thanksgiving Day NFL games set viewership records|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-thanksgiving-day-nfl-games-set-viewership-records}}</ref>

==Game results==
(Winning teams are denoted in '''bold'''; tie games are ''italicized''.)

===1920–1940===
*All three of the generally recognized iterations of the American Football League that played during this era ([[American Football League (1926)|AFL I in 1926]], [[American Football League (1936)|AFL II in 1936]] and [[American Football League (1940)|AFL III in 1940]]) played Thanksgiving Day games, which are also listed as indicated.
*Non-NFL team games between league teams and non league teams counted in the 1920 standings. The All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks later joined the league as the Tonawanda Kardex, albeit only for one game.
*Thanksgiving Day fell on the final Thursday in November until 1938 and was held on two conflicting days from 1939 to 1941.
*The [[Detroit Lions]] started playing their traditional series in 1934.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score
|-
|rowspan=6|[[1920 NFL season|November 25, 1920]]||[[1920 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]||0|| '''[[1920 Akron Pros season|Akron Pros]]'''||7
|-
|'''[[1920 Decatur Staleys season|Decatur Staleys]]'''||6||[[1920 Chicago Tigers season|Chicago Tigers]]||0
|-
|[[1920 Detroit Heralds season|Detroit Heralds]]||0||'''[[1920 Dayton Triangles season|Dayton Triangles]]'''||28
|-
|''[[1920 Columbus Panhandles season|Columbus Panhandles]]''||0||''[[Elyria Athletics]]''*||0
|-
|[[1920 Hammond Pros season|Hammond Pros]]||0||'''Chicago Boosters'''*||27
|-
|'''[[Tonawanda Kardex|All-Tonawanda]]''' *||14||[[1920 Rochester Jeffersons season|Rochester Jeffersons]]||3
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1921 NFL season|November 24, 1921]]||'''[[1921 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]'''||14||[[1921 Akron Pros season|Akron Pros]]||0
|-
|'''[[1921 Buffalo All-Americans season|Buffalo All-Americans]]'''||7||[[1921 Chicago Staleys season|Chicago Staleys]]||6
|-
|rowspan=5|[[1922 NFL season|November 30, 1922]]||'''[[1922 Buffalo All-Americans season|Buffalo All-Americans]]'''||21||[[1922 Rochester Jeffersons season|Rochester Jeffersons]]||0
|-
|[[1922 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]||0||'''[[1922 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]'''||6
|-
|[[1922 Milwaukee Badgers season|Milwaukee Badgers]]||0||'''[[1922 Racine Legion season|Racine Legion]]'''||3
|-
|'''[[1922 Oorang Indians season|Oorang Indians]]'''||18||[[1922 Columbus Panhandles season|Columbus Panhandles]]||6
|-
|[[1922 Akron Pros season|Akron Pros]]||0||'''[[1922 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]'''||14
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1923 NFL season|November 29, 1923]] || [[1923 Toledo Maroons season|Toledo Maroons]] || 0 || '''[[1923 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]''' || 28
|-
|[[1923 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[1923 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 3
|-
|[[1923 Hammond Pros season|Hammond Pros]] || 0 || '''[[1923 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 19
|-
|'''[[1923 Milwaukee Badgers season|Milwaukee Badgers]]''' || 16 || [[1923 Racine Legion season|Racine Legion]] || 0
|-
|rowspan=5| [[1924 NFL season|November 27, 1924]] || [[1924 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) season|Buffalo Bisons]] || 0 || '''[[1924 Akron Pros season|Akron Pros]]''' || 22
|-
|'''[[1924 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 21 || [[1924 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0
|-
|[[1924 Dayton Triangles season|Dayton Triangles]] || 7 || '''[[1924 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]]''' || 32
|-
|[[1924 Milwaukee Badgers season|Milwaukee Badgers]] || 10 || '''[[1924 Cleveland Bulldogs season|Cleveland Bulldogs]]'''<br><small>(at [[Canton, Ohio|Canton]])</small>|| 53
|-
|'''[[1924 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[1924 Kansas City Blues season|Kansas City Blues]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=4|[[1925 NFL season|November 26, 1925]] || ''[[1925 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]'' || 0 || ''[[1925 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]'' || 0
|-
|'''[[1925 Kansas City Cowboys season|Kansas City Cowboys]]''' || 17 || [[1925 Cleveland Bulldogs season|Cleveland Bulldogs]]<br><small>(at [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]])</small>|| 0
|-
|'''[[1925 Rock Island Independents season|Rock Island Independents]]''' || 6 || [[1925 Detroit Panthers season|Detroit Panthers]] || 3
|-
|[[1925 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[1925 Pottsville Maroons season|Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 31
|-
|rowspan=8| [[1926 NFL season|November 25, 1926]] || '''[[1926 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 17 || [[1926 Brooklyn Lions season|Brooklyn Lions]] || 0
|-
| '''[[1926 Los Angeles Buccaneers season|Los Angeles Buccaneers]]''' || 9 || [[1926 Detroit Panthers season|Detroit Panthers]] || 6
|-
| ''[[1926 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]'' || 0 || ''[[1926 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]'' || 0
|-
| [[1926 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]]''' || 20
|-
| [[1926 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]] || 0 || '''[[1926 Pottsville Maroons season|Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 8
|-
| ''[[1926 Akron Pros season|Akron Pros]]'' || 0 || ''[[1926 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]'' || 0
|-
| ([[1926 American Football League season|AFL I]]) ''[[Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL)|Los Angeles Wildcats]]'' || 0 || ''[[Chicago Bulls (AFL)|Chicago Bulls]]'' || 0
|-
| (AFL I) '''[[Philadelphia Quakers (AFL)|Philadelphia Quakers]]''' || 13 || [[New York Yankees (NFL)|New York Yankees]] || 10
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1927 NFL season|November 24, 1927]] || '''[[1927 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 3 || [[1927 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 0
|-
| [[1927 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]] || 0 || '''[[1927 Pottsville Maroons season|Pottsville Maroons]]''' || 6
|-
| '''[[1927 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[1927 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]] || 9
|-
| '''[[1927 Cleveland Bulldogs season|Cleveland Bulldogs]]''' || 30 || [[1927 New York Yankees (NFL) season|New York Yankees]] || 19
|}
{{col-2-of-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1928 NFL season|November 29, 1928]] || '''[[1928 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]]''' || 7 || [[1928 Pottsville Maroons season|Pottsville Maroons]] || 0
|-
| [[1928 Dayton Triangles season|Dayton Triangles]] || 0 || '''[[1928 Detroit Wolverines season|Detroit Wolverines]]''' || 33
|-
| [[1928 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[1928 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]]''' || 2
|-
| [[1928 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[1928 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 34
|-
| rowspan=3|[[1929 NFL season|November 28, 1929]] || '''[[1929 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 21 || [[1929 Staten Island Stapletons season|Staten Island Stapletons]] || 7
|-
| ''[[1929 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]'' || 0 || ''[[1929 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]]'' || 0
|-
| '''[[1929 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 40 || [[1929 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=4| [[1930 NFL season|November 27, 1930]] || [[1930 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[1930 Staten Island Stapletons season|Staten Island Stapletons]]''' || 7
|-
| [[1930 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]] || 12 || '''[[1930 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]''' || 33
|-
| '''[[1930 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 25 || [[1930 Frankford Yellow Jackets season|Frankford Yellow Jackets]] || 7
|-
| [[1930 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[1930 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 6
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1931 NFL season|November 26, 1931]] || '''[[1931 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 38 || [[1931 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]] || 7
|-
| [[1931 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[1931 Staten Island Stapletons season|Staten Island Stapletons]]''' || 9
|-
| [[1931 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 7 || '''[[1931 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 18
|-
| rowspan=3| [[1932 NFL season|November 24, 1932]] || '''[[1932 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 7 || [[1932 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| ''[[1932 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]'' || 13 || ''[[1932 Staten Island Stapletons season|Staten Island Stapletons]]'' || 13
|-
| [[1932 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 0 || '''[[1932 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 24
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1933 NFL season|November 30, 1933]] || '''[[1933 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 10 || [[1933 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| '''[[1933 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 22 || [[1933 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1934 NFL season|November 29, 1934]] || [[1934 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 0 || '''[[1934 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 6
|-
| '''[[1934 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 27 || [[1934 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| '''[[1934 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 19 || [[1934 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 16
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1935 NFL season|November 28, 1935]] || [[1935 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 7 || '''[[1935 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 9
|-
| '''[[1935 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 21 || [[1935 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| [[1935 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 2 || '''[[1935 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 14
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1936 NFL season|November 26, 1936]] || [[1936 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[1936 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 13
|-
| '''[[1936 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 14 || [[1936 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 0
|-
| ([[1936 American Football League season|AFL II]]) '''[[1936 Cleveland Rams season|Cleveland Rams]]''' || 7 || [[Rochester Tigers]] || 6
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1937 NFL season|November 25, 1937]] || '''[[1937 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 13 || [[1937 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0
|-
| ''[[1937 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]'' || 13 || ''[[1937 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'' || 13
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1938 NFL season|November 24, 1938]] || [[1938 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[1938 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 14
|-
|''[[1938 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]'' || 7 || ''[[1938 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]'' || 7
|-
| [[1939 NFL season|November 23, 1939]] || [[1939 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] || 14 || '''[[1939 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 17
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1940 American Football League season|November 21, 1940]] || (AFL III) [[New York Yankees (1940 AFL)|New York Yankees]] || 16 || '''[[Columbus Bullies]]''' || 17
|-
| (AFL III) [[Buffalo Tigers]] || 13 || '''[[Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL)|Milwaukee Chiefs]]''' || 30
|-
| [[1940 NFL season|November 28, 1940]] || [[1940 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 0 || '''[[1940 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 7
|}
{{col-end}}

