The NFL tripleheader on Thanksgiving Day will begin in Detroit, Michigan, as the Lions continue their tradition of hosting festive games after an innovative business move in 1934
07:30 ET, 27 Nov 2025
The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day in 2024
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The Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day in 2024(Image: Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions will kick off an NFL Thanksgiving triple-header on Thursday by hosting the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. ET.
The Lions will face their NFC North rivals as both teams attempt to keep chasing the Chicago Bears, who are 8-3 this season. The Lions and the Packers both have seven wins, and the Bears face a challenging trip to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the Black Friday game.
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The Dallas Cowboys host the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 p.m. ET, before the Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals to wrap up Thanksgiving. The Lions suit up every Thanksgiving Day and have done so almost every year since 1934.
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The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1928 and was known as the Portsmouth Spartans when it joined the NFL in 1930. Just four years later, the team was moved to Detroit and named the Lions to fit with the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers were the dominant team in the Detroit area at the time, alongside the Detroit Red Wings, one of the Original Six teams in the National Hockey League. The NHL team initially struggled when it was founded in 1926, but a rebranding effort boosted its popularity in 1932.
When the Lions arrived two years later, owner George A. Richards knew something needed to be done to attract fans. Richards started the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day game in an effort to increase attendance at Lions' games.
A Detroit Lions fan going full Turkey on Thanksgiving
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A Detroit Lions fan going full Turkey on Thanksgiving(Image: Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto)
Richards negotiated a Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears, and although the Lions lost, the impact was felt. The Lions sold out the stadium and had to turn fans away at the gate as thousands more attempted to gain entry.
The owner also owned the WJR radio station, which was an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network. The network, now known as American Broadcasting Company (ABC), agreed to broadcast the Lions' game following a discussion with Richards.
The Lions-Bears game was broadcast across 94 stations, marking the first national NFL broadcast in history. Not only did this boost exposure, but it also attracted a new wave of fans to the franchise.
Lions fans deep-fry a turkey at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
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Lions fans deep-fry a turkey at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan(Image: Steven King/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Lions' tradition has continued, and the team has a 38-44-2 record on Thanksgiving. In 1966, the Cowboys initiated this tradition, and since 1978, Detroit and Dallas have hosted a game on Thanksgiving every year.
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The Lions always host the early game, before the Cowboys continue the NFL Thanksgiving festivities. Since 2006, the NFL has added primetime slots for Thanksgiving, and a tripleheader is now expected when the schedule is released each year.
The matchups this season could be pivotal to the NFL playoff picture, as the NFC North remains one of the most competitive divisions in the league. The Cowboys and the Chiefs are also battling for playoff spots, both with five losses this season.
The primetime game could also be a blockbuster, as Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could return from injury. Cincinnati is all but out of playoff contention, but could thwart the Ravens' push.