Every Thanksgiving, NFL fans can count on seeing the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys take the field. Their annual appearances have become a holiday tradition, added into the day just like family gatherings and turkey. But this didn’t happen by accident, it grew from decades of history, smart promotion, and the NFL’s push to create a lasting holiday showcase.

This started with the Detroit Lions in 1934 when George A. Richards was trying to get more people interested in their team. This led to him deciding to play on Thanksgiving when most people were home and looking for something to do. This idea blew up instantly as thousands of fans showed up to the Lions game and the game was broadcasted nationwide. After that, the Lions from then on claimed the Thanksgiving game.

The Cowboys didn’t join the holiday lineup until 1966. At the time the Cowboys were still trying to build their identity and wanted more national attention.This is when the NFL asked if any team wanted to host a yearly Thanksgiving game. After multiple teams passed on the offer, the Cowboys decided to take in the offer and the turnout was huge, but the TV audience was even bigger. This made the NFL stick them into that Thanksgiving slot permanently. 

Nowadays, it’s just a part of the holiday. Before turkey even is served, fans expect to see Detroit and Dallas playing in their usual time slots. Even though the NFL added a third game at night, the Lions and Cowboys are the ones who set the tone every year. It’s a mix of tradition, history, and a little bit of luck that gives something for everyone to look forward to.