===1945–1959===
*No Thanksgiving Day games were held from 1941 to 1944 due to World War II.
*Thanksgiving Day games were played on the fourth Thursday in November from 1945 onward.
*The [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) also played Thanksgiving Day games from 1946 to 1949.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! League !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score !! Network
|-
| [[1945 NFL season|November 22, 1945]] || NFL || '''[[1945 Cleveland Rams season|Cleveland Rams]]''' || 28 || [[1945 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 21 || rowspan=17 {{N/A}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1946 NFL season|November 28, 1946]] || NFL ||'''[[1946 Boston Yanks season|Boston Yanks]]''' || 34 || [[1946 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 10 
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1946 New York Yankees (AAFC) season|New York Yankees]]''' || 21 || [[1946 Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 7 
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1947 NFL season|November 27, 1947]] || NFL ||'''[[1947 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 34 || [[1947 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 14 
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1947 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]''' || 27 || [[1947 Los Angeles Dons season|Los Angeles Dons]] || 17
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1947 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 21 || [[1947 Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] || 7
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1948 NFL season|November 25, 1948]] || NFL || '''[[1948 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]''' || 28 || [[1948 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 14 
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1948 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]''' || 31 || [[1948 Los Angeles Dons season|Los Angeles Dons]] || 14 
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1948 Buffalo Bills (AAFC) season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 39 || [[1948 Chicago Rockets season|Chicago Rockets]] || 35
|-
|rowspan=3| [[1949 NFL season|November 24, 1949]] || NFL ||'''[[1949 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 28 || [[1949 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 7 
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1949 New York Yankees (AAFC) season|New York Yankees]]''' || 17 || [[1949 Los Angeles Dons season|Los Angeles Dons]] || 16
|-
| AAFC || '''[[1949 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]''' || 14 || [[1949 Chicago Hornets season|Chicago Hornets]] || 6 
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1950 NFL season|November 23, 1950]] ||rowspan=2| NFL ||[[1950 New York Yanks season|New York Yanks]] || 14 || '''[[1950 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 49 
|-
| '''[[1950 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' || 28 || [[1950 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]] || 17 
|-
| [[1951 NFL season|November 22, 1951]] || NFL || [[1951 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 35 || '''[[1951 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 52 
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1952 NFL season|November 27, 1952]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || [[1952 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 24 || '''[[1952 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 48
|-
| [[1952 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 23 || '''[[1952 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]]''' <small>(at [[Akron, Ohio]])</small>|| 27 
|-
| [[1953 NFL season|November 26, 1953]] || NFL || [[1953 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 15 || '''[[1953 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 34 || [[NFL on DuMont|DuMont]]
|-
| [[1954 NFL season|November 25, 1954]] || NFL || [[1954 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 24 || '''[[1954 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 28 || [[NFL on DuMont|DuMont]]
|-
| [[1955 NFL season|November 24, 1955]] || NFL || [[1955 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[1955 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 24 || [[NFL on DuMont|DuMont]]
|-
| [[1956 NFL season|November 22, 1956]] || NFL || '''[[1956 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 24 || [[1956 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 20 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1957 NFL season|November 28, 1957]] || NFL || [[1957 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 6 || '''[[1957 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 18 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1958 NFL season|November 27, 1958]] || NFL || [[1958 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[1958 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 24 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1959 NFL season|November 26, 1959]] || NFL || '''[[1959 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 24 || [[1959 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 17 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|}

===1960–1969===
*The [[American Football League]] (AFL) also played Thanksgiving Day games during this decade.
*The [[Dallas Cowboys]] started playing their traditional series in 1966.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! League !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score !! Network
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1960 NFL season|November 24, 1960]] || NFL || [[1960 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[1960 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 23 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || [[1960 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]] || 35 || '''[[1960 New York Titans season|New York Titans]]''' || 41 || [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1961 NFL season|November 23, 1961]] || NFL || '''[[1961 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 17 || [[1961 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 9 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || [[1961 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 14 || '''[[1961 New York Titans season|New York Titans]]''' || 21 || [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1962 NFL season|November 22, 1962]] || NFL || [[1962 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[1962 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 26 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || '''[[1962 New York Titans season|New York Titans]]''' || 46 || [[1962 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 45 || [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1963 NFL season|November 28, 1963]] || NFL || ''[[1963 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]'' || 13 || ''[[1963 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]'' || 13 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || '''[[1963 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' || 26 || [[1963 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 10 || [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1964 NFL season|November 26, 1964]] || NFL || '''[[1964 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 27 || [[1964 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 24 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || '''[[1964 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 27 || [[1964 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] || 24 || [[NFL on ABC|ABC]]
|-
|rowspan=2| [[1965 NFL season|November 25, 1965]] || NFL || ''[[1965 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]'' || 24 || ''[[1965 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]'' || 24 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || ''[[1965 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]'' || 20 || ''[[1965 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]'' || 20 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[1966 NFL season|November 24, 1966]] ||rowspan=2|NFL || '''[[1966 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 41 || [[1966 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 14 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1966 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] || 14 || '''[[1966 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 26 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| AFL || '''[[1966 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 31 || [[1966 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 10 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1967 NFL season|November 23, 1967]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || '''[[1967 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]''' || 31 || [[1967 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 7 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1967 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 21 || '''[[1967 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 46 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || '''[[1967 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' || 44 || [[1967 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 22 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1967 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 20 || '''[[1967 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]''' || 24 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1968 NFL season|November 28, 1968]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || '''[[1968 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 12 || [[1968 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1968 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 20 || '''[[1968 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 29 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || [[1968 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 10 || '''[[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''' || 13 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|[[1968 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] || 10 || '''[[1968 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 24 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[1969 NFL season|November 27, 1969]] ||rowspan=2| NFL || '''[[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 27 || [[1969 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| ''[[1969 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'' || 24 || ''[[1969 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]'' || 24 || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|AFL || [[1969 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 17 || '''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 31 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| '''[[1969 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]''' || 21 || [[1969 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] || 17 || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|}

===1970–2005===
*From {{nfly|1970}} to {{nfly|2005}}, two afternoon games were played every Thanksgiving Day. They were held at Detroit and Dallas, with the Lions hosting the "early" game (12:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]) and the Cowboys holding the "late" game (initially at 4:00&nbsp;p.m. EST, then moved to 4:15&nbsp;p.m. EST in 1998). Detroit always hosted the "early" game because a 12:30&nbsp;p.m. EST kick-off at Dallas would be 11:30&nbsp;a.m. local time ([[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]), and the NFL avoided starting games before noon locally. Detroit's 12:30&nbsp;p.m. "early" game kickoff was also thirty minutes earlier than the typical afternoon start time (1:00&nbsp;p.m.). This helped reduce the chance of the two games overlapping.
*The two games initially rotated annually as intra-conference ([[National Football Conference|NFC]] at NFC) and inter-conference ([[American Football Conference|AFC]] at NFC) games. This was to satisfy the then-television contract balance between the network holding the rights to the "AFC package" and televised inter-conference games in which the visiting team is from the AFC ([[NFL on NBC|NBC]] from 1970 to 1997, and [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] since 1998) and the network with the "NFC package" (CBS from 1970 to 1993, and [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] since 1994).
*CBS and NBC initially started their Thanksgiving Day pregame coverage thirty minutes before kickoff of their respective games, similar to their thirty-minute pregame coverage on Sunday afternoons. After Fox acquired NFL rights in 1994, and debuted the hour-long ''[[Fox NFL Sunday]]'' pregame show, they also started their hour-long pregame coverage at 11:30&nbsp;a.m. when televising the Detroit "early" game, but kept a thirty-minute pregame show when televising the Dallas "late" game. When CBS reacquired NFL rights in 1998, they still started their ''[[The NFL Today]]'' pregame coverage at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. when televising the Detroit "early" game due to the fact that their [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade|morning parade]] coverage ran until noon.
*Dallas was replaced by the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] as a host team in {{nfly|1975}} and {{nfly|1977}}; Dallas and St. Louis faced each other at [[Texas Stadium]] in 1976. Because of the [[Missouri Turkey Day Game]], the long-established [[Kirkwood High School|Kirkwood]]–[[Webster Groves School District|Webster Groves]] [[high school football]] game that takes place on Thanksgiving in St. Louis, weak fan support in St. Louis, and general [[America's Team|national preference of the Cowboys]] over the historically weaker Cardinals, the Cardinals' hosting of the Thanksgiving Day game was not popular. Dallas returned to hosting the game in 1978 and has hosted since. Likewise, the [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] never played on Thanksgiving Day while in St. Louis, in part because of the Turkey Day Game and also because the [[Missouri State High School Activities Association]] held its state football championship games on Thanksgiving Day weekend at [[The Dome at America's Center]] from 1996 to 2015. 
*After the NFL division realignment in [[2002 NFL season|2002]], no team from the [[AFC North]] could play a Thanksgiving Day game against the traditional hosts. This was because [[National Football League regular season#Current formula|under the current rotation]], the Cowboys and the Lions each play AFC North teams in years that Fox is scheduled to broadcast its Thanksgiving Day game, requiring an NFC opponent. The last game to feature a team currently in the AFC North was the Lions' matchup against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 1998. AFC North teams could play in the prime time game, as the [[Cincinnati Bengals|Bengals]] did in [[2010 NFL season|2010]].

