The NFL has played games on Thanksgiving Day since the league’s inception in 1920, meaning this tradition dates back more than 100 years.
For many years, legendary NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden played a huge role in the Thanksgiving games. In recent years, the NFL has honored him with the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration. Let’s break down what it is, when it started, and more.
Everything To Know About the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration
Madden passed away in December 2021, and the league created this honor in 2022. This Thanksgiving will mark the third year of the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration.
“There’s no place that I would rather be today on Thanksgiving than right here, right now, at a football game,” Madden once said, prompting this honor.
The John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration is an event meant to celebrate his legacy and bring together all the things that were important to him: family, football, food, tradition, and fun.
In 2024, FOX, CBS, and NBC will honor Madden with tributes interspersed throughout each Thanksgiving game. The following video will kick off each broadcast, conveying what Thanksgiving meant to Madden in his own words.
Thursday marks the 3rd annual John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration across the @NFL!
CBS, FOX & NBC will air the following to kick off each of their game broadcasts on Thanksgiving Day pic.twitter.com/VgusieKy6n
— NFL Media (@NFLMedia) November 25, 2024
Each network will select a Madden Thanksgiving MVP who will receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to be given to a high school or youth football program in their name, as the topic of youth football was important to Madden.
This year for the first time, each Madden Thanksgiving MVP will be awarded with the Madden Thanksgiving MVP trophy, created to honor Madden and celebrate everything the game of football means to the Thanksgiving holiday. The trophy is in the form of a pylon and includes various “Maddenisms” sprinkled throughout, along with visual cues to speak to the holiday theme.
The NFL will benefit the newly-created John Madden Foundation by auctioning off game-used items from the three Thanksgiving Day games via NFL Auction, with proceeds supporting the new foundation.
Also, a coin featuring a silhouette of Coach Madden on one side (heads) and a six-legged turducken on the reverse side (tails) will be used for the coin toss, and a patch featuring a silhouette of Coach Madden will be on the jersey of each player at all three games. Each field will feature special John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration stencils as well.
The celebration also extends to the airwaves, with Westwood One and SiriusXM NFL Radio airing Madden- and Thanksgiving-themed programming throughout the week.
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.