When it comes to Thanksgiving Day, the turkey is the star of the show. There are many great sides and desserts, but they call the holiday Turkey Day for a reason!
For NFL players and teams that play on Thanksgiving, turkey is still a huge focal point. The day’s highest honor is being handed the famous turkey leg after the game because it means you had an excellent performance. But how did the Turkey Leg Award start?
The Origins of the NFL Turkey Leg Award
This all started with the late, great NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden.
During the 1989 Thanksgiving game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, Madden decided that the MVP of the game should receive a huge turkey leg as an award.
The Eagles shut out the Cowboys 27-0 that day, and legendary Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White was the first-ever recipient of the Turkey Leg Award.
From that point on, it became an annual tradition. If you have a great game, you’re more than likely going to take a nice big bite out of a turkey leg on national television.
It has become a real honor to receive the Turkey Leg Award after a hard-fought game.
Who Won the Latest Turkey Leg?
In 2022, the Detroit Lions hosted the Buffalo Bills for the early matchup on CBS. Bills kicker Tyler Bass drilled a game-winning field goal as time expired to secure the 28-25 victory.
As a result, three Bills players went on to win the Turkey Leg Award that day. While Bass was an obvious choice, he was joined by quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
"I have the best quarterback in the league."
Stefon Diggs, Tyler Bass and Josh Allen celebrate a nail-biting Thanksgiving W with @tracywolfson, and turkey legs of course 🍗 pic.twitter.com/p23AhaeYEl
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 24, 2022
After a quick “cheers” where they touched the legs together, the trio took a big bite of the highly-coveted turkey leg.
In 2023, Jordan Love led the Green Bay Packers to a 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions, throwing for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions while also rushing for 39 yards. While Love was interviewed postgame, he didn’t receive a turkey leg. Many Packers fans still joke that Fox owes Love a turkey leg.
2024 NFL Thanksgiving Games Schedule
This year, fans will be able to enjoy three divisional matchups on Thanksgiving. Here’s the complete schedule for the NFL Thanksgiving Games:
Game 1: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
- Time: 12:30 PM ET
- Channel: CBS/Paramount+
Game 2: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Time: 4:30 PM ET
- Channel: FOX
Game 3: Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers
- Time: 8:20 PM ET
- Channel: NBC/Peacock
The day kicks off with the Detroit Lions, a Thanksgiving tradition since 1934. Jared Goff and Co. will take on No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
Then, CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys will take center stage, a custom dating back to 1966. The Cowboys will face the New York Giants in the afternoon slot.
Finally, the evening game features a thrilling primetime showdown between the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, rounding out a football-filled holiday.
How to Watch the NFL Thanksgiving Games 2024
There are several ways to tune in to this year’s NFL Thanksgiving Games:
- Cable/Satellite: CBS, FOX, and NBC will air the three games (in that order), ensuring wide accessibility for traditional TV viewers.
- Streaming: Paramount+ will air the Bears-Lions game, while Peacock will broadcast the Dolphins-Packers contest.
- Other Options: For cord-cutters, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV offer live access to the games. Some streaming services offer free trials for new users, which allow you to watch the games without a subscription.