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score !! OT !! Significance !! Network
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1970 NFL season|November 26, 1970]] || [[1970 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 14 || '''[[1970 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 28 || rowspan=8 {{N/A}}|| || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1970 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 3 || '''[[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 16 || [[Cowboys–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1971 NFL season|November 25, 1971]] || [[1971 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 21 || '''[[1971 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 32 || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1971 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] || 21 || '''[[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 28 || [[Cowboys–Rams rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1972 NFL season|November 23, 1972]] || [[1972 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || 20 || '''[[1972 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 37 || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| '''[[1972 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 31 || [[1972 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 10 || [[49ers–Cowboys rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1973 NFL season|November 22, 1973]] || '''[[1973 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]''' || 20 || [[1973 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0 || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1973 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' || 14 || [[1973 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 7 || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1974 NFL season|November 28, 1974]] || '''[[1974 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' || 31 || [[1974 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 27 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1974 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 23 || '''[[1974 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 || || [[Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1975 NFL season|November 27, 1975]] || '''[[1975 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]''' || 20 || [[1975 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1975 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 32 || [[1975 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1976 NFL season|November 25, 1976]] || [[1976 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 14 || '''[[1976 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 27 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1976 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 || '''[[1976 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 19 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1977 NFL season|November 24, 1977]] || '''[[1977 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 31 || [[1977 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 14 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1977 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' || 55 || [[1977 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 14 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1978 NFL season|November 23, 1978]] || [[1978 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 14 || '''[[1978 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 17 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1978 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 10 || '''[[1978 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 37 || || [[Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1979 NFL season|November 22, 1979]] || [[1979 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 0 || '''[[1979 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 20 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1979 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]''' || 30 || [[1979 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 24 || || [[Governor's Cup (Texas)|Governor's Cup]] || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1980 NFL season|November 27, 1980]] || '''[[1980 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 23 || [[1980 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 17 || (OT) || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1980 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] || 7 || '''[[1980 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 51 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1981 NFL season|November 26, 1981]] || [[1981 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 10 || '''[[1981 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 27 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1981 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 9 || '''[[1981 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 10 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1982 NFL season|November 25, 1982]] || '''[[1982 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]''' || 13 || [[1982 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 6 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1982 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] || 14 || '''[[1982 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1983 NFL season|November 24, 1983]] || [[1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 3 || '''[[1983 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 45 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1983 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 17 || '''[[1983 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 35 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1984 NFL season|November 22, 1984]] || [[1984 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 28 || '''[[1984 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 31 || || [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1984 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 17 || '''[[1984 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1985 NFL season|November 28, 1985]] || [[1985 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || 20 || '''[[1985 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 31 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1985 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] || 17 || '''[[1985 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 35 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1986 NFL season|November 27, 1986]] || '''[[1986 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 44 || [[1986 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 40 || || [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1986 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]''' || 31 || [[1986 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1987 NFL season|November 26, 1987]] || '''[[1987 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 27 || [[1987 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 20 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| '''[[1987 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 44 || [[1987 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 38 || (OT) || [[Cowboys–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1988 NFL season|November 24, 1988]] || '''[[1988 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 23 || [[1988 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 0 || || [[Lions–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1988 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]''' || 25 || [[1988 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 17 || || [[Governor's Cup (Texas)|Governor's Cup]] || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1989 NFL season|November 23, 1989]] || [[1989 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] || 10 || '''[[1989 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 13 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| '''[[1989 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 27 || [[1989 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 0 || || [[Cowboys–Eagles rivalry]] ([[Bounty Bowl#Bounty Bowl I: The 1989 Thanksgiving Classic|Bounty Bowl I]]) || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1990 NFL season|November 22, 1990]] || [[1990 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 27 || '''[[1990 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 40 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1990 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 17 || '''[[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 27 || || [[Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1991 NFL season|November 28, 1991]] || [[1991 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 6 || '''[[1991 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 16 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 10 || '''[[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 || || [[Cowboys–Steelers rivalry]] || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1992 NFL season|November 26, 1992]] || '''[[1992 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]''' || 24 || [[1992 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 21 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1992 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 3 || '''[[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 30 || || [[Cowboys–Giants rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1993 NFL season|November 25, 1993]] || '''[[1993 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 10 || [[1993 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 6 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1993 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' || 16 || [[1993 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1994 NFL season|November 24, 1994]] || [[1994 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || 21 || '''[[1994 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 35 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1994 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 31 || '''[[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 42 || || [[Cowboys–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1995 NFL season|November 23, 1995]] || [[1995 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] || 38 || '''[[1995 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 44 || || [[Lions–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[1995 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || 12 || '''[[1995 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1996 NFL season|November 28, 1996]] || '''[[1996 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 28 || [[1996 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 24 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| [[1996 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 10 || '''[[1996 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 21 || || [[Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1997 NFL season|November 27, 1997]] || [[1997 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 20 || '''[[1997 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 55 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[1997 Tennessee Oilers season|Tennessee Oilers]]''' || 27 || [[1997 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 || || || [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1998 NFL season|November 26, 1998]] || [[1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 16 || '''[[1998 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 19 || (OT) || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 46 || [[1998 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 36 || || [[Cowboys–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[1999 NFL season|November 25, 1999]] || [[1999 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 17 || '''[[1999 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 21 || || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[1999 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || 0 || '''[[1999 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2000 NFL season|November 23, 2000]] || [[2000 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] || 9 || '''[[2000 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 34 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 27 || [[2000 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 15 || || [[Cowboys–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2001 NFL season|November 22, 2001]] || '''[[2001 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 29 || [[2001 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 27 || || [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2001 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' || 26 || [[2001 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 24 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2002 NFL season|November 28, 2002]] || '''[[2002 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' || 20 || [[2002 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 12 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2002 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 20 || '''[[2002 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 27 || || [[Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2003 NFL season|November 27, 2003]] || [[2003 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 14 || '''[[2003 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 22 || || [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2003 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' || 40 || [[2003 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 21 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2004 NFL season|November 25, 2004]] || '''[[2004 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]''' || 41 || [[2004 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 9 || || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2004 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 7 || '''[[2004 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 21 || || || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2005 NFL season|November 24, 2005]] || '''[[2005 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]''' || 27 || [[2005 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 7 || || || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2005 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' || 24 || [[2005 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 21 || (OT) || || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|}

