The Thanksgiving Day Tradition

The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have evolved into a beloved American tradition, starting as early as 1920. The Detroit Lions initiated this custom in 1934 to generate interest in their franchise, successfully drawing a crowd to watch a game against the Chicago Bears. This sparked the Dallas Cowboys to join in 1966, leading to both teams becoming the designated hosts for Thanksgiving games every year. Over the decades, these matchups have consistently drawn significant audiences, with last year's games attracting 133 million viewers, proving the longevity and popularity of football during the holiday.