Thanksgiving Is All About Food, Family & Football!
Thanksgiving is a time for turkey, pumpkin pie, and, of course, football. While the origins of the Thanksgiving Day football games are disputed, there's no doubt that Americans have been enjoying the gridiron action on this holiday for well over a century. In New England we love a cool Thanksgiving day with some turkey, family and of course football! We even made a hoodie to show our love for this day:
In this post, we'll take a look at the history of Thanksgiving football games and some of the most memorable matchups over the years.
The First Thanksgiving Football Game
Thanksgiving football games are a tradition as American as pumpkin pie. But did you know that the first Thanksgiving football game was played back in 1876?
That's right! On November 25th, 1876, Yale and Princeton faced off in a historic game that would mark the beginning of a Thanksgiving Day football tradition.
Since then, the annual Turkey Bowl has been a much-anticipated event for fans of all ages. Whether you're watching from the stands or your couch, there's nothing quite like tuning in to see some of the country's top collegiate athletes compete on Thanksgiving Day.
The Earliest Professional Thanksgiving Football Game
The earliest professional Thanksgiving football game was played in 1869 between the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. However, the matchup that is most commonly associated with Thanksgiving football is the annual game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. This tradition began in 1934 and has been played nearly every year since (exceptions include 1939-1944 due to World War II).
The First NFL Thanksgiving Game
The first NFL Thanksgiving game took place in Dallas, Texas in 1966. The Cowboys hosted the Detroit Lions in a game that ended in a 27-13 victory for the Lions.
Thanksgiving football games have become a staple of the holiday, with nearly every team in the NFL playing at least one game on Thanksgiving Day. While the matchups have changed over the years, one thing has remained constant: turkey, pumpkin pie, and football.
The growth of Popularity for Thanksgiving Football Games
As the popularity of Thanksgiving football games has grown, so too has their importance to the networks that air them. In fact, the games have become such a staple of the holiday that broadcasters now typically schedule their most important and popular matchups for the day. For example, in recent years the network Fox has aired games featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, while NBC has broadcast contests between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.
College Football Games on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has always been a time for family, friends, and food. But it's also been a time for football. In fact, the first college football game was played on Thanksgiving Day in 1869!
These days, most people associate Thanksgiving with the NFL and the big game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. But there are actually quite a few college football games on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the biggest matchups include the Texas A&M Aggies vs. the LSU Tigers, the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. the Michigan Wolverines, and the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the Auburn Tigers.
So if you're looking for something to do on Thanksgiving besides eat pounds of turkey and pie, why not check out some college football games? You might be surprised at how exciting they can be!
The Tradition of the Detroit Lions Playing on Thanksgiving
For over 80 years, the Detroit Lions have been a part of the Thanksgiving Day tradition. Since 1934, they've been playing a game on the holiday, and it's become one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.
In fact, in 2006, the NFL named the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game as the "Thanksgiving Classic." The tradition has continued ever since, with the Lions usually playing either the Packers or the Chicago Bears.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving football games are a tradition as American as pumpkin pie. But where did this tradition come from? And how has it changed over the years?
Thanksgiving football games started out as a way to commemorate the first Thanksgiving, when the colonists and the Native Americans came together to celebrate. The games were simple – just a couple of people playing catch – but they soon became a popular tradition.
Nowadays, Thanksgiving football games are a major event. The best teams in the country compete for the championship, and fans from all over come to watch.Football has come a long way since the early days of Thanksgiving, but one thing remains the same – it’s always a thrill to see who will win the big game.