===2006–present===
*Since {{nfly|2006}}, three contests have been scheduled for Thanksgiving Day. In addition to the traditional Detroit and Dallas home afternoon games, a third game is now played in primetime and televised by [[NFL Network]] (2006–{{nfly|2011}}) or [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] (since {{nfly|2012}}). The third game's start times have generally been the same as other primetime games, with pregame coverage beginning at 8:00&nbsp;p.m. EST and kickoff at 8:20&nbsp;p.m. EST. The primetime game is hosted by a different team (other than the Lions and Cowboys) each season.
*The [[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] hosted the [[2006 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] in the first "Thanksgiving Tripleheader" primetime game in 2006. This game also marked the first time that more than two games were played on Thanksgiving (as well as the first all-AFC holiday matchup) since the [[AFL–NFL merger]] in {{nfly|1970}}.
*In {{nfly|2012}}, the Dallas game's kickoff time was moved from 4:15&nbsp;p.m. EST to 4:30&nbsp;p.m. EST, with the networks also moving their pregame coverage for that game to 4:00&nbsp;p.m. EST. This shift provided further protection from possible game overlap with the Detroit game's 12:30&nbsp;p.m. EST kickoff, and allows additional time if the league elects to have a special halftime performance.
*The {{nfly|2014}} season was the first in which CBS no longer had to air an inter-conference (AFC at NFC) Thanksgiving game. Instead, all three games featured NFC vs. NFC opponents for the first time. There were also all-NFC matchups in {{nfly|2015}}, {{nfly|2018}} and {{nfly|2023}}.<ref name=petracrossflex>{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|title=2014 NFL Schedule: No AFC teams on Thanksgiving Day|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2014-nfl-schedule-no-afc-teams-on-thanksgiving-day-0ap2000000343516|website=NFL.com|date=23 April 2014|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424050648/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000343516/article/2014-nfl-schedule-no-afc-teams-on-thanksgiving-day|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CBS20180419">{{cite web|last=Brinson|first=Will|title=2018 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule, how to watch, stream: Three great division rivalry games, including Bears-Lions on CBS|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2018-nfl-schedule-thanksgiving-has-three-great-division-rivalry-games-bears-lions-on-cbs/|work=CBS Sports|date=19 April 2018|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135610/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2018-nfl-schedule-thanksgiving-has-three-great-division-rivalry-games-bears-lions-on-cbs/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{nfly|2017}}, {{nfly|2019}} and {{nfly|2024}} each featured five NFC teams and only one participating AFC team.
* From {{nfly|2012}} to {{nfly|2015}}, and {{nfly|2017}} to {{nfly|2019}}, the primetime game was held between division rivals. The originally scheduled {{nfly|2020}} primetime divisional rivalry game between the [[2020 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] and the [[2020 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] was postponed to Sunday, November 29 and eventually again to Wednesday, December 2 after multiple Ravens players and staff tested positive for [[COVID-19]] in the days before the game. This marked the first time no Thanksgiving Day prime time contest was held since 2005.<ref name="2020 BAL-PIT">{{Cite web|title=Ravens-Steelers game moved from Thanksgiving to Sunday at 1:15 p.m. ET on NBC|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ravens-steelers-game-moved-from-thursday-to-sunday|access-date=2020-11-25|website=NFL.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125175952/https://www.nfl.com/news/ravens-steelers-game-moved-from-thursday-to-sunday|url-status=live}}</ref>
*In {{nfly|2025}}, the Detroit game's kickoff time was moved from 12:30&nbsp;p.m. EST to 1:00&nbsp;p.m. EST so all three Thanksgiving games resemble the typical Sunday 1:00, 4:25, and 8:15&nbsp;p.m. EST  kickoff times.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-will-move-lions-thanksgiving-kickoff-to-1-p-m-et|title=NFL will move Lions’ Thanksgiving kickoff to 1 p.m. ET|website=Pro Football Talk|date=April 26, 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Season !! Visiting team !! Score !! Home team !! Score !! {{Abbr|OT|Overtime}} !! Significance !! Network
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2006 NFL season|November 23, 2006]] || '''[[2006 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]''' || 27 || [[2006 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 10 || {{n/a}}|| {{n/a}}|| [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] || 10 || '''[[2006 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 38 ||{{n/a}} || Buccaneers' first Thanksgiving game || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2006 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || 10 || '''[[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]''' || 19 || {{n/a}}|| [[Broncos–Chiefs rivalry]]; debut of ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' || [[NFL Network]] 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2007 NFL season|November 22, 2007]] || '''[[2007 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 37 || [[2007 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 26 || {{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2007 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || 3 || '''[[2007 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 34 || {{n/a}}||{{n/a}} || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2007 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]''' ||31 || [[2007 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] ||13 ||{{n/a}} || Colts enter as the [[Super Bowl XLI|defending Super Bowl champions]] || [[NFL Network]] 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2008 NFL season|November 27, 2008]] || '''[[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]]''' ||47 || [[2008 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] ||10 ||{{n/a}} ||{{n/a}} || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|- 
| [[2008 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] ||9 || '''[[2008 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' ||34 ||{{n/a}} ||{{n/a}} || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2008 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] ||20 || '''[[2008 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' ||48 ||{{n/a}} || Teams would face each other in that season's [[2008–09 NFL playoffs|NFC Championship Game]]. || [[NFL Network]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2009 NFL season|November 26, 2009]] || '''[[2009 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 34 || [[2009 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 12|| {{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|- 
| [[2009 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 7 || '''[[2009 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 24 || {{n/a}}|| [[2009 NFL season#Fiftieth anniversary of the American Football League|50th anniversary for both teams]] (AFL Legacy Game) || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2009 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 6 || '''[[2009 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]''' || 26 ||{{n/a}} || [[Super Bowl XXI]] rematch || [[NFL Network]] 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2010 NFL season|November 25, 2010]] || '''[[2010 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' || 45|| [[2010 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 24 ||{{n/a}} || {{n/a}}|| [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|- 
| '''[[2010 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]''' || 30 || [[2010 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 27 ||{{n/a}} || Saints' first Thanksgiving game, enter as the [[Super Bowl XLIV|defending Super Bowl champions]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2010 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] || 10 || '''[[2010 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]''' || 26 ||{{n/a}} || [[2009–10 NFL playoffs|2009 AFC Wild Card playoff rematch]]; Bengals' first Thanksgiving game || [[NFL Network]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2011 NFL season|November 24, 2011]] || '''[[2011 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 27 || [[2011 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 15 || {{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Packers rivalry]]; Packers enter as the [[Super Bowl XLV|defending Super Bowl champions]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|- 
| [[2011 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || 19 || '''[[2011 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 20 || {{n/a}}|| [[Super Bowl VI]] rematch || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2011 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 6 || '''[[2011 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' || 16 || {{n/a}}|| Ravens' first Thanksgiving game; first [[John Harbaugh|Harbaugh]] vs. [[Jim Harbaugh|Harbaugh]] matchup; final Thanksgiving game to air on NFL Network || [[NFL Network]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2012 NFL season|November 22, 2012]] || '''[[2012 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]]''' || 34 || [[2012 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 31 || (OT) || Texans' first Thanksgiving game || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2012 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]''' || 38 || [[2012 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 31 || {{n/a}}|| [[Commanders–Cowboys rivalry|Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2012 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]''' || 49 || [[2012 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || 19 || {{n/a}}|| [[Jets–Patriots rivalry]] ([[Butt Fumble]]); first Thanksgiving game to air on NBC || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2013 NFL season|November 28, 2013]] || [[2013 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 10 || '''[[2013 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 40 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2013 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || 24 || '''[[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 ||{{n/a}} ||{{n/a}} || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2013 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 20 || '''[[2013 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]''' || 22 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Ravens–Steelers rivalry]]; Ravens enter as the [[Super Bowl XLVII|defending Super Bowl champions]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2014 NFL season|November 27, 2014]] || [[2014 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] || 17 || '''[[2014 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 34 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2014 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]''' || 33 || [[2014 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 10 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Cowboys–Eagles rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2014 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]''' || 19 || [[2014 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || 3 ||{{n/a}}|| [[49ers–Seahawks rivalry]] and the [[The Tip (American football)|2013 NFC Championship game rematch]]; Seahawks enter as the [[Super Bowl XLVIII|defending Super Bowl champions]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2015 NFL season|November 26, 2015]] || [[2015 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] || 14 || '''[[2015 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 45 ||{{n/a}}||{{n/a}}|| [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2015 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]]''' || 33 || [[2015 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 14 ||{{n/a}}|| Panthers' first Thanksgiving game || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2015 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 17 || [[2015 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] || 13 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Bears–Packers rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|- 
| rowspan="3"|[[2016 NFL season|November 24, 2016]] || [[2016 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] || 13 || '''[[2016 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || 16 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2016 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 26 || '''[[2016 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 31 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Commanders–Cowboys rivalry|Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]''' || 28 || [[2016 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] || 7 ||{{n/a}}|| {{n/a}}|| [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2017 NFL season|November 23, 2017]] || '''[[2017 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]''' || 30 || [[2017 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 23 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Vikings rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2017 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles Chargers]]''' || 28 || [[2017 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 6 ||{{n/a}}|| Chargers' first Thanksgiving game since before the [[AFL–NFL merger]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2017 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 10 || '''[[2017 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]''' || 20 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Commanders–Giants rivalry|Giants–Redskins rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2018 NFL season|November 22, 2018]] || '''[[2018 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 23 || [[2018 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 16 ||{{n/a}} || [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|- 
| [[2018 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 23 || '''[[2018 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]'''|| 31 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Commanders–Cowboys rivalry|Cowboys–Redskins rivalry]]; final Thanksgiving Day game for Washington as the Redskins || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2018 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] || 17 || '''[[2018 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]''' || 31 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Falcons–Saints rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2019 NFL season|November 28, 2019]] || '''[[2019 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 24 || [[2019 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 20 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Bears–Lions rivalry]]; [[2019 Chicago Bears season#Centennial promotions|Bears centennial]]|| [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2019 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 26 || [[2019 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 15 ||{{n/a}}|| Commemoration of Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXVII|XXVII]] and [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]] ([[2019 NFL season#NFL centennial promotions|NFL 100]]) || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2019 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]''' || 26 || [[2019 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] || 18 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Falcons–Saints rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2020 NFL season|November 26, 2020]] || '''[[2020 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]]''' || 41 || [[2020 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 25 ||{{n/a}} ||{{n/a}}|| [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2020 Washington Football Team season|Washington Football Team]]'''|| 41 || [[2020 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 16 ||{{n/a}} || [[Commanders–Cowboys rivalry|Dallas–Washington rivalry]]; only Thanksgiving Day game for Washington as the Washington Football Team || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2021 NFL season|November 25, 2021]] || '''[[2021 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]''' || 16 || [[2021 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 14 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Bears–Lions rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| '''[[2021 Las Vegas Raiders season|Las Vegas Raiders]]''' || 36 || [[2021 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || 33 || (OT) || {{n/a}} || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| '''[[2021 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 31 || [[2021 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] || 6 ||{{n/a}}||{{n/a}}|| [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2022 NFL season|November 24, 2022]]
| '''[[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]''' || 28 || [[2022 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 25 ||{{n/a}}||{{n/a}}|| [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2022 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]|| 20 || '''[[2022 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 28 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Cowboys–Giants rivalry]]|| [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2022 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]|| 26 || '''[[2022 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]'''|| 33 ||{{n/a}}||{{n/a}}|| [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] 
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2023 NFL season|November 23, 2023]]
| '''[[2023 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' || 29 || [[2023 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] || 22 ||{{n/a}}||[[Lions–Packers rivalry]]||  [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
| [[2023 Washington Commanders season|Washington Commanders]]|| 10 || '''[[2023 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || 45 ||{{n/a}}|| [[Commanders–Cowboys rivalry]]; first Thanksgiving Day game for Washington as the Commanders. 
|| [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] 
|-
|'''[[2023 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]''' || 31 || [[2023 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]|| 13 ||{{n/a}}||[[49ers–Seahawks rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2024 NFL season|November 28, 2024]]
|[[2024 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]|| 20 ||'''[[2024 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]''' || '''23''' || {{n/a}}|| [[Bears–Lions rivalry]]; Bears fire head coach [[Matt Eberflus]] after clock mismanagement at end of game || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] 
|-
| [[2024 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]|| 20 || '''[[2024 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]''' || '''27'''||{{n/a}}|| [[Cowboys–Giants rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]]
|-
|[[2024 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]||  17||'''[[2024 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]''' ||  '''30'''|| {{n/a}} ||  {{n/a}} || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[2025 NFL season|November 27, 2025]]
|[[2025 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]||  || [[2025 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]  ||  || {{n/a}}|| [[Lions–Packers rivalry]] || [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] 
|-
|[[2025 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]||  || [[2025 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] || ||{{n/a}}|| {{n/a}} || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
|-
| [[2025 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]|| || [[2025 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] ||  || {{n/a}}|| [[Bengals–Ravens rivalry]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]
|-
|}

