The Detroit Lions cemented Thanksgiving football in 1934 when owner George A. Richards scheduled a holiday game to boost attendance. That year, the Lions hosted the Chicago Bears, and the tradition stuck. Since then, Detroit has played every Thanksgiving, making Ford Field the centerpiece of the holiday’s football feast.
Dallas Cowboys Claim the Afternoon Slot
In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys joined the tradition, hosting their first Thanksgiving game against the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys’ popularity and national following made the afternoon slot a perfect fit. Except for 1975 and 1977, Dallas has hosted every Thanksgiving, turning the 4:30 p.m. ET game into a showcase for America’s Team.
The Night Game Arrives
By 2006, the NFL recognized the appetite for more holiday football. The league added a prime-time Thanksgiving night game, broadcast nationally on NBC. Unlike Detroit and Dallas, the night game rotates teams annually, creating marquee matchups under the lights.
Black Friday Football on Amazon Prime
In 2023, the NFL expanded again, introducing Black Friday Football streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. In 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles host the Chicago Bears at 3 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field. This global broadcast marks the NFL’s push into streaming dominance, giving fans four straight days of holiday football.
2025 Thanksgiving & Black Friday Schedule
- Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions – 12:30 p.m. ET, FOX
- Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys – 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens – 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (Black Friday) – 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video
A Tradition That Defines Thanksgiving
From Detroit’s bold move in 1934 to Dallas’s afternoon dominance, the addition of the night game, and now Amazon’s Black Friday showcase, the NFL has woven itself into the fabric of Thanksgiving. Today, millions of fans tune in across FOX, CBS, NBC, and Prime Video, making football as essential to the holiday as turkey and pumpkin pie.
