When it comes to Thanksgiving, turkey is the star of the show, especially in the NFL.
For NFL players and teams, every game counts, but there’s something extra special about going head-to-head on Thanksgiving Day: the chance to devour a turkey leg. It’s the day’s highest honor because it means you had a stellar game.
So, what exactly is the turkey leg tradition and how did it start? Here’s what to know.
Why do NFL teams eat turkey legs after Thanksgiving victory?
Eating a turkey leg after the Thanksgiving Day games has been a longtime NFL tradition that the legendary John Madden started.
During the 1989 Thanksgiving matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, Madden declared that the MVP of the game should receive a huge turkey leg as an award. The Eagles went on to shut out the Cowboys 27-0 and Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White received the first-ever Turkey Leg Award.
And thus, the Thanksgiving tradition was born.
Odds are, if an NFL player has an exceptional Thanksgiving game, they’re more than likely going to devour the large turkey leg and Thanksgiving Day feast on national television.
What is turducken?
The annual turducken Thanksgiving meal is a feast fit for the best NFL players.
Turducken is a boneless duck stuffed inside boneless chicken stuffed inside a boneless turkey. Madden introduced the dish during the 1997 Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. During the broadcast, Madden and Pat Summerall stood in the commentators’ booth in front of the turducken meal and the six-legged turkey.
In 2002, Madden told The New York Times that he was introduced to the dish by one of the New Orleans Saints’ public relations staff. The former Las Vegas Raiders coach explained that he didn’t have a plate or utensils, but the dish smelled and looked so good that he decided to dig in with his bare hands.
John Madden’s Thanksgiving legacy
This week, the three networks broadcasting Thanksgiving games – CBS, FOX, and NBC – will continue celebrating Madden’s love of Thanksgiving football.
The fourth annual “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration” will select a player of the game from each matchup: the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions (FOX), Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys (CBS) and Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens (NBC).
Each player will receive a $10,000 check from the NFL Foundation that will be given to a high school or youth football program in their honor.
“Madden Hallmarks” will also kick off each game’s broadcast and “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration” stencils will be placed on the sidelines of each game.
2025 NFL Thanksgiving schedule
For the 20th consecutive season, three NFL games will be played on Turkey Day. Here’s what teams will play on Thanksgiving Day.
Watch the 2025 NFL Thanksgiving games on Fubo
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How John Madden started the NFL’s Thanksgiving turkey leg tradition
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