==Game standings==
''Of current NFL franchises. This includes [[American Football League]] (AFL) games; however, it does not include [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) games.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Team
! Games played
! First game
! Most recent
! Wins
! Losses
! Ties
! Win %
! Other names appeared under
|-
|align=left|[[Arizona Cardinals]] || 23 || 1922 || 2008 || 6 || 15 || 2 || {{winpct|6|15|2}}
|align=left|<small>[[Chicago Cardinals]] (1920–1959)<br />[[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] (1960–1987)<br />Phoenix Cardinals (1988–1993)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Atlanta Falcons]] || 4 || 2005 || 2019 || 1 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|1|3|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Baltimore Ravens]] || 2 || 2011 || 2013 || 2 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo Bills]] || 11 || 1961 || 2022 || 6 || 4 || 1 || {{winpct|6|4|1}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 1–0 record of [[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|unrelated AAFC team of same name]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Carolina Panthers]] || 1 || 2015 || 2015 || 1 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|1|0|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Bears]] || 38 || 1920 || 2024 || 20 || 16 || 2 || {{winpct|20|16|2}}
|align=left|<small>Decatur Staleys (1920)<br>Chicago Staleys (1921)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Cincinnati Bengals]] || 1 || 2010 || 2010 || 0 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|0|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Cleveland Browns]] || 3 || 1966 || 1989|| 0 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|0|3|0}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 3–0 record when team was a member of the [[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dallas Cowboys]] || 57 || 1966 || 2024 || 34 || 22 || 1 || {{winpct|34|22|1}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Denver Broncos]] || 11 || 1962 || 2009 || 4 || 7 || 0 || {{winpct|4|7|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit Lions]] || 85 || 1934 || 2024 || 38 || 45 || 2 || {{winpct|38|45|2}}
|align=left|<small>[[Portsmouth Spartans]] (1930–1933)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Green Bay Packers]] || 38 || 1923 || 2024 || 16 || 20 || 2 || {{winpct|16|20|2}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Houston Texans]] || 2 || 2012 || 2020 || 2 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Indianapolis Colts]] || 4 || 1965 || 2016 || 2 || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|2|1|1}}
|align=left|<small>[[Baltimore Colts]] (1953–1983)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Jacksonville Jaguars]] || 0 || Never || Never || 0 || 0 || 0 || {{winpct|0|0|0}}
|align=left|<small>Only active franchise to have never played on Thanksgiving.</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Kansas City Chiefs]] || 10 || 1967 || 2006 || 5 || 5 || 0 || {{winpct|5|5|0}}
|align=left|<small>Dallas Texans (1960–1962), does not include 1–0 record of [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|unrelated NFL Dallas Texans]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Las Vegas Raiders]] || 8 || 1963 || 2021 || 4 || 4 || 0 || {{winpct|4|4|0}}
|align=left|<small>[[Oakland Raiders]] (1960–1981; 1995–2019) <br>[[Los Angeles Raiders]] (1982–1994)</small> 
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Chargers]] || 5 || 1964 || 2017 || 3 || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|3|1|1}}
|align=left|<small>[[San Diego Chargers]] (1961–2016)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Rams]] || 5 || 1936 || 1975 || 4 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|4|1|0}}
|align=left|<small>[[Cleveland Rams]] (1936–1945) <br>[[St. Louis Rams]] (1995–2015)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Miami Dolphins]] || 8 || 1973 || 2024 || 5 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|5|3|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Minnesota Vikings]] || 9 || 1969 || 2022 || 7 || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|7|2|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New England Patriots]] || 6 || 1984 || 2022 || 3 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|3|3|0}}
|align=left|<small>Boston Patriots (1960–1970)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New Orleans Saints]] || 4 || 2010 || 2021 || 3 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|3|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New York Giants]] || 17 || 1926 || 2024 || 7 || 7 || 3 || {{winpct|7|7|3}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[New York Jets]] || 8 || 1960 || 2012 || 4 || 4 || 0 || {{winpct|4|4|0}}
|align=left|<small>Titans of New York (1960–1962)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Philadelphia Eagles]] || 7 || 1939 || 2015 || 6 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|6|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] || 8 || 1939 || 2016 || 2 || 6 || 0 || {{winpct|2|6|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[San Francisco 49ers]] || 6 || 1966 || 2023 || 3 || 2 || 1 || {{winpct|3|2|1}}
|align=left|<small>Does not include 1–0 record when team was a member of the [[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]].</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Seattle Seahawks]] || 5 || 1980 || 2023 || 2 || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|2|3|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] || 1 || 2006 || 2006 || 0 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|0|1|0}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Tennessee Titans]] || 7 || 1968 || 2008 || 5 || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|5|2|0}}
|align=left|<small>[[Houston Oilers]] (1960–1996)<br />Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Washington Commanders]] || 13 || 1968 || 2023 || 4 || 9 || 0 || {{winpct|4|9|0}}
|align=left|<small>Boston Braves (1932)<br />Boston Redskins (1933–1936)<br />[[History of the Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] (1937–2019)<br />Washington Football Team (2020–2021)</small>
|}

===Notable appearance droughts===
The last currently active franchise to have never played on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] through {{nfly|2024}} is the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], who joined the league in {{nfly|1995}}.

An idiosyncrasy in the NFL's current scheduling formula, which has been in effect in its basic form since 2002, effectively prevented teams from the [[AFC North]] from playing at the Lions or Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The formula had the AFC North playing at Dallas or at Detroit in years when other divisions were slated to fill the AFC slot on Thanksgiving. These teams, under the television contracts in place at the time, could only play in the third (night) game. With changes in the scheduling practices in 2014 ("cross-flexing"), the division is no longer barred from participating in one of the afternoon games. Even with cross-flexing available, an AFC North team has yet to play at Detroit or Dallas on Thanksgiving, and all of the AFC North's appearances have thus far been in the night game.

The [[Los Angeles Rams]] have the longest active appearance drought of any team, with their last appearance coming in 1975.

Since 2010, several appearance droughts have ended. [[New Orleans Saints|New Orleans]], [[Cincinnati Bengals|Cincinnati]], [[Baltimore Ravens|Baltimore]], [[Houston Texans|Houston]], and [[Carolina Panthers|Carolina]] all played their first Thanksgiving games during this time frame. [[San Francisco 49ers|San Francisco]] likewise played their first Thanksgiving game since 1972 in 2011. The Los Angeles Chargers, who last played on the holiday in 1969 (while the team was still an AFL franchise in San Diego), appeared for the first time as an NFL member in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bergman|first=Jeremy|title=Previewing the 2017 Thanksgiving Day slate|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/previewing-the-2017-thanksgiving-day-slate-0ap3000000801421|website=National Football League|date=April 20, 2017|access-date=April 21, 2017|archive-date=April 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421053626/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000801421/article/previewing-the-2017-thanksgiving-day-slate|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Thanksgiving Day records of defunct teams===
:''League teams only, since 1920.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="background: #e3e3e3;"|
! Team
! Wins
! Losses
! Ties
! Win Pct.
! Other names appeared under
|-
|align=left|[[Frankford Yellow Jackets]] || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1931)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New York Yankees (AAFC)|New York Yankees]]<sup>*</sup> || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Pottsville Maroons]] || 2||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1928)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Boston Yanks]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1948)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo Bills (AAFC)|Buffalo Bills]]<sup>*</sup> || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949), unrelated to current NFL team with this name</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1952), does not count AFL's Dallas Texans, which are now the Kansas City Chiefs</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Buccaneers]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|- 
|align=left|[[Oorang Indians]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1923)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Rock Island Independents]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1925)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Tonawanda Kardex|All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks]] || 1||0||&nbsp;||1.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1921)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Akron Pros]] || 3||1||1||.700
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Buffalo (NFL)|Buffalo Bisons]] || 1||1||&nbsp;|1||.500
|align=left|<small>Buffalo All-Americans (1920–1923), Defunct (1929)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Canton Bulldogs]] || 1||1||1||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Cleveland Bulldogs]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1927)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Dayton Triangles]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1929)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Kansas City (NFL)|Kansas City Cowboys]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Kansas City Blues (1924), Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Milwaukee Badgers]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Brooklyn Lions]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Tigers]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1920)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit (NFL)|Detroit Heralds]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1920)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[New York Yanks]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1950)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Providence Steam Roller]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1931)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Racine Legion/Tornadoes|Racine Legion]] || 1||1||&nbsp;||.500
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Toledo Maroons]] || 0||1||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1923)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1949)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Hornets]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Chicago Rockets (1946–1948), Defunct (1949)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Columbus Panhandles]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Detroit (NFL)|Detroit Panthers]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Hammond Pros]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1926)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Rochester Jeffersons]] || 0||2||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Defunct (1925)</small>
|-
|align=left|[[Los Angeles Dons]]<sup>*</sup> || 0||3||&nbsp;||.000
|align=left|<small>Merged with [[Los Angeles Rams]] after 1949 season</small>
|}

<small>*[[All-America Football Conference]] team.</small>

===Most frequent match-ups among active teams===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Count
! Matchup
! Record
! Years played
|-
| 22
| [[Lions–Packers rivalry|Lions—Packers]]
| Lions, 12–9–1
| 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1984, 1986, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2023
|-
| 20
| [[Bears–Lions rivalry|Bears—Lions]]
| Bears, 11–9
| 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
|-
| 12
| [[Bears–Cardinals rivalry|Battle of Chicago (Bears—Cardinals)]]
| Bears, 7–3–2
| 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933
|-
| 11
| [[Cowboys–Commanders rivalry|Cowboys—Washington]]
| Cowboys, 9–2
| 1968, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023
|-
| 5
| [[Lions–Vikings rivalry|Lions—Vikings]]
| Vikings, 3–2
| 1969, 1988, 1995, 2016, 2017
|-
| 5
| Cowboys—Dolphins
| Dolphins, 3–2
| 1973, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2011
|-
| 4
| Cowboys—(St. Louis) Cardinals
| Cowboys, 4–0
| 1967, 1976, 1983, 1985
|-
| 4
| Lions—Chiefs
| Tie, 2–2
| 1971, 1981, 1987, 1996
|}

==Game MVPs==
<!-- All-Iron Award, Turkey Leg Award, Galloping Gobbler, and Pudding Pie Award redirect here. -->
Since 1989, informal and sometimes lighthearted [[Player of the match|Most outstanding player]]/[[Most valuable player|MVP]] awards have been issued by the networks broadcasting the respective games. Running back [[Emmitt Smith]] holds the record for most Thanksgiving MVPs with five (1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2002), followed by [[Tony Romo]] with four (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013). Among players not from Detroit or Dallas, [[Josh Allen]], [[Drew Brees]] and [[Brett Favre]] each hold three. Voting on the respective awards is typically done informally by the announcing crew and/or producers, and criteria are loose. Noteworthy statistical accomplishments weigh heavily, and "group" awards are not uncommon. The announcement of the winner(s), and the presentation of the award is normally done immediately following the game, during post-game network coverage.

===Turkey Leg Award (CBS & Fox)===
In {{nfly|1989}}, [[John Madden]] of [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] awarded the first "Turkey Leg Award",<ref>{{cite web|title=Qu'est-ce que le Turkey Leg Award ?|url=https://thefreeagent.fr/nfl/quest-ce-que-le-turkey-leg-award/|author=Charles Taudin|agency=The Free Agent|language=fr|date=23 November 2022|access-date=23 November 2022|archive-date=23 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123161429/https://thefreeagent.fr/nfl/quest-ce-que-le-turkey-leg-award/|url-status=live}}.</ref> for the game's most valuable player. Pursuant to its name, it was an actual cooked turkey leg, and players typically took a celebratory bite out of the leg for the cameras during post-game interviews. [[Reggie White]] of the [[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]] was the first recipient. The gesture was seen mostly as an amusing gimmick tied to the holiday and relating to Madden's famous [[Turkey as food|multi-legged turkeys]] and [[turducken]]s.<ref name="Madden11232016">{{cite news|title=John Madden talks Thanksgiving, his health, Raiders rise, 49ers fall, NFL TV ratings|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/23/john-madden-talks-thanksgiving-his-health-raiders-rise-49ers-fall-nfl-tv-ratings/|first=Cam|last=Imnam|newspaper=The Mercury News|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2016|archive-date=November 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126081632/http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/23/john-madden-talks-thanksgiving-his-health-raiders-rise-49ers-fall-nfl-tv-ratings/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then, however, the award has gained notoriety. Madden brought the award to [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] in {{nfly|1994}}, and it continued through 2001.

Because of the loose and informal nature of the award, at times it has been awarded to multiple players. On one occasion (1994) it was given to players from both teams.

===Later Fox awards===
When John Madden left Fox after 2001, Fox introduced a new award starting in 2002, named the ''Galloping Gobbler''. It was represented by a small silver figurine of a cartoonish [[domesticated turkey|turkey]] wearing a football helmet<ref name="Fox-GG">{{cite news|date=November 21, 2013|title=Galloping Gobbler: An evolution of greatness|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/galloping-gobbler-an-evolution-of-greatness-112112|url-status=dead|work=Laces Out – Fox Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129183837/http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/galloping-gobbler-an-evolution-of-greatness-112112|archive-date=November 29, 2014|access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> striking a [[Heisman Trophy|Heisman-like]] pose.<ref name="geek">{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football History, Trivia, and Fun Facts|publisher=Sports Geekery|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2014|archive-date=October 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029110426/http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref> Much like [[Fox NFL Sunday#Cleatus the Robot|Cleatus]] and [[The Adventures of Digger and Friends|Digger]], the original ''Galloping Gobbler'' trophy reflected Fox's irreverent mascots, and went through several iterations.<ref name="Fox-GG"/> Unimpressed by its tackiness, [[Emmitt Smith]] famously threw the 2002 award into a trash can.<ref name="Fox-GG"/>

In 2007, the [[kitsch]]y statuette was replaced with a [[bronze]]-colored statue of a nondescript turkey holding a football.<ref name="geek"/> In 2011, the trophies were discarded altogether and replaced by a [[commemorative plaque]]. Unlike the aforementioned "Turkey Leg Award", the ''Galloping Gobbler'' was normally awarded to only one player annually,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|title=NFL Thanksgiving Day Football History, Trivia, and Fun Facts – Sports Geekery|date=2010-11-24|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-28|archive-date=2016-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326213935/http://www.sportsgeekery.com/3815/nfl-thanksgiving-day-football-history-and-fun-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref> however in 2016, co-winners were honored.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/video/ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott-win-galloping-gobbler-after-thanksgiving-win-vs-washington-112416 |title=Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott win Galloping Gobbler after Thanksgiving win vs. Washington |access-date=2016-11-27 |archive-date=2016-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128072220/http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/video/ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott-win-galloping-gobbler-after-thanksgiving-win-vs-washington-112416 |url-status=live }}</ref>

For 2017, the ''Galloping Gobbler'' was permanently retired, and replaced with the "Game Ball", a stylish, ornate football-shaped trophy, reminiscent of the tradition where game-used balls are typically awarded to players of the game. For 2019 and 2020 (coinciding with Fox's new partnership with ''[[WWE SmackDown]]''), the "Game Ball" was replaced by a [[WWE Championship]] Belt. The "Game Ball" returned in 2021.

===All-Iron Award (CBS)===
When the NFL returned to CBS in {{nfly|1998}}, they introduced their own award, the "All-Iron Award", which is, suitably enough, a small silver [[Ironing|iron]], a reference to [[Phil Simms]]' All-Iron team for toughness. The All-Iron winner also received a skillet of blackberry [[Cobbler (food)|cobbler]] made by Simms' mother.

Through 2006, the trophy was only awarded to one player annually. Occasionally, it was issued as a "group award". In 2008, Simms stated it was "too close to call" and named four players to the trophy; he then gave the award to several people every year until 2013, after which he reverted to a single MVP in 2014.

Simms was removed from the broadcast booth for the 2017 season in favor of [[Tony Romo]], who did not carry on the tradition. Instead, the "[[Chevrolet]] Player of the Game" award was extended to CBS' Thanksgiving Day game. As in CBS' regular Sunday afternoon NFL coverage as well as Fox's regular NFL coverage, Chevrolet will donate money in the player's name to the [[United Way]] if the game is played in Detroit, or the [[Salvation Army]] if the Thanksgiving Day game is played in Dallas.

For the 2019 season, CBS revived the Turkey Leg Award, awarding it to [[Josh Allen]].<ref>Filipowski, Nick (November 28, 2019). [https://twitter.com/NEWS4_NICK/status/1200216429573918720 Josh Allen said he dreamed of eating a turkey leg on Thanksgiving after a win. Today, he lived it (...)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129011615/https://twitter.com/NEWS4_NICK/status/1200216429573918720 |date=2019-11-29 }} [[WIVB-TV]] via [[Twitter]]. Retrieved November 28, 2019.</ref>

===Prime time games (NFLN & NBC)===
During the time when [[Thursday Night Football|NFL Network]] held the broadcast rights the prime time game, from 2007 to 2011 they gave out the "Pudding Pie Award" for MVPs. The award was an actual pie. In 2009, NFL Network gave [[Brandon Marshall]] a [[pumpkin pie]] rather than the [[chocolate pudding]] pie of the previous two years.

[[NFL on NBC|NBC]], which carried Thanksgiving afternoon games through 1997, did not issue an MVP award during that time. NBC began broadcasting the Thanksgiving prime time game in 2012, at which point the MVP award was added. From 2012 to 2015, the NBC award was referred to as the "Madden Thanksgiving Player-of-the-Game", honoring John Madden (who announced [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] games from 2006 to 2008).<ref name="NBC Madden Award">{{cite news|url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-finetuning-thanksgviving-1120-20121120,0,7863149.column|title=Easton-P'burg TV coverage won't crash gate|quote=As an added bonus, John Madden will return to NBC to open the broadcast and will give his first "Madden Thanksgiving Player of the-Game" award|newspaper=[[The Morning Call]]|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=November 20, 2012|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060628/http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-finetuning-thanksgviving-1120-20121120,0,7863149.column|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="NBC Madden Award2">{{cite press release | url=http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/sports/nbcsports/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2012/11/20/thanksgivingnig1353447484614.xml | title=Thanksgiving Night Game on NBC New England Patriots vs. New York Jets | publisher=NBCUniversal | date=November 20, 2012 | access-date=November 20, 2012 | archive-date=December 3, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203062900/http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/sports/nbcsports/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2012/11/20/thanksgivingnig1353447484614.xml | url-status=dead }}</ref> The award then became the "Sunday Night Football on Thanksgiving Night Player of the Game" in 2016. It is typically awarded to multiple players on the winning team.<ref>2016 Steelers-Colts Game Broadcast on NBC, Post-game coverage: November 24, 2016</ref> In the first few years, the award specifically went to players on both offense and defense, but in recent years, there have been no quotas for each phase. The winning players are presented with ceremonial game balls and, as a gesture to Madden, a cooked turkey leg.<ref>[https://www.sbnation.com/2016/11/24/13736780/turkey-leg-award-nfl-thanksgiving-john-madden-yum-food Turkey Leg Award is the best NFL football on Thanksgiving tradition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602084204/http://www.sbnation.com/2016/11/24/13736780/turkey-leg-award-nfl-thanksgiving-john-madden-yum-food |date=2017-06-02 }}. ''SB Nation'' (November 24, 2016). Retrieved November 25, 2016.</ref> The 2021 award also featured a turkey leg statuette in addition to legs prepared and seasoned by local chef (and [[Emeril (TV series)|former NBC star]]) [[Emeril Lagasse]].

===Madden Player of the Game/Thanksgiving MVP (2022–present)===
As part of the new "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration" branding in 2022, the league announced that each network will now select a "Madden Player of the Game", with the [[NFL Foundation]] donating $10,000 in each winner's name to a youth or high school football program of their choice.<ref name="madden"/> Turkey legs continue to be awarded to the players of the game in homage to Madden,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Joseph |date=2022-11-24 |title=NFL stars to receive strange gifts for Thanksgiving games as tradition continues |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/nfl-thanksgiving-turkey-leg-madden-28576835 |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=mirror |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125054057/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/nfl-thanksgiving-turkey-leg-madden-28576835 |url-status=live }}</ref> except for 2023 when Green Bay Packers quarterback [[Jordan Love]] was informed that there was none available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meinert |first=Kendra  |date=November 24, 2023 |title=No turkey leg for Jordan Love after Packers beat Lions on Thanksgiving ruffles fans' feathers |url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/fans/2023/11/24/where-was-jordan-loves-turkey-leg-packers-fan-ask-on-social-media/71691799007/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Green Bay Press-Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, the NFL rebranded the award to the "Madden Thanksgiving MVP" and unveiled a new trophy to be awarded to the MVPs from each of the three games, consisting of a [[granite]] [[end zone|pylon]] with gold-colored engraving.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jeff |date=2024-11-27 |title=Madden Thanksgiving MVP Trophy Unveiled |url=https://lufkindailynews.com/anpa/sports/madden-thanksgiving-mvp-trophy-unveiled/image_fbd6d44d-a850-53f1-be2e-180abd8424c1.html |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=The Lufkin Daily News |language=en}}</ref> The trophy includes an undated quote from John Madden: "There's no place I'd rather be today on Thanksgiving than right here, right now, at a football game."<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2024 |title=NFL again honors John Madden during Thanksgiving games |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2024/11/nfl-again-to-honor-john-madden-during-thanksgiving-games/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref> (The quote is a paraphrase of a famous quote originated by [[Marv Levy]]: "Where else would you rather be, than right here, right now?"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title='Right here, right now': The origin of the Bills Mafia's iconic mantra - ESPN Video |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/35451948 |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>)

===Complete list===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS Turkey Leg Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|- 
|[[1989 NFL season|1989]]
|[[Reggie White]] ([[1989 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia]])
|-
|[[1990 NFL season|1990]]
|[[Troy Aikman]] ([[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[1991 NFL season|1991]]
|[[Erik Kramer]] ([[1991 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Jerry Ball]] ([[1991 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[1992 NFL season|1992]]
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />Offensive line ([[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]]) 
|-
|[[1993 NFL season|1993]]
|[[Richard Dent]] ([[1993 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]])
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS All-Iron Award'''
|-
|[[1998 NFL season|1998]]
|[[Stephen Boyd (American football)|Stephen Boyd]] ([[1998 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[1999 NFL season|1999]]
|[[Dexter Coakley]] ([[1999 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2000 NFL season|2000]]
|[[Charlie Batch]] ([[2000 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2001 NFL season|2001]]
|[[Mike Anderson (running back)|Mike Anderson]] ([[2001 Denver Broncos season|Denver]])
|-
|[[2002 NFL season|2002]]
|[[Troy Brown]] ([[2002 New England Patriots season|New England]])
|-
|[[2003 NFL season|2003]]
|[[Jay Fiedler]] ([[2003 Miami Dolphins season|Miami]])<br />[[Chris Chambers]] ([[2003 Miami Dolphins season|Miami]])
|-
|[[2004 NFL season|2004]]
|[[Peyton Manning]] ([[2004 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis]])<br />Offensive line ([[2004 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis]])
|-
|[[2005 NFL season|2005]]
|[[Ron Dayne]] ([[2005 Denver Broncos season|Denver]])
|-
|[[2006 NFL season|2006]]
|[[Joey Harrington]] ([[2006 Miami Dolphins season|Miami]])
|-
|[[2007 NFL season|2007]]
|[[Tony Romo]] ([[2007 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />Defense ([[2007 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])*
|-
|[[2008 NFL season|2008]]
||[[Albert Haynesworth]] ([[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee]])<br />[[Chris Johnson (running back)|Chris Johnson]] ([[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee]])<br />[[Kevin Mawae]] ([[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee]])<br />[[LenDale White]] ([[2008 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee]])
|-
|[[2009 NFL season|2009]]
|[[Miles Austin]] ([[2009 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Tony Romo]] ([[2009 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Jason Witten]] ([[2009 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2010 NFL season|2010]]
|[[Tom Brady]] ([[2010 New England Patriots season|New England]])
|-
|[[2011 NFL season|2011]]
|[[DeMarcus Ware]] ([[2011 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2012 NFL season|2012]]
|[[Andre Johnson]] ([[2012 Houston Texans season|Houston]])<br />[[Matt Schaub]] ([[2012 Houston Texans season|Houston]])<br />[[J. J. Watt]] ([[2012 Houston Texans season|Houston]])
|-
|[[2013 NFL season|2013]]
|[[Tony Romo]] ([[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[DeMarco Murray]] ([[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Lance Dunbar]] ([[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />Honorable mention:<br />[[Matthew McGloin]] ([[2013 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland]])
|-
|[[2014 NFL season|2014]]
|[[Calvin Johnson]] ([[2014 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2015 NFL season|2015]]
|[[Luke Kuechly]] ([[2015 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]])<br />[[Jerricho Cotchery]] ([[2015 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]])<br />[[Kurt Coleman]] ([[2015 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]])<br />[[Cam Newton]] ([[2015 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]])
|-
|[[2016 NFL season|2016]]
|[[Matt Prater]] ([[2016 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Darius Slay]] ([[2016 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Matthew Stafford]] ([[2016 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2017 NFL season|2017]]
|''None (see below)*''
|-
|[[2018 NFL season|2018]]
|''None (see below)*''
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS Turkey Leg Award'''
|-
|[[2019 NFL season|2019]]
|[[Josh Allen]] ([[2019 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])
|-
|[[2020 NFL season|2020]]
|[[Deshaun Watson]] ([[2020 Houston Texans season|Houston]])*
|-
|[[2021 NFL season|2021]]
|[[Derek Carr]] ([[2021 Las Vegas Raiders season|Las Vegas]])
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS Madden Player of the Game'''
|-
|[[2022 NFL season|2022]]
|[[Josh Allen]] ([[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])<br />[[Stefon Diggs]] ([[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])<br />[[Tyler Bass]] ([[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])
|-
|[[2023 NFL season|2023]]
|[[Dak Prescott]] ([[2023 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[DaRon Bland]] ([[2023 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
| style="background:#fcc; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''CBS Madden Thanksgiving MVP'''
|-
|[[2024 NFL season|2024]]
|[[Jared Goff]] ([[2024 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|}
{{col-2-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Turkey Leg Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|-
|[[1994 NFL season|1994]]
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Jason Garrett]] ([[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Brett Favre]] ([[1994 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])<br />[[Sterling Sharpe]] ([[1994 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
|[[1995 NFL season|1995]]
|[[Herman Moore]] ([[1995 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Brett Perriman]] ([[1995 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Johnnie Morton]] ([[1995 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[1996 NFL season|1996]]
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[1996 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[1997 NFL season|1997]]
|[[Luther Elliss]] ([[1997 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Johnnie Morton]] ([[1997 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Barry Sanders]] ([[1997 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[1998 NFL season|1998]]
|[[Randy Moss]] ([[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])
|-
|[[1999 NFL season|1999]]
|[[Gus Frerotte]] ([[1999 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Greg Hill (running back)|Greg Hill]] ([[1999 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Johnnie Morton]] ([[1999 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])<br />[[Robert Porcher]] ([[1999 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2000 NFL season|2000]]
|[[Robert Smith (running back)|Robert Smith]] ([[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])<br />[[Randy Moss]] ([[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])<br />[[Daunte Culpepper]] ([[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])<br />[[Cris Carter]] ([[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])
|-
|[[2001 NFL season|2001]]
|[[Brett Favre]] ([[2001 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])<br />[[Ahman Green]] ([[2001 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Galloping Gobbler Award'''
|-
|[[2002 NFL season|2002]]
|[[Emmitt Smith]] ([[2002 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2003 NFL season|2003]]
|[[Dré Bly]] ([[2003 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2004 NFL season|2004]]
|[[Julius Jones (American football)|Julius Jones]] ([[2004 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2005 NFL season|2005]]
|[[Michael Vick]] ([[2005 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta]])
|-
|[[2006 NFL season|2006]]
|[[Tony Romo]] ([[2006 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2007 NFL season|2007]]
|[[Brett Favre]] ([[2007 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
|[[2008 NFL season|2008]]
|[[DeMarcus Ware]] ([[2008 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2009 NFL season|2009]]
|[[Donald Driver]] ([[2009 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
|[[2010 NFL season|2010]]
|[[Drew Brees]] ([[2010 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])
|-
|[[2011 NFL season|2011]]
|[[Aaron Rodgers]] ([[2011 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
|[[2012 NFL season|2012]]
|[[Robert Griffin III]] ([[2012 Washington Redskins season|Washington]])
|-
|[[2013 NFL season|2013]]
|[[Reggie Bush]] ([[2013 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2014 NFL season|2014]]
|[[LeSean McCoy]] ([[2014 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia]])
|-
|[[2015 NFL season|2015]]
|[[Matthew Stafford]] ([[2015 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]])
|-
|[[2016 NFL season|2016]]
|[[Dak Prescott]] ([[2016 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])<br />[[Ezekiel Elliott]] ([[2016 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Game Ball'''
|-
|[[2017 NFL season|2017]]
|[[Case Keenum]] ([[2017 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])
|-
|[[2018 NFL season|2018]]
|[[Amari Cooper]] ([[2018 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox WWE Championship Belt'''
|-
|[[2019 NFL season|2019]]
|[[Mitchell Trubisky]] ([[2019 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]])
|-
|[[2020 NFL season|2020]]
|[[Alex Smith]] ([[2020 Washington Football Team season|Washington]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Game Ball'''
|-
|[[2021 NFL season|2021]]
|[[Andy Dalton]] ([[2021 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Madden Player of the Game'''
|-
|[[2022 NFL season|2022]]
|[[Dak Prescott]] ([[2022 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|-
|[[2023 NFL season|2023]]
|[[Jordan Love]] ([[2023 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''Fox Madden Thanksgiving MVP'''
|-
|[[2024 NFL season|2024]]
|[[Micah Parsons]] ([[2024 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]])
|}

{{col-3-of-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NFL Network Pudding Pie Award'''
|-
! Year !! MVP (Team)
|-
|[[2006 NFL season|2006]]
| Not given
|-
|[[2007 NFL season|2007]]
|[[Reggie Wayne]] ([[2007 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis]])
|-
|[[2008 NFL season|2008]]
|[[Donovan McNabb]] ([[2008 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia]])<br />[[Brian Westbrook]] ([[2008 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia]])
|-
|[[2009 NFL season|2009]]
|[[Brandon Marshall]] ([[2009 Denver Broncos season|Denver]])
|-
|[[2010 NFL season|2010]]
|[[Brad Smith (American football, born 1983)|Brad Smith]] ([[2010 New York Jets season|New York Jets]])<br />[[Darrelle Revis]] ([[2010 New York Jets season|New York Jets]])
|-
|[[2011 NFL season|2011]]
|[[Terrell Suggs]] ([[2011 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore]])
|- 
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NBC Madden Thanksgiving Player of the Game'''
|-
|[[2012 NFL season|2012]]
|[[Tom Brady]] ([[2012 New England Patriots season|New England]])<br />[[Vince Wilfork]] ([[2012 New England Patriots season|New England]])<br />[[Steve Gregory (American football)|Steve Gregory]] ([[2012 New England Patriots season|New England]])
|-
|[[2013 NFL season|2013]]
|[[Jacoby Jones]] ([[2013 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore]])<br />[[Justin Tucker]] ([[2013 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore]])
|-
|[[2014 NFL season|2014]]
|[[Russell Wilson]] ([[2014 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle]])<br />[[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]] ([[2014 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle]])
|-
|[[2015 NFL season|2015]]
|[[Jay Cutler]] ([[2015 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]])<br />[[Tracy Porter]] ([[2015 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]])
|- 
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NBC SNF on Thanksgiving Player of the Game'''
|-
|[[2016 NFL season|2016]]
|[[Le'Veon Bell]] ([[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh]])<br />[[Ben Roethlisberger]] ([[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh]])<br />[[Antonio Brown]] ([[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh]])
|-
|[[2017 NFL season|2017]]
|[[Kirk Cousins]] ([[2017 Washington Redskins season|Washington]])<br />[[Jamison Crowder]] ([[2017 Washington Redskins season|Washington]])<br />[[Ryan Kerrigan]] ([[2017 Washington Redskins season|Washington]])
|-
|[[2018 NFL season|2018]]
|[[Drew Brees]] ([[2018 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])<br />[[Alvin Kamara]] ([[2018 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])<br />[[Cameron Jordan]] ([[2018 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])
|-
|[[2019 NFL season|2019]]
|[[Drew Brees]] ([[2019 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])<br />[[Taysom Hill]] ([[2019 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])<br />[[Cameron Jordan]] ([[2019 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]])
|-
|[[2020 NFL season|2020]]
|''Not given (game postponed)*''
|-
|[[2021 NFL season|2021]]
|[[Josh Allen]] ([[2021 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])<br />[[Stefon Diggs]] ([[2021 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])<br />[[Dawson Knox]] ([[2021 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]])
|- 
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NBC Madden Player of the Game'''
|-
|[[2022 NFL season|2022]]
|[[Kirk Cousins]] ([[2022 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])<br />[[Justin Jefferson]] ([[2022 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])<br />[[Adam Thielen]] ([[2022 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]])
|-
|[[2023 NFL season|2023]]
|[[Brock Purdy]] ([[2023 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]])<br />[[Christian McCaffrey]] ([[2023 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]])<br />[[Charvarius Ward]] ([[2023 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]])
|-
| style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;" colspan=2| '''NBC Madden Thanksgiving MVP'''
|-
|[[2024 NFL season|2024]]
|[[Jordan Love]] ([[2024 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]])
|}
{{col-end}}
*<small>2007: Of the members of the Cowboys defense, [[Chris Canty (defensive end)|Chris Canty]], [[DeMarcus Ware]], [[Terence Newman]] and [[Greg Ellis (American football)|Greg Ellis]] were particularly noted.</small>
*<small>2017: No formal CBS award was given. [[Philip Rivers]] and [[Keenan Allen]] (both of the [[2017 Los Angeles Chargers season|Chargers]]) were interviewed during post-game coverage.</small>
*<small>2018: No formal CBS award was given. [[Chase Daniel]] ([[2018 Chicago Bears season|Bears]]) was interviewed during post-game coverage.</small>
*<small>2020: The CBS award was sent to [[Deshaun Watson]]'s home instead of being handed out after the game.</small>
*<small>2020: No NBC prime time game was held due to a COVID-19 outbreak.</small>

==See also==
*[[American football on Thanksgiving]]
*[[NFL on Christmas Day]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*''2003 NFL Record and Fact Book'' ({{ISBN|0-7611-3148-5}}) <small>(for game results through 2002)</small>
*[[Detroit Lions]] [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2003 2003], [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2004 2004] and [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DET/2005 2005] game schedules <small>(for game results 2003 to 2005)</small>
*[[Dallas Cowboys]] [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2003 2003], [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2004 2004] and [http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule/DAL/2005 2005] game schedules <small>(for game results 2003 to 2005)</small>

==External links==
*[https://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving/ NFL.com Thanksgiving]
*[http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/thanksgiving-day-game-results/ Thanksgiving Day Game Results], from the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
*[http://www.remembertheafl.com/AFLThanksgiving.htm American Football League Thanksgiving game boxscores